Schools and education authorities have an anticipatory duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled pupils under the Equality Act 2010. This means that they have to take positive steps to ensure that disabled pupils can fully participate in education and other aspects of school life. In March 2020, schools, teachers, pupils, parents and carers had to rapidly adapt to online learning. This webinar explores the challenges of accessing Covid-safe reasonable adjustments in remote learning and in schools as we begin to emerge from the pandemic.

The webinar will cover:

• The legal framework with a focus on the reasonable adjustment duty in schools

• Reflections on the complexities of accessing and providing reasonable adjustments during the pandemic

• Presentations from services which offer advice and representation to disabled pupils and their parents and carers

• Equality and Human Rights Commission: powers, remit and how we can help

• There will be time for questions

Audience

This webinar will be of interest to lawyers, advisers and third sector organisations who provide information, advice, representation and support to disabled pupils and their parents and carers.

Speakers

Mark Patterson, Advice and Information Officer, Enquire

Mark has been an advice and information officer with Enquire for three years, advising parents, carers, young people and professionals on additional support for learning matters. Mark has also overseen Enquire’s coronavirus webpages which have aimed to help explain the various changes to laws and guidance impacting on children’s support for learning throughout the pandemic.

Iain Nisbet, Consultant solicitor, Cairn Legal

Iain Nisbet is an education law solicitor, with particular expertise and interest in additional support needs law and equality law in education.

Ranked in the Education (Individuals) category (UK-wide), Chambers 2020 says of him: Iain Nisbet is regarded as "a leading expert in education law in Scotland" and regularly acts for parents of special needs children in a range of matters. He is particularly strong in appeals concerning admission into special schools, as well as cases relating to exclusions and breaches of the Equality Act.

Jennifer Barr, Let’s talk ASN / Govan Law Centre

Jennifer Barr is the Senior Solicitor within the Education Law Unit at Govan Law Centre. The Education Law Unit is responsible for running the national Let’s Talk ASN Scotland service which represents parents and young people at the Additional Support Needs Tribunal within the Health and Education Chamber of the First Tier Tribunal for Scotland. Furthermore, the ELU undertakes strategic work in relating to education law and promoting additional support for learning policies and practice.

David Faith, EHRC

David is a Solicitor in the EHRC Scotland legal team. He previously worked as a solicitor for University of Strathclyde and also has experience working in policy roles for anti-poverty and children’s rights organisations in the third sector.

The event will be hosted on Zoom, which is supported by most current Operating Systems and Browsers. Full joining instructions will be sent prior to the event.