The Education Act 1981, which was intended to herald a new era of improved educational provision for children with special educational needs, came fully into operation on April 1, 1983.2 In the four years that have elapsed since this inauspicious commencement date a number of important cases dealing with the impact of this legislation have come before the courts. The purpose of this article is to analyse these cases and to evaluate their significance for the future operation of the new regime.