Children and Families Act 2014

Status:

This is the original version (as it was originally enacted).

PART 3Children and young people in England with special educational needs or disabilities

Local authority functions: general principles

19Local authority functions: supporting and involving children and young people

In exercising a function under this Part in the case of a child or young person, a local authority in England must have regard to the following matters in particular—

(a)the views, wishes and feelings of the child and his or her parent, or the young person;

(b)the importance of the child and his or her parent, or the young person, participating as fully as possible in decisions relating to the exercise of the function concerned;

(c)the importance of the child and his or her parent, or the young person, being provided with the information and support necessary to enable participation in those decisions;

(d)the need to support the child and his or her parent, or the young person, in order to facilitate the development of the child or young person and to help him or her achieve the best possible educational and other outcomes.

Special educational needs etc

20When a child or young person has special educational needs

(1)A child or young person has special educational needs if he or she has a learning difficulty or disability which calls for special educational provision to be made for him or her.

(2)A child of compulsory school age or a young person has a learning difficulty or disability if he or she—

(a)has a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age, or

(b)has a disability which prevents or hinders him or her from making use of facilities of a kind generally provided for others of the same age in mainstream schools or mainstream post-16 institutions.

(3)A child under compulsory school age has a learning difficulty or disability if he or she is likely to be within subsection (2) when of compulsory school age (or would be likely, if no special educational provision were made).

(4)A child or young person does not have a learning difficulty or disability solely because the language (or form of language) in which he or she is or will be taught is different from a language (or form of language) which is or has been spoken at home.

(5)This section applies for the purposes of this Part.

21Special educational provision, health care provision and social care provision

(1)“Special educational provision”, for a child aged two or more or a young person, means educational or training provision that is additional to, or different from, that made generally for others of the same age in—

(a)mainstream schools in England,

(b)maintained nursery schools in England,

(c)mainstream post-16 institutions in England, or

(d)places in England at which relevant early years education is provided.

(2)“Special educational provision”, for a child aged under two, means educational provision of any kind.

(3)“Health care provision” means the provision of health care services as part of the comprehensive health service in England continued under section 1(1) of the National Health Service Act 2006.

(4)“Social care provision” means the provision made by a local authority in the exercise of its social services functions.

(5)Health care provision or social care provision which educates or trains a child or young person is to be treated as special educational provision (instead of health care provision or social care provision).

(6)This section applies for the purposes of this Part.

Identifying children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities

22Identifying children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities

A local authority in England must exercise its functions with a view to securing that it identifies—

(a)all the children and young people in its area who have or may have special educational needs, and

(b)all the children and young people in its area who have a disability.

23Duty of health bodies to bring certain children to local authority’s attention

(1)This section applies where, in the course of exercising functions in relation to a child who is under compulsory school age, a clinical commissioning group, NHS trust or NHS foundation trust form the opinion that the child has (or probably has) special educational needs or a disability.

(2)The group or trust must—

(a)inform the child’s parent of their opinion and of their duty under subsection (3), and

(b)give the child’s parent an opportunity to discuss their opinion with an officer of the group or trust.

(3)The group or trust must then bring their opinion to the attention of the appropriate local authority in England.

(4)If the group or trust think a particular voluntary organisation is likely to be able to give the parent advice or assistance in connection with any special educational needs or disability the child may have, they must inform the parent of that.

Children and young people for whom a local authority is responsible

24When a local authority is responsible for a child or young person

(1)A local authority in England is responsible for a child or young person if he or she is in the authority’s area and has been—

(a)identified by the authority as someone who has or may have special educational needs, or

(b)brought to the authority’s attention by any person as someone who has or may have special educational needs.

(2)This section applies for the purposes of this Part.

Education, health and care provision: integration and joint commissioning

25Promoting integration

(1)A local authority in England must exercise its functions under this Part with a view to ensuring the integration of educational provision and training provision with health care provision and social care provision, where it thinks that this would—

(a)promote the well-being of children or young people in its area who have special educational needs or a disability, or

(b)improve the quality of special educational provision—

(i)made in its area for children or young people who have special educational needs, or

(ii)made outside its area for children or young people for whom it is responsible who have special educational needs.

(2)The reference in subsection (1) to the well-being of children and young people is to their well-being so far as relating to—

(a)physical and mental health and emotional well-being;

(b)protection from abuse and neglect;

(c)control by them over their day-to-day lives;

(d)participation in education, training or recreation;

(e)social and economic well-being;

(f)domestic, family and personal relationships;

(g)the contribution made by them to society.

