About Eva
Securing school placements and the education provision children need to thrive. Empowering parents and educators to problem solve. It is a privilege to have a professional role that is personally meaningful and share relationships with clients characterised by mutual trust, respect and straight talking.
Eva is an expert in cases involving special educational needs and disability (SEND), equality act claims, admissions, exclusions, complaints and school governance in the independent and maintained sector.
Identified as a leader in the field, Eva has specialist knowledge in neurodevelopmental conditions such as ADHD, autism, cerebral palsy, dyslexia and dyspraxia. She has a particular interest in cases involving ‘dual exceptionality’.
It is Eva's personal experience of SEND and exclusion that fuels her passion for this area of law and informs her empathetic style of client care. Eva believes that the problem with trying to fit a ‘square peg’ child into the round hole of an education system is not that the hammering is hard work; rather you risk destroying the peg! Eva’s role is focused on squaring the circle and making the education system more fit for purpose. Where school is not appropriate, she secures comprehensive highly individualised education otherwise than at school.
Eva is an efficient lawyer who has excellent client care skills and is not afraid to take on opponents.
Chambers (2021)
Contributing co-author of Understanding ADHD in Girls and Women, Eva is committed to raising awareness around neurodivergence. Concerned by inequality of opportunity and access to justice in education, she partners with a number of charities to provide free information, advice and support to parents of children with SEND.
Eva Akins is remarkable in her skills of forward-thinking, leaving no stone unturned and being prepared for every eventually. I am blown away by her genuine care, empathy and compassion, and her ability to balance this with her exceptional knowledge of the law to achieve great effect.
Experience
Eva's experience includes:
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Disability discrimination claims: successful disability discrimination claims against numerous independent and state schools for unfavourable treatment of disabled children and failure to make reasonable adjustments including securing reinstatement following exclusion
- Admission appeals: countless school places secured, reception, secondary and in year including 'super selective' grammars schools
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SEND appeals: naming of highly specialist, ordinary independent and mainstream schools in EHCPs including but not limited to:
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- Treloar’s
- St Piers
- The Lodden
- Ingfield Manor
- Blossom House
- Westminster School
- Moor House
- Kingswood House
- More House
- New College Worcester
- Mary Hare
- Radnor House
- Hampton School
- Ewell College
- West Heath
- Unsted Park
- Burlington House (Moat School)
- Chelsea Group of Children
- St Dominics
- Les Petite Etoiles
- Bramley Hill
- St Johns
- Oakwood College
- Tadley Court
- Fairley House
- Undershaw
- Canbury
- Muntham House
- Kisimul
- Lionheart Education
- Northease
- The Stable
- Queensmill
- Moon Hall
- Brookways
- Wandle Valley
- Berkhamstead
- Surbiton High
- Parkwood Hall
- Falcon Boys
- Maida Vale
- Sackville
- Waldegrave
- Orchard Hill
She is a well-known lawyer in the education law world who is a go-to for parents. Eva provides clear and pragmatic advice, and is able to mould an excellent legal case.
Memberships
- Member of the Education Law Association
Eva is a formidable advocate with extensive experience which she uses to provide tailored practical and sound advice to clients.
Publications
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Understanding ADHD in Girls and Women (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2021)
Awards and accreditations
Eva's highlights
