Steve Broach KC

What a day…so grateful for the support of clerks, colleagues and especially family. Amongst many highlights was turning round after bowing to the Lord Chancellor to see an entire row of junior barristers who were my current or former pupils and juniors 😊

📢Coming up NEXT MONTH! Four webinars on 21, 23, 28 & 30 April that guide decision-makers in public bodies & those supporting them, on acting fairly and within the law. Presented in partnership with @publiclawprojct & @39EssexChambers. Book here ➡️ hi.switchy.io/to6H

The UK government received criticism for its proposed SEND reforms. We tell @lawsocgazette that it if children don't have the support they are entitled to then lawyers must be allowed to do their jobs to help parents secure the best for their children. ow.ly/uepu50YyBhy

REGISTER NOW! SNJ’s Schools White Paper SEND Legal Roundtable with @SteveBroach KC, @haylez10 (Hayley Mason-Seager), @IPSEAcharity & @SOS_SEN specialneedsjungle.com/register-now-s…

We're pleased to be joining @SpcialNdsJungle for this webinar exploring the proposed SEND reforms in the Schools White Paper. Register here: specialneedsjungle.com/register-now-s…

@KaraChrome You’re very kind - but it’s @ris_law in the lead, I’m very happy to support

Big shout-out to the wondeful @SteveBroach, who's leading on the first legal challenge to the appallingly regressive* SEND proposals in the Schools White Paper. specialneedsjungle.com/legal-challeng… *Regressive as in, 'Making things 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙚 than they were under SA, SAP and SSENs'.

Government SEND law reforms assessed by specialist lawyers: - Predetermined ‘packages’ of support will displace current provision. - A weakened SEND Tribunal may mean pupils left without a school place. lawgazette.co.uk/analysis/gover…

@AudreySuffolk @semaphorist Feel free

@SteveBroach @semaphorist I know, but for some training I’m delivering it would be good to show some examples out there. Do you mind if I quote you?

Can anyone link me to any example of a poorly written Equality Impact Assessment that isn’t related to the sex and genderism issues? Thank you

@semaphorist @AudreySuffolk Audrey’s post made me smile - I have hundreds in my files re disability, race, religion - but none where I have a link to hand I’m afraid They’re characterised by: - no engagement with the statutory ‘needs’ - superficial detriment - rush to mitigation

@AudreySuffolk @SteveBroach has done a number of cases on funding services where EqIA was contested.

I can’t see how reducing the power of the Tribunal in this key area is in any way necessary to achieve any of the government’s stated policy objectives in the reforms

What is the principled justification for proposing to remove the Tribunal’s power to name a placement for a child? I can’t see anything on this in the consultation paper - and we are told these proposals are driven by principle #SEND

@PieriMaxine That’s the proposal - a similar power to Independent Review Panels (IRPs) in school exclusion cases

@SteveBroach So the Tribunal can only now ‘quash’ the LA’s placement decision and send it back to ‘re-think’ again? Isn’t this a JR High Court remedy? A marked shift of power away from parents and back to schools and LA’s.

@ms_peaceweaver It would allow LAs to refuse to place a child at a particular school, and the Tribunal could only quash that decision and require the LA to reconsider - whereas now the Tribunal could order the school the family want to be named

@SteveBroach Would this allow mainstream schools to refuse to take kids with ECHPs, in circumstances where they would be a named school under the current system? I can imagine potential for that to go badly wrong

@CaptainK77 ‘Unfunded expectations on special schools’ was top of my bingo card for this morning

First look at the £4 billion figure that most media outlets will be leading with today Plus some extra work for special schools that doesn’t seem to come with any earmarked funding

Still interested to see this - seems we may find out tomorrow

@HenryJackson87 First half we looked like a League One team with Champions League CBs

Have been very critical of Konate this season, but he has been superb of late. Hats off to him, especially after the death of his father.

Those advocating for reduced powers for the SEND Tribunal always seem to forget that it is the current extensive powers that make the Tribunal an alternative remedy to judicial review. Doubt the SoS or her officials actually want to see school placement disputes in the High Court

This would be evidence of an incredible commissioning failure. No family wants their child to have to travel many miles to school, if it happens it’s because there is no appropriate school place locally for them

Disabled children's legal rights are "red lines" - coverage in the Guardian of our calls for the Schools White Paper. theguardian.com/education/2026…

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@HenryJackson87 King Kenny Barnes Stevie G VVD

What’s your Mount Rushmore of Liverpool players in your time watching the Reds? Mine… (Honourable mentions: Alisson, Mane, Firmino, Fowler).