26Joint commissioning arrangements

(1)A local authority in England and its partner commissioning bodies must make arrangements (“joint commissioning arrangements”) about the education, health and care provision to be secured for—

(a)children and young people for whom the authority is responsible who have special educational needs, and

(b)children and young people in the authority’s area who have a disability.

(2)In this Part “education, health and care provision” means—

(a)special educational provision;

(b)health care provision;

(c)social care provision.

(3)Joint commissioning arrangements must include arrangements for considering and agreeing—

(a)the education, health and care provision reasonably required by—

(i)the learning difficulties and disabilities which result in the children and young people within subsection (1)(a) having special educational needs, and

(ii)the disabilities of the children and young people within subsection (1)(b);

(b)what education, health and care provision is to be secured;

(c)by whom education, health and care provision is to be secured;

(d)what advice and information is to be provided about education, health and care provision;

(e)by whom, to whom and how such advice and information is to be provided;

(f)how complaints about education, health and care provision may be made and are to be dealt with;

(g)procedures for ensuring that disputes between the parties to the joint commissioning arrangements are resolved as quickly as possible.

(4)Joint commissioning arrangements about securing education, health and care provision must in particular include arrangements for—

(a)securing EHC needs assessments;

(b)securing the education, health and care provision specified in EHC plans;

(c)agreeing personal budgets under section 49.

(5)Joint commissioning arrangements may also include other provision.

(6)The parties to joint commissioning arrangements must—

(a)have regard to them in the exercise of their functions, and

(b)keep them under review.

(7)Section 116B of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (duty to have regard to assessment of relevant needs and joint health and wellbeing strategy) applies in relation to functions exercisable under this section.

(8)A local authority’s “partner commissioning bodies” are—

(a)the National Health Service Commissioning Board, to the extent that it is under a duty under section 3B of the National Health Service Act 2006 to arrange for the provision of services or facilities for—

(i)any children and young people for whom the authority is responsible who have special educational needs, or

(ii)any children and young people in the authority’s area who have a disability, and

(b)each clinical commissioning group that is under a duty under section 3 of that Act to arrange for the provision of services or facilities for any children and young people within paragraph (a).

(9)Regulations may prescribe circumstances in which a clinical commissioning group that would otherwise be a partner commissioning body of a local authority by virtue of subsection (8)(b) is to be treated as not being a partner commissioning body of the authority.

Review of education and care provision

27Duty to keep education and care provision under review

(1)A local authority in England must keep under review—

(a)the educational provision, training provision and social care provision made in its area for children and young people who have special educational needs or a disability, and

(b)the educational provision, training provision and social care provision made outside its area for—

(i)children and young people for whom it is responsible who have special educational needs, and

(ii)children and young people in its area who have a disability.

(2)The authority must consider the extent to which the provision referred to in subsection (1)(a) and (b) is sufficient to meet the educational needs, training needs and social care needs of the children and young people concerned.

(3)In exercising its functions under this section, the authority must consult—

(a)children and young people in its area with special educational needs, and the parents of children in its area with special educational needs;

(b)children and young people in its area who have a disability, and the parents of children in its area who have a disability;

(c)the governing bodies of maintained schools and maintained nursery schools in its area;

(d)the proprietors of Academies in its area;

(e)the governing bodies, proprietors or principals of post-16 institutions in its area;

(f)the governing bodies of non-maintained special schools in its area;

(g)the advisory boards of children’s centres in its area;

(h)the providers of relevant early years education in its area;

(i)the governing bodies, proprietors or principals of other schools and post-16 institutions in England and Wales that the authority thinks are or are likely to be attended by—

(i)children or young people for whom it is responsible, or

(ii)children or young people in its area who have a disability;

(j)a youth offending team that the authority thinks has functions in relation to—

(i)children or young people for whom it is responsible, or

(ii)children or young people in its area who have a disability;

(k)such other persons as the authority thinks appropriate.

(4)Section 116B of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (duty to have regard to assessment of relevant needs and joint health and wellbeing strategy) applies in relation to functions exercisable under this section.

(5)“Children’s centre” has the meaning given by section 5A(4) of the Childcare Act 2006.

Co-operation and assistance

28Co-operating generally: local authority functions

(1)A local authority in England must co-operate with each of its local partners, and each local partner must co-operate with the authority, in the exercise of the authority’s functions under this Part.

