Dear ELAS Member                             

Welcome to the final edition of the ELAS newsletter for this academic year. As the ELAS office ‘breaks up’ for the summer I would just like to keep you updated with the Association’s activities past, present and future.

News roundup…

• Our year ended with the summer Schools SIG, with traditional strawberries and wine, held in June, which looked at, “Current trends in educational negligence”. Oliver Hyams led the discussion and the event was hosted by Hardwicke and chaired by David Lawson.
• ELAS response to the SEN and Disability Green paper consultation following the SEN SIG meeting, held in May, Gail Treml collated the responses sent to her by ELAS members and the association submission, be found on http://www.educationlawassociation.org.uk/consultations.htm , was delivered to the Secretary. We await the outcome of the consultation due in ‘the autumn’ and according to the DfE that should be October.
• Also in June the Legal aid reform: consultation response and Bill were published by the MoJ. The ELAS response to the consultation, compiled on or behalf by Eleanor Wright, we hope had some impact.

On to the future, our next major event will be the

7^th Annual Conference - Education in the Big Society – 12^th October 2011 at Bevan Brittan, Fleet Place House, 2 Fleet Place, Holborn Viaduct, London EC4M 7RF

A number of changes are taking place in the organisation of the annual conference this year. However, you can be assured that none of these will affect the quality of the presentations. The date has been moved from our traditional September to October 12^th and the booking process will be altered slightly so that wherever possible it can be done on line.

We have also changed the venue for our conference. This will mean that we are able to keep costs down without, we are sure, affecting the success of this well established event.

The agenda is still to be finalised but we are delighted to announce that Tanya Callman will once again Chair the conference.

The speakers we have secured so far include Christine Lenehan - Director, Council for Disabled Children
Transition Information Network Administrator who will talk about the current state of law and disability and young people. Caraline Johnson – Senior Associate – Bevan Brittan will talk on issues of child protection. ELAS Chairman Oliver Hyams, Barrister Devereux Chambers will be speaking.

Topics we will be covering include School Discipline, updates that affect members from DfE or any ramifications of Michael Gove pronouncements, and the latest on SEN developments legislation.

A full Conference Agenda as it is finalised, and booking details, will be sent to all members after the Executive Committee Meeting in late August.

AGM 2011- October 12^th 2011

This year’s AGM will be held during the Annual Conference.

ELAS members will probably be aware that we have had considerable difficulty in achieving a quorate vote to implement recommended amendments to update the association governing document and to bring it in line with new Company Law provisions. EC also wish to make the following specific changes:

• To make the holding of an Annual General Meeting discretionary and not mandatory; and
• To clarify the process of election to the Executive Body.

The high percentage of members required to respond favourably to a resolution proposed at an EGM and even higher numbers required to  return a positive written resolution has led to an hiatus in the process with no action being able to be taken. To resolve the situation once and for all we will hold a formal, but short,  AGM. The agenda will include, along with the required business, the following Special Resolution

1.    That Education Law Association's Articles of Association be amended
by deleting all the provisions of Education Law Association's Memorandum of
Association (which, by virtue of section 28 Companies Act 2006, are to be
treated as provisions of Education Law Association's Articles of
Association); and

2.    That the regulations contained in the document produced to the
meeting and for the purposes of identification initialled by the Chairman
thereof be approved and adopted as the Articles of Association of Education
Law Association in substitution for and to the exclusion of the existing
Articles of Association.

 

Full Agenda papers will be sent to all members, via email, at the end of August.

Annual Membership Renewals for 2011-2012

 

As a charity ELAS does not make a profit, and we do offer extremely good value in all we offer our members. ELAS subscriptions have not risen since 2004. Sadly costs have not remained constant during that time, so reluctantly EC will be recommending an increase in subscription costs for 2011 – 2012. As our current constitution requires members to endorse such an increase we will not be implementing the increase until after the AGM 12^th October. 

Membership renewal letters will be sent, via email, out over the next few weeks, with the current and future subscriptions indicated. Those who renew their subscriptions before the end of September will not be charged the higher rate. Please could I encourage all of you to renew your membership early, and to pay your subscriptions electronically – ensuring the payment is clearly identifiable as from you.

All receipts will be sent via email.

The latest edition EPLI.

EPLI Volume 14 Issue 3 will be with you shortly. All articles are in and the editorial process is proceeding in and amongst family holidays. (Not mine this time) As members will be aware EPLI is produced entirely through the voluntary efforts of its Editors Nick Armstrong and Tessa Hetherington both extremely busy lawyers with young families. What they do produce is always well worth waiting for I know you will all agree.

This current edition is included in the subscription fees you have already paid.

Please note that the ELAS office is closed during August.

I will be working my normal hours during the month but not necessarily during ‘office hours’. I will still receive Fax messages and answer emails but the Office ‘phone will not be staffed.

Have an excellent break – those who still have that to look forward to.

For details of future events go to our Annual Calendar, for 2011 - 2012 which will also be available at the end of August on the ELAS website. www.educationlawassociation.org.uk

 

 

Catherine Croft – Executive Officer