Stewarts will be hosting a conference about early years Special Educational Needs Support and Education, Health and Care Plans.
The conference would provide practical guidance to those who care for and support children who have a brain injury sustained at birth in navigating the SEN system and EHCP process at this important period of development. The conference will be held in January 2026, is aimed at parents and healthcare professionals and is open for pre-registration by clicking via the button below. A full agenda will be shared shortly.
Alexandra Bennett, Legal Director who is leading the conference, comments:
“We regularly see those who support children with cerebral palsy, struggling with issues in connection with SEN support and ECHPs in the early years of education. Our vision for this conference is to help these parents and professionals to navigate the special educational needs system, so that the children they care for have the individual support needed to access education and reach their potential in these crucial early years. We are putting together an excellent group of experts within the fields of child brain injury and special educational needs to lead the day.”
About World Cerebral Palsy Day
World Cerebral Palsy Day 2025 will be celebrated on 6 October, with the theme “Unique and United”. The purpose of the day is to unite in recognising the unique interests, abilities, aspirations and achievements of people living with cerebral palsy and to work together to enable them to live an inclusive and fulfilling life within our society.
Cerebral palsy is a non-progressive physical condition that affects movement and coordination. It is caused by damage to the brain, which can occur before birth, during labour or in the early stages of development of a child’s life.
The damage can be caused by a number of different risk factors in any of these periods, including infection during pregnancy, prematurity, delays in delivery or infections and other conditions arising in the neonatal period.
It is estimated that in the UK each year, one in 400 babies is born with cerebral palsy, with around 1,800 babies being diagnosed with the condition. More than 110,000 people in the UK live with the condition, 30,000 of whom are children.
Everyone with cerebral palsy is affected by the condition in a different way. They may have spasticity, which limits their range of movement (spastic cerebral palsy), involuntary muscle contractions, with difficulties controlling movement, breathing and speech (dyskinetic cerebral palsy), or coordination difficulties, affecting balance and proprioception (ataxic cerebral palsy). They may have quadriplegia, where all four of their limbs are affected, diplegia, where two of their limbs are affected, monoplegia, where one limb is affected, or hemiplegia, where one side of their body is affected.
A person with cerebral palsy may also experience a range of other difficulties, including epilepsy, communication, hearing or visual difficulties, sensory issues or behavioural and learning difficulties.
How can Stewarts assist?
Stewarts is experienced in dealing with legal claims for children and young adults with cerebral palsy (in addition to claims for those who have global developmental delay as a result of an injury at around the time of birth). We recognise that every child and adult living with cerebral palsy, and their families, have unique needs, abilities and aspirations. Access to inclusive education through specially tailored Special Educational Needs (SEN) support or an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), along with rehabilitation tailored to their individual needs, is essential to enable them to explore and develop their interests and talents. This support enables them to lead fulfilling lives and make a valuable contribution to their family and society.
Stewarts helps its clients achieve their potential by bringing claims for damages, including obtaining early interim funding for education and rehabilitation. Each of our team members runs only a small number of cases so that we are able to provide each child, young adult and their families with the individual support they require.
We are able to assist through NHS Resolution’s Early Notification Procedure (ENS) and advise in relation to any report obtained from the Maternity and Newborn Safety Investigations (MNSI, previously HSIB and HSSIB) Programme. We will review the report without any obligation for you to proceed with a claim and provide advice and guidance in relation to your options.
If appropriate, we obtain independent expert evidence to establish what has caused a child’s injuries and, where expert evidence is supportive, we seek early resolution of the liability issues and early interim payments on account of damages.
When funding becomes available, we are able to assist with the selection and appointment of a specialist brain injury case manager to find suitable accommodation and access education through the SEN process (with a special education advisor), implement a care package, access medical treatment and therapies and source equipment. This would take place pending the stage at which it is appropriate to settle the case for the child or young adult, taking into account their individual circumstances.
There are several fantastic charities that provide support to those living with cerebral palsy and their families. Stewarts is part of the legal panel for PEEPS, the only UK charity dedicated to supporting those affected by hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE). Caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain either before or after birth, HIE can cause serious brain injury and cerebral palsy. Stewarts supports PEEPS to increase awareness and understanding of HIE by offering our expertise to advise families who have been affected, by helping them navigate any potential legal claims and providing any other legal support they may require.
Stewarts is recognised as one of the UK’s leading law firms specialising in representing patients who have sustained a catastrophic injury. We have particular expertise in brain injury cases, including brain injuries sustained at birth and in the neonatal period. We are one of only two firms in London recognised by The Legal 500 directory for achieving the “client satisfaction” quality mark.
You can find further information regarding our expertise, experience and team on our Medical Negligence page.
If you require assistance from our team, please contact us.
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