(2)Each of the following is a local partner of a local authority in England for this purpose—

(a)where the authority is a county council for an area for which there is also a district council, the district council;

(b)the governing body of a maintained school or maintained nursery school that is maintained by the authority or provides education or training for children or young people for whom the authority is responsible;

(c)the proprietor of an Academy that is in the authority’s area or provides education or training for children or young people for whom the authority is responsible;

(d)the proprietor of a non-maintained special school that is in the authority’s area or provides education or training for children or young people for whom the authority is responsible;

(e)the governing body of an institution within the further education sector that is in the authority’s area, or is attended, or likely to be attended, by children or young people for whom the authority is responsible;

(f)the management committee of a pupil referral unit that is in the authority’s area, or is in England and is or is likely to be attended by children or young people for whom the authority is responsible;

(g)the proprietor of an institution approved by the Secretary of State under section 41 (independent special schools and special post 16 institutions: approval) that is in the authority’s area, or is attended, or likely to be attended, by children or young people for whom the authority is responsible;

(h)any other person (other than a school or post-16 institution) that makes special educational provision for a child or young person for whom the authority is responsible;

(i)a youth offending team that the authority thinks has functions in relation to children or young people for whom it is responsible;

(j)a person in charge of relevant youth accommodation—

(i)in which there are detained persons aged 18 or under for whom the authority was responsible immediately before the beginning of their detention, or

(ii)that the authority thinks is accommodation in which such persons are likely to be detained;

(k)the National Health Service Commissioning Board;

(l)a clinical commissioning group—

(i)whose area coincides with, or falls wholly or partly within, the authority’s area, or

(ii)which is under a duty under section 3 of the National Health Service Act 2006 to arrange for the provision of services or facilities for any children and young people for whom the authority is responsible;

(m)an NHS trust or NHS foundation trust which provides services in the authority’s area, or which exercises functions in relation to children or young people for whom the authority is responsible;

(n)a Local Health Board which exercises functions in relation to children or young people for whom the authority is responsible.

(3)A local authority in England must make arrangements for ensuring co-operation between—

(a)the officers of the authority who exercise the authority’s functions relating to education or training,

(b)the officers of the authority who exercise the authority’s social services functions for children or young people with special educational needs, and

(c)the officers of the authority, so far as they are not officers within paragraph (a) or (b), who exercise the authority’s functions relating to provision which is within section 30(2)(e) (provision to assist in preparing children and young people for adulthood and independent living).

(4)Regulations may prescribe circumstances in which a clinical commissioning group that would otherwise be a local partner of a local authority by virtue of subsection (2)(l)(ii) is to be treated as not being a local partner of the authority.

29Co-operating generally: governing body functions

(1)This section applies where an appropriate authority for a school or post-16 institution mentioned in subsection (2) has functions under this Part.

(2)The schools and post-16 institutions referred to in subsection (1) are—

(a)mainstream schools;

(b)maintained nursery schools;

(d)institutions within the further education sector;

(e)pupil referral units;

(f)alternative provision Academies.

(3)The appropriate authority must co-operate with each responsible local authority, and each responsible local authority must co-operate with the appropriate authority, in the exercise of those functions.

(4)A responsible local authority, in relation to an appropriate authority for a school or post-16 institution mentioned in subsection (2), is a local authority in England that is responsible for any child or young person who is a registered pupil or a student at the school or post-16 institution.

(5)The “appropriate authority” for a school or post-16 institution is—

(a)in the case of a maintained school, maintained nursery school, or institution within the further education sector, the governing body;

(b)in the case of an Academy, the proprietor;

(c)in the case of a pupil referral unit, the management committee.

Information and advice

30Local offer

(1)A local authority in England must publish information about—

(a)the provision within subsection (2) it expects to be available in its area at the time of publication for children and young people who have special educational needs or a disability, and

(b)the provision within subsection (2) it expects to be available outside its area at that time for—

(i)children and young people for whom it is responsible, and

(ii)children and young people in its area who have a disability.

(2)The provision for children and young people referred to in subsection (1) is—

(a)education, health and care provision;

(b)other educational provision;

(c)other training provision;

(d)arrangements for travel to and from schools and post-16 institutions and places at which relevant early years education is provided;

(e)provision to assist in preparing children and young people for adulthood and independent living.

