MG&Co has issued proceedings challenging our client’s exclusion from the early years nursery scheme. In 2014 the government announced funding for a ‘fairness premium’ which entitled all disadvantaged 2-year-olds to 15 hours per week of free pre-school education. The scheme aimed  to narrow the gap in...

Matthew Gold and Company solicitors has launched a legal challenge against the continued exclusion of many children from low-income families, including the children of key workers, from the Free School Meals scheme. Following a previous threat of judicial review (read here), the Government extended Free School...

On 7 May 2020 the judgment in the OA v London Borough of Bexley case was handed down. Although the claim for judicial review was dismissed, the Judge made a number of useful comments relating to the exercise of local authorities powers under section 17(3)...

Almost a month after schools closed their doors, the government announced a ‘major package to support online learning’ by providing laptops and internet access to disadvantaged children. Despite the claim that this support will “enable all children to continue learning now”, in fact only care-leavers,...

In response to the increased demands and pressures faced by Local Authorities amidst the coronavirus pandemic, the Government has published guidance outlining its advice to Local Authorities regarding Children's Social Care. What does the guidance cover? The guidance is aimed at Local Authorities ("LAs"), those with corporate...

In response to MG&Co’s letter threatening judicial review on behalf of six children, the Secretary of State for Education has agreed to extend free school meal entitlement during the current Covid-19 crisis. The original eligibility criteria required parents to be claiming certain welfare benefits. It therefore...

MG&Co represented a vulnerable and homeless 6 month old baby and his mother in an urgent judicial review challenge to a local authority’s refusal to provide support  pending completion of an assessment of the child’s needs under section 17 of the Children Act 1989. The family...

The Maughan hearing will be live-streamed from court room 2, you can access the broadcast from here: https://www.supremecourt.uk/live/court-02.html Key information On 26 and 27 February 2020 the Supreme Court will decide what is the standard of proof for finding a short form and narrative conclusion of suicide. The...

Background We recently acted for a vulnerable young adult who had been assessed by his local authority as having adoption support needs and required psycho-therapy as a result. His local authority made an application to the Adoption Support Fund (“ASF”), a scheme run by the Department for...