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EDUCATION AND CHILDCARE SOLICITORS

Legal support for the people who teach and care

We act for nurseries, independent schools, tutoring businesses and training providers across the UK, keeping your parent contracts, your safeguarding records and your staff terms in order so that the setting runs as well as the learning it delivers. A fixed monthly fee, with no hourly billing.

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COMMON PROBLEMS IN EDUCATION AND CHILDCARE

The problems that bring education and childcare providers to us

The framework moved on 1 September 2026, when a new Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework took effect with tighter recruitment and reporting duties. These are the six situations we are asked about most, and what each one turns on.

The September 2026 framework changed two things that touch recruitment directly. A provider onboarding staff the way it did last year is now out of step with it.

Dr Jackie Nagtegaal

Co-founder and Director, Lawyerly

Portrait photo

Dr Jackie Nagtegaal

Co-founder and Director, Lawyerly

A new starter is waiting on clearance Under the framework that took effect on 1 September 2026 a new employee may not begin work before a criminal records check has been received, and enhanced DBS checks now extend to volunteers, including those who are supervised.
Something happened and we are unsure whether to report it The reporting threshold to Ofsted moved from serious harm to harm, which is a lower bar than most existing policies were written to, so the policy usually needs revisiting rather than the practice.
Registration is in question Provision for children under five in England goes on the Early Years Register and provision for children aged five to seven on the compulsory part of the Childcare Register. The exemptions are narrower than providers tend to assume.
A parent contract is not holding Fees, notice, late collection charges, funded hours and what may be charged alongside them. These are consumer contracts, so an unfair term can simply be unenforceable.
Staffing is tight and ratios are the constraint Qualification requirements, paediatric first aid, the suitability and disqualification rules, and how cover can lawfully be arranged when someone is absent.
The premises are changing Planning use class, lease terms, outdoor space, and the safety requirements that sit in the statutory framework rather than in the lease.
OUR LEGAL EXPERTISE

We understand the business behind the setting

A nursery group, an independent school and a tutoring company face different legal questions. We act across education and childcare on the commercial and regulatory side of the organisation, and shape our advice to the way you enrol, staff and fund the setting.

  • Nurseries and early years

    Day nurseries, pre-schools, childminding agencies and out-of-school clubs registered with Ofsted.

  • Independent schools

    Independent and specialist schools, sixth-form colleges and international schools operating in England and Wales.

  • Tutoring and supplementary education

    Tutoring centres, online tutoring platforms, language schools and supplementary education providers.

  • Training and vocational providers

    Apprenticeship and training providers, professional education businesses and skills academies working with funding bodies.

  • Education suppliers and edtech

    Software, resources and services supplied to schools and providers, and the data protection questions that come with them.

LEGAL SERVICES FOR EDUCATION AND CHILDCARE PROVIDERS

Take care of the legal side of the setting

From day-to-day contract work to the questions particular to education and childcare, our solicitors work alongside you so that the organisation is compliant, its fees are secure and its staff are on the right terms.

  • Parent and learner contracts

    Enrolment and parent agreements, fee schedules and increases, notice and cancellation terms, deposit provisions and terms for funded hours.

  • Safeguarding and regulatory compliance

    Safeguarding policies and records, DBS and barred list checks, the single central record, Ofsted and inspectorate requirements and complaints procedures.

  • Employment and HR

    Contracts for teachers, practitioners, tutors and support staff, safer recruitment, self-employed tutor terms, disciplinary matters and TUPE.

  • Children's data and UK GDPR compliance

    Privacy notices for parents and pupils, consent for photographs and online services, the Children's code, subject access requests and processor terms with edtech suppliers.

  • Health, safety and premises

    Risk assessments, premises and outdoor space requirements, nursery and school leases, planning use and fit-out provisions.

  • Curriculum content and IP

    Copyright in lesson plans and resources, trade marks for the setting and its programmes, licensing content to other providers and franchising a model.

  • Fee recovery and disputes

    Unpaid fees, disputes with parents and learners and disagreements with staff and suppliers, resolved directly with the other party rather than through the courts.

  • Structure, funding and growth

    Company and charity structures, governance documents, funding agreements, acquisitions of settings, partnerships and expansion to further sites.

Legal risk check

Is your education or childcare business legally protected?

Our solicitors built this check around what a solid legal setup looks like for an education or childcare business: the foundations they put in place and the gaps they fix. Answer honestly and you will see where yours stands and where it needs strengthening.

About 3 minutes · Confidential

Your result

Where you are exposed

    The full report shows your score in each area, every gap with why it matters, and what to fix first.

    Your full report

    Unlock your full report

    A few details about the business and the report opens here, with every area scored and what to fix first.

    Preparing your full report

    Your full report

    Breakdown by area

    Next step

    Ready to act on this?

    A focused conversation with one of our founders about your priority gaps, a remediation plan you can act on, and fixed fees agreed up front.

    Where to focus first

    From your answers, these are the highest-impact gaps to address. Items tagged critical are the ones most likely to turn into a claim, a penalty or a lost customer.

      Section by section

      Your answers, your score, and why each area matters. Items with a marker are gaps worth attention.

      Now that you have the full picture, the next step is a short call to agree what to fix first.

      This report is generated from your self-reported answers and provides general information only. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. The regulatory landscape in this area is evolving rapidly. For advice specific to your circumstances, please speak with a qualified solicitor. © Lawyerly Ltd.

      CLIENT TESTIMONIALS

      What our clients say about working with us

      4.8 on Google

      Real support. Ideal for founders like me.

      As an early-stage startup founder, legal fees have always been a challenge. I've turned to AI, but it doesn't give personalised support. Lawyerly delivers the real thing on a subscription.

      Tessinita Okoye Founder, Better You and Friends
      CONTACT US

      Talk to us about your education business

      Book a complimentary consultation with our team. We will take the time to understand how you enrol, staff and run the setting, and explain how we can support you.

      Willem van der Merwe

      Co-Founder

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