(3)For the purposes of subsection (2)(e), provision to assist in preparation for adulthood and independent living includes provision relating to—

(a)finding employment;

(b)obtaining accommodation;

(c)participation in society.

(4)Information required to be published by an authority under this section is to be known as its “local offer”.

(5)A local authority must keep its local offer under review and may from time to time revise it.

(6)A local authority must from time to time publish—

(a)comments about its local offer it has received from or on behalf of—

(i)children and young people with special educational needs, and the parents of children with special educational needs, and

(ii)children and young people who have a disability, and the parents of children who have a disability, and

(b)the authority’s response to those comments (including details of any action the authority intends to take).

(7)Comments published under subsection (6)(a) must be published in a form that does not enable the person making them to be identified.

(8)Regulations may make provision about—

(a)the information to be included in an authority’s local offer;

(b)how an authority’s local offer is to be published;

(c)who is to be consulted by an authority in preparing and reviewing its local offer;

(d)how an authority is to involve—

(i)children and young people with special educational needs, and the parents of children with special educational needs, and

(ii)children and young people who have a disability, and the parents of children who have a disability,

in the preparation and review of its local offer;

(e)the publication of comments on the local offer, and the local authority’s response, under subsection (6) (including circumstances in which comments are not required to be published).

(9)The regulations may in particular require an authority’s local offer to include—

(a)information about how to obtain an EHC needs assessment;

(b)information about other sources of information, advice and support for—

(i)children and young people with special educational needs and those who care for them, and

(ii)children and young people who have a disability and those who care for them;

(c)information about gaining access to provision additional to, or different from, the provision mentioned in subsection (2);

(d)information about how to make a complaint about provision mentioned in subsection (2).

31Co-operating in specific cases: local authority functions

(1)This section applies where a local authority in England requests the co-operation of any of the following persons and bodies in the exercise of a function under this Part—

(a)another local authority;

(b)a youth offending team;

(c)the person in charge of any relevant youth accommodation;

(d)the National Health Service Commissioning Board;

(e)a clinical commissioning group;

(f)a Local Health Board;

(g)an NHS trust or NHS foundation trust.

(2)The person or body must comply with the request, unless the person or body considers that doing so would—

(a)be incompatible with the duties of the person or body, or

(b)otherwise have an adverse effect on the exercise of the functions of the person or body.

(3)A person or body that decides not to comply with a request under subsection (1) must give the authority that made the request written reasons for the decision.

(4)Regulations may provide that, where a person or body is under a duty to comply with a request to co-operate with a local authority in securing an EHC needs assessment, a detained person’s EHC needs assessment or the preparation of an EHC plan, the person or body must comply with the request within a prescribed period, unless a prescribed exception applies.

32Advice and information

(1)A local authority in England must arrange for children and young people for whom it is responsible, and the parents of children for whom it is responsible, to be provided with advice and information about matters relating to the special educational needs of the children or young people concerned.

(2)A local authority in England must arrange for children and young people in its area with a disability, and the parents of children in its area with a disability, to be provided with advice and information about matters relating to the disabilities of the children or young people concerned.

(3)The authority must take such steps as it thinks appropriate for making the services provided under subsections (1) and (2) known to—

(a)the parents of children in its area;

(b)children in its area;

(c)young people in its area;

(d)the head teachers, proprietors and principals of schools and post-16 institutions in its area.

(4)The authority may also take such steps as it thinks appropriate for making the services provided under subsections (1) and (2) known to such other persons as it thinks appropriate.

Mainstream education

33Children and young people with EHC plans

(1)This section applies where a local authority is securing the preparation of an EHC plan for a child or young person who is to be educated in a school or post-16 institution.

(2)In a case within section 39(5) or 40(2), the local authority must secure that the plan provides for the child or young person to be educated in a maintained nursery school, mainstream school or mainstream post-16 institution, unless that is incompatible with—

(a)the wishes of the child’s parent or the young person, or

(b)the provision of efficient education for others.

(3)A local authority may rely on the exception in subsection (2)(b) in relation to maintained nursery schools, mainstream schools or mainstream post-16 institutions in its area taken as a whole only if it shows that there are no reasonable steps that it could take to prevent the incompatibility.

(4)A local authority may rely on the exception in subsection (2)(b) in relation to a particular maintained nursery school, mainstream school or mainstream post-16 institution only if it shows that there are no reasonable steps that it or the governing body, proprietor or principal could take to prevent the incompatibility.

