Contact our offices
Make an enquiry
How can we help?
Our specialist Ofsted defence lawyers have years’ of experience of providing advice and representation to providers and managers in relation to Ofsted appeals to the first-tier tribunal (health, education and social care chamber). Our Ofsted lawyers deal with the first-tier tribunal and Ofsted on a regular basis and provide specialist advice at all stages, from lodging the initial appeal right up until the final appeal hearings.
It is essential that you seek specialist legal advice before lodging an appeal as this is often your last chance to avoid the closure of your business. We understand how this can have severe financial consequences, as well as a devastating effect on staff and service users/children, who may have worked or used the service for many years.
For a confidential discussion with a member of our team, please contact us on 0161 696 6250 or complete our online enquiry form.
Our specialist Ofsted lawyers provide advice and representation at all stages of an Ofsted appeal to the first-tier tribunal (health, education and social care chamber), including:
You can read about some of our recent appeal cases on our Ofsted case studies page.
The time limit that applies can vary depending on the type of action taken by Ofsted and the type of provider being regulated.
However, if Ofsted issue you with a notice of decision to cancel, suspend, impose or vary a condition of your registration or issue you with a notice restricting accommodation, you usually have 28 days to lodge an appeal against this decision to the first-tier tribunal (health, education and social care chamber). If an appeal is lodged against a decision to cancel or vary a condition, this usually has the effect of suspending Ofsted’s decision until such a time that the appeal has been dealt with, which can often take several months. For appeals against suspension notices and restrictions of accommodation, the notice will remain in force until the appeal has been heard. In these cases, the hearing will be dealt with by the tribunal on an urgent basis.
If you are an early years provider or childminder and Ofsted issue you with an urgent suspension notice, you usually have ten working days to lodge an appeal against this decision to the first-tier tribunal (health, education and social care chamber). The setting will remain suspended whilst the appeal is considered and for this reason, the tribunal will aim to hear the appeal within a matter of weeks.
We understand how important it is for you to act quickly in these circumstances and our specialist Ofsted lawyers are therefore always prepared and on hand to assist at short notice. Our specialist Ofsted lawyers provide clear and strategic advice to help protect your interest, and can represent you and your business if you wish to appeal a decision that has reached the first-tier tribunal. Our specialist Ofsted lawyers have achieved success in appeals to the first-tier tribunal for a range of services. If you need legal advice and advocacy for a first-tier tribunal (health, education and social care chamber), contact us today for no-obligation initial advice on 0161 696 6250 or complete our online enquiry form.
loading staff
If you have been referred to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), you may be feeling anxious and uncertain about what lies ahead. As specialist NMC solicitors, we understand how daunting this process can be. The NMC’s fitness to practise process...
March 2025 charity challenge in support of our colleague, Martyn Jackson
In October 2024, one of our friends and colleagues, Martyn Jackson sadly fell very ill. Thankfully, he is now on the mend and so we feel it is the right time for the Stephensons family to show him some support! In March 2025 the regulatory team will be...
Ofsted team reorder
