Matthew Wyard
Matthew is a public law barrister specialising in disputes arising in the fields of education, health and social care. He has a particular expertise in the devolved regime in Wales having spent the first four years of his career working in the public law team of a national law firm’s Cardiff office. Alongside his core areas of practice, Matthew is developing an expertise in technology and information related issues with a particular interest in artificial intelligence and data privacy.
Matthew is the only barrister ranked in the independent directories for his expertise in Welsh specific education law and the only barrister practising from a chambers outside of Wales ranked for Court of Protection and community care work.
Alongside his busy barrister’s practise, Matthew sits as a Chair in the Valuation Tribunal for England and is a non-executive director of a higher education institution.
Practice Areas
Panel
- Welsh Panel
Qualified Year
- 2014
Experience
- Sinclairslaw (2016 - 2020)
- Match Solicitors (2014 - 2016)
Membership
- Chair, Valuation Tribunal for England
- Attorney General’s Panel of Counsel to the Crown
- The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn
- Education Law Associate
- Court of Protection Practitioners Association
Qualifications
- LLB (Hons) (2012)
- PgDip (BPTC) (2013)
Education
- University of Surrey (2008-2012)
- City Law School (2012-2013)
1 Contributions by Matthew Wyard
PRACTICE NOTES
Special educational needs in England: identifying needs, distinguishing educational from health/social care provision, EHCP drafting and enforceability, and SENDIST appeals
Local authorities (LAs) are under a duty, in specified circumstances, to ensure that children and young persons with special educational needs receive the special educational provision required. In carrying out these functions, a local authority will set out a child’s identified needs within an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP), differentiating educational needs from health or social care needs. While preparing the plan, the authority identifies what constitutes educational provision—intended to meet educational needs—and what amounts to provision for health and social care. This divide matters because it determines who is responsible for delivering the necessary provision and how it can be enforced. For an LA, this bears on budgets; for a parent or young person, it concerns practical delivery. This Practice Note describes the process for identifying SEN provision in England and explores the distinction between educational needs and other needs. For the position in Wales, see Practice Note: Special educational needs law in Wales.
What is a special educational need?
In England, a child or young person has...
Local Government
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