(5)The governing body, proprietor or principal of a maintained nursery school, mainstream school or mainstream post-16 institution may rely on the exception in subsection (2)(b) only if they show that there are no reasonable steps that they or the local authority could take to prevent the incompatibility.

(6)Subsection (2) does not prevent the child or young person from being educated in an independent school, a non-maintained special school or a special post-16 institution, if the cost is not to be met by a local authority or the Secretary of State.

(7)This section does not affect the operation of section 63 (fees payable by local authority for special educational provision at non-maintained schools and post-16 institutions).

34Children and young people with special educational needs but no EHC plan

(1)This section applies to a child or young person in England who has special educational needs but for whom no EHC plan is maintained, if he or she is to be educated in a school or post-16 institution.

(2)The child or young person must be educated in a maintained nursery school, mainstream school or mainstream post-16 institution, subject to subsections (3) and (4).

(3)The child or young person may be educated in an independent school, a non-maintained special school or a special post-16 institution, if the cost is not to be met by a local authority or the Secretary of State.

(4)The child or young person may be educated in a special school or special post-16 institution during any period in which any of subsections (5) to (9) applies.

(5)This subsection applies while the child or young person is admitted to a special school or special post-16 institution for the purposes of an EHC needs assessment, if all the following have agreed to his or her admission to the school or post-16 institution—

(a)the local authority which is responsible for him or her;

(b)the head teacher of the school or the principal of the Academy or post-16 institution;

(c)the child’s parent or the young person;

(d)anyone else whose advice is required to be obtained in connection with the assessment by virtue of regulations under section 36(11).

(6)This subsection applies while the child or young person remains admitted to a special school or special post-16 institution, in prescribed circumstances, following an EHC needs assessment at the school or post-16 institution.

(7)This subsection applies while the child or young person is admitted to a special school or special post-16 institution, following a change in his or her circumstances, if all the following have agreed to his or her admission to the school or post-16 institution—

(a)the local authority which is responsible for him or her;

(b)the head teacher of the school or the principal of the Academy or post-16 institution;

(c)the child’s parent or the young person.

(8)This subsection applies while the child or young person is admitted to a special school which is established in a hospital and is—

(a)a community or foundation special school, or

(b)an Academy school.

(9)This subsection applies while the child is admitted to a special school or special post-16 institution that is an Academy, if the Academy arrangements made in respect of the school or post-16 institution permit it to admit children and young people with special educational needs for whom no EHC plan is maintained.

(10)This section does not affect the operation of section 63 (fees payable by local authority for special educational provision at non-maintained schools and post-16 institutions).

35Children with SEN in maintained nurseries and mainstream schools

(1)This section applies where a child with special educational needs is being educated in a maintained nursery school or a mainstream school.

(2)Those concerned with making special educational provision for the child must secure that the child engages in the activities of the school together with children who do not have special educational needs, subject to subsection (3).

(3)Subsection (2) applies only so far as is reasonably practicable and is compatible with—

(a)the child receiving the special educational provision called for by his or her special educational needs,

(b)the provision of efficient education for the children with whom he or she will be educated, and

(c)the efficient use of resources.

Assessment

36Assessment of education, health and care needs

(1)A request for a local authority in England to secure an EHC needs assessment for a child or young person may be made to the authority by the child’s parent, the young person or a person acting on behalf of a school or post-16 institution.

(2)An “EHC needs assessment” is an assessment of the educational, health care and social care needs of a child or young person.

(3)When a request is made to a local authority under subsection (1), or a local authority otherwise becomes responsible for a child or young person, the authority must determine whether it may be necessary for special educational provision to be made for the child or young person in accordance with an EHC plan.

(4)In making a determination under subsection (3), the local authority must consult the child’s parent or the young person.

(5)Where the local authority determines that it is not necessary for special educational provision to be made for the child or young person in accordance with an EHC plan it must notify the child’s parent or the young person—

(a)of the reasons for that determination, and

(b)that accordingly it has decided not to secure an EHC needs assessment for the child or young person.

(6)Subsection (7) applies where—

(a)no EHC plan is maintained for the child or young person,

(b)the child or young person has not been assessed under this section or section 71 during the previous six months, and

(c)the local authority determines that it may be necessary for special educational provision to be made for the child or young person in accordance with an EHC plan.

(7)The authority must notify the child’s parent or the young person—

(a)that it is considering securing an EHC needs assessment for the child or young person, and

(b)that the parent or young person has the right to—

(i)express views to the authority (orally or in writing), and

(ii)submit evidence to the authority.

