The School Inclusion Project (‘SIP’) is a forum coordinated by the Garden Court Chambers Education Law Team in partnership with the Communities Empowerment Network, Coram Children’s Legal Centre and the Law Centres Network.
Racialised minority and SEND children, and others who experience structural oppression, are disproportionately excluded from school. Evidence shows that exclusions harm children’s mental health and long term educational prospects, and that they increase the likelihood of social exclusion and engagement in criminal activity (the ‘school-to-prison pipeline’).
SIP is shortlisted for Pro Bono Initiative of the Year at the Bar Pro Bono Awards 2025, and was shortlisted for Pro Bono Initiative of the Year at the Legal 500 UK ESG Awards.
SIP GOALS
- Facilitate referrals for legal representation in school exclusion hearings and related legal proceedings;
- Share knowledge and best practice; and
- Identify and address systemic issues
SIP Group Communication
Most of SIP’s communications will be by email (via GoogleGroup), with meetings throughout the year for SIP members to discuss topical issues. SIP is only open to individuals and organisations that predominantly support children who have been excluded and/or discriminated against in school. Any individual who predominantly represents schools, local authorities or similar organisations on school exclusion/inclusion issues should not be a member of SIP.
An email protocol for the SIP email group can be found here.
Key information on how to make a referral for SIP can be found here.
Past events
SIP Policy Meeting, 12 March 2025
SIP Policy Meeting, 12 June 2024
SIP Policy Meeting, 7 February 2024
SIP Meeting, 2 December 2022
SIP Training, 10 November 2021
SIP Launch Event, 20 July 2021
Become a member
To become a member of SIP (including being added to the GoogleGroup), please complete the form below. Please read our privacy policy to understand how we use and protect the information sent to us.
