Free legal advice is now available in Manchester and Birmingham for families seeking to challenge unfair decisions to exclude their children from school.

Department for Education figures reveal that there were 758 permanent exclusions in the West Midlands in the 2017-18 academic year, as well as 655 in Greater Manchester.

More than 13,000 West Midlands pupils also received at least one fixed-term exclusion over the same time period – 11,138 in the case of Greater Manchester pupils.

Charity Just for Kids Law, which seeks to ensure the rights of children are respected, has partnered with law firm Fieldfisher to open legal clinics in both these areas.

Aika Stephenson, the charity’s founder and legal director, said: “These children often end up struggling to access the education they need to progress in their lives, with too many falling prey to criminal exploitation and getting funnelled into a life of crime.

“It is vital that all families have access to the legal advice and representation they need to ensure their voices are heard and their rights respected in appeal hearings.”

Solicitors from the charity will coordinate the work from the charity’s headquarters in London, while services will be delivered by Fieldfisher’s lawyers in Birmingham and Manchester.

Refer yourself or another person to use the legal advice clinic here.