(8)The local authority must secure an EHC needs assessment for the child or young person if, after having regard to any views expressed and evidence submitted under subsection (7), the authority is of the opinion that—

(a)the child or young person has or may have special educational needs, and

(b)it may be necessary for special educational provision to be made for the child or young person in accordance with an EHC plan.

(9)After an EHC needs assessment has been carried out, the local authority must notify the child’s parent or the young person of—

(a)the outcome of the assessment,

(b)whether it proposes to secure that an EHC plan is prepared for the child or young person, and

(c)the reasons for that decision.

(10)In making a determination or forming an opinion for the purposes of this section in relation to a young person aged over 18, a local authority must consider whether he or she requires additional time, in comparison to the majority of others of the same age who do not have special educational needs, to complete his or her education or training.

(11)Regulations may make provision about EHC needs assessments, in particular—

(a)about requests under subsection (1);

(b)imposing time limits in relation to consultation under subsection (4);

(c)about giving notice;

(d)about expressing views and submitting evidence under subsection (7);

(e)about how assessments are to be conducted;

(f)about advice to be obtained in connection with an assessment;

(g)about combining an EHC needs assessment with other assessments;

(h)about the use for the purposes of an EHC needs assessment of information obtained as a result of other assessments;

(i)about the use of information obtained as a result of an EHC needs assessment, including the use of that information for the purposes of other assessments;

(j)about the provision of information, advice and support in connection with an EHC needs assessment.

Education, health and care plans

37Education, health and care plans

(1)Where, in the light of an EHC needs assessment, it is necessary for special educational provision to be made for a child or young person in accordance with an EHC plan—

(a)the local authority must secure that an EHC plan is prepared for the child or young person, and

(b)once an EHC plan has been prepared, it must maintain the plan.

(2)For the purposes of this Part, an EHC plan is a plan specifying—

(a)the child’s or young person’s special educational needs;

(b)the outcomes sought for him or her;

(c)the special educational provision required by him or her;

(d)any health care provision reasonably required by the learning difficulties and disabilities which result in him or her having special educational needs;

(e)in the case of a child or a young person aged under 18, any social care provision which must be made for him or her by the local authority as a result of section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 (as it applies by virtue of section 28A of that Act);

(f)any social care provision reasonably required by the learning difficulties and disabilities which result in the child or young person having special educational needs, to the extent that the provision is not already specified in the plan under paragraph (e).

(3)An EHC plan may also specify other health care and social care provision reasonably required by the child or young person.

(4)Regulations may make provision about the preparation, content, maintenance, amendment and disclosure of EHC plans.

(5)Regulations under subsection (4) about amendments of EHC plans must include provision applying section 33 (mainstream education for children and young people with EHC plans) to a case where an EHC plan is to be amended under those regulations.

38Preparation of EHC plans: draft plan

(1)Where a local authority is required to secure that an EHC plan is prepared for a child or young person, it must consult the child’s parent or the young person about the content of the plan during the preparation of a draft of the plan.

(2)The local authority must then—

(a)send the draft plan to the child’s parent or the young person, and

(b)give the parent or young person notice of his or her right to—

(i)make representations about the content of the draft plan, and

(ii)request the authority to secure that a particular school or other institution within subsection (3) is named in the plan.

(3)A school or other institution is within this subsection if it is—

(a)a maintained school;

(b)a maintained nursery school;

(c)an Academy;

(d)an institution within the further education sector in England;

(e)a non-maintained special school;

(f)an institution approved by the Secretary of State under section 41 (independent special schools and special post-16 institutions: approval).

(4)A notice under subsection (2)(b) must specify a period before the end of which any representations or requests must be made.

(5)The draft EHC plan sent to the child’s parent or the young person must not—

(a)name a school or other institution, or

(b)specify a type of school or other institution.

39Finalising EHC plans: request for particular school or other institution

(1)This section applies where, before the end of the period specified in a notice under section 38(2)(b), a request is made to a local authority to secure that a particular school or other institution is named in an EHC plan.

(2)The local authority must consult—

(a)the governing body, proprietor or principal of the school or other institution,

(b)the governing body, proprietor or principal of any other school or other institution the authority is considering having named in the plan, and

(c)if a school or other institution is within paragraph (a) or (b) and is maintained by another local authority, that authority.

(3)The local authority must secure that the EHC plan names the school or other institution specified in the request, unless subsection (4) applies.

(4)This subsection applies where—

(a)the school or other institution requested is unsuitable for the age, ability, aptitude or special educational needs of the child or young person concerned, or

(b)the attendance of the child or young person at the requested school or other institution would be incompatible with—

(i)the provision of efficient education for others, or

(ii)the efficient use of resources.

(5)Where subsection (4) applies, the local authority must secure that the plan—

(a)names a school or other institution which the local authority thinks would be appropriate for the child or young person, or

(b)specifies the type of school or other institution which the local authority thinks would be appropriate for the child or young person.

(6)Before securing that the plan names a school or other institution under subsection (5)(a), the local authority must (if it has not already done so) consult—

(a)the governing body, proprietor or principal of any school or other institution the authority is considering having named in the plan, and

(b)if that school or other institution is maintained by another local authority, that authority.

(7)The local authority must, at the end of the period specified in the notice under section 38(2)(b), secure that any changes it thinks necessary are made to the draft EHC plan.

(8)The local authority must send a copy of the finalised EHC plan to—

(a)the child’s parent or the young person, and

(b)the governing body, proprietor or principal of any school or other institution named in the plan.

40Finalising EHC plans: no request for particular school or other institution

(1)This section applies where no request is made to a local authority before the end of the period specified in a notice under section 38(2)(b) to secure that a particular school or other institution is named in an EHC plan.

(2)The local authority must secure that the plan—

(a)names a school or other institution which the local authority thinks would be appropriate for the child or young person concerned, or

(b)specifies the type of school or other institution which the local authority thinks would be appropriate for the child or young person.

(3)Before securing that the plan names a school or other institution under subsection (2)(a), the local authority must consult—

(a)the governing body, proprietor or principal of any school or other institution the authority is considering having named in the plan, and

(b)if that school or other institution is maintained by another local authority, that authority.

(4)The local authority must also secure that any changes it thinks necessary are made to the draft EHC plan.

(5)The local authority must send a copy of the finalised EHC plan to—

(a)the child’s parent or the young person, and

(b)the governing body, proprietor or principal of any school or other institution named in the plan.

41Independent special schools and special post-16 institutions: approval

(1)The Secretary of State may approve an institution within subsection (2) for the purpose of enabling the institution to be the subject of a request for it to be named in an EHC plan.

(2)An institution is within this subsection if it is—

(a)an independent educational institution (within the meaning of Chapter 1 of Part 4 of ESA 2008)—

(i)which has been entered on the register of independent educational institutions in England (kept under section 95 of that Act), and

(ii)which is specially organised to make special educational provision for students with special educational needs,

(b)an independent school—

(i)which has been entered on the register of independent schools in Wales (kept under section 158 of the Education Act 2002), and

(ii)which is specially organised to make special educational provision for pupils with special educational needs, or

(c)a special post-16 institution which is not an institution within the further education sector or a 16 to 19 Academy.

(3)The Secretary of State may approve an institution under subsection (1) only if its proprietor consents.

(4)The Secretary of State may withdraw approval given under subsection (1).

(5)Regulations may make provision about giving and withdrawing approval under this section, in particular—

(a)about the types of special post-16 institutions which may be approved under subsection (1);

(b)specifying criteria which an institution must meet before it can be approved under subsection (1);

(c)about the matters which may or must be taken into account in deciding to give or withdraw approval;

(d)about the publication of a list of all institutions who are approved under this section.

42Duty to secure special educational provision and health care provision in accordance with EHC Plan

(1)This section applies where a local authority maintains an EHC plan for a child or young person.

(2)The local authority must secure the specified special educational provision for the child or young person.

(3)If the plan specifies health care provision, the responsible commissioning body must arrange the specified health care provision for the child or young person.

(4)“The responsible commissioning body”, in relation to any specified health care provision, means the body (or each body) that is under a duty to arrange health care provision of that kind in respect of the child or young person.

(5)Subsections (2) and (3) do not apply if the child’s parent or the young person has made suitable alternative arrangements.

(6)“Specified”, in relation to an EHC plan, means specified in the plan.

43Schools and other institutions named in EHC plan: duty to admit

(1)Subsection (2) applies if one of the following is named in an EHC plan—

(a)a maintained school;

(b)a maintained nursery school;

(c)an Academy;

(d)an institution within the further education sector in England;

(e)a non-maintained special school;

(f)an institution approved by the Secretary of State under section 41.

(2)The governing body, proprietor or principal of the school or other institution must admit the child or young person for whom the plan is maintained.

(3)Subsection (2) has effect regardless of any duty imposed on the governing body of a school by section 1(6) of SSFA 1998.

(4)Subsection (2) does not affect any power to exclude a pupil or student from a school or other institution.

44Reviews and re-assessments

(1)A local authority must review an EHC plan that it maintains—

(a)in the period of 12 months starting with the date on which the plan was first made, and

(b)in each subsequent period of 12 months starting with the date on which the plan was last reviewed under this section.

(2)A local authority must secure a re-assessment of the educational, health care and social care needs of a child or young person for whom it maintains an EHC plan if a request is made to it by—

(a)the child’s parent or the young person, or

(b)the governing body, proprietor or principal of the school, post-16 institution or other institution which the child or young person attends.

(3)A local authority may also secure a re-assessment of those needs at any other time if it thinks it necessary.

(4)Subsections (1) and (2) are subject to any contrary provision in regulations made under subsection (7)(b).

(5)In reviewing an EHC plan maintained for a young person aged over 18, or deciding whether to secure a re-assessment of the needs of such a young person, a local authority must have regard to whether the educational or training outcomes specified in the plan have been achieved.

(6)During a review or re-assessment, a local authority must consult the parent of the child, or the young person, for whom it maintains the EHC plan.

(7)Regulations may make provision about reviews and re-assessments, in particular—

(a)about other circumstances in which a local authority must or may review an EHC plan or secure a re-assessment (including before the end of a specified phase of a child’s or young person’s education);

(b)about circumstances in which it is not necessary for a local authority to review an EHC plan or secure a re-assessment;

(c)about amending or replacing an EHC plan following a review or re-assessment.

(8)Regulations under subsection (7) about re-assessments may in particular apply provisions of or made under this Part that are applicable to EHC needs assessments, with or without modifications.

(9)Regulations under subsection (7)(c) must include provision applying section 33 (mainstream education for children and young people with EHC plans) to a case where an EHC plan is to be amended following a review.

45Ceasing to maintain an EHC plan

(1)A local authority may cease to maintain an EHC plan for a child or young person only if—

(a)the authority is no longer responsible for the child or young person, or

(b)the authority determines that it is no longer necessary for the plan to be maintained.

(2)The circumstances in which it is no longer necessary for an EHC plan to be maintained for a child or young person include where the child or young person no longer requires the special educational provision specified in the plan.

(3)When determining whether a young person aged over 18 no longer requires the special educational provision specified in his or her EHC plan, a local authority must have regard to whether the educational or training outcomes specified in the plan have been achieved.

(4)A local authority may not cease to maintain an EHC plan for a child or young person until—

(a)after the end of the period allowed for bringing an appeal under section 51 against its decision to cease to maintain the plan, where no such appeal is brought before the end of that period;

(b)after the appeal has been finally determined, where such an appeal is brought before the end of that period.

(5)Regulations may make provision about ceasing to maintain an EHC plan, in particular about—

(a)other circumstances in which it is no longer necessary for an EHC plan to be maintained;

(b)circumstances in which a local authority may not determine that it is no longer necessary for an EHC plan to be maintained;

(c)the procedure to be followed by a local authority when determining whether to cease to maintain an EHC plan.

46Maintaining an EHC plan after young person’s 25th birthday

(1)A local authority may continue to maintain an EHC plan for a young person until the end of the academic year during which the young person attains the age of 25.

(2)“Academic year” means the period of twelve months ending on the prescribed date.

47Transfer of EHC plans

(1)Regulations may make provision for an EHC plan maintained for a child or young person by one local authority to be transferred to another local authority in England, where the other authority becomes responsible for the child or young person.

(2)The regulations may in particular—

(a)impose a duty on the other authority to maintain the plan;

(b)treat the plan as if originally prepared by the other authority;

(c)treat things done by the transferring authority in relation to the plan as done by the other authority.

48Release of child or young person for whom EHC plan previously maintained

(1)This section applies where—

(a)a child or young person who has been subject to a detention order (within the meaning of section 562(1A)(a) of EA 1996) is released,

(b)on the release date, a local authority in England becomes responsible for him or her, and

(c)an EHC plan was—

(i)maintained for him or her immediately before the start of the detention, or

(ii)kept for him or her under section 74 during the detention.

(2)The local authority must—

(a)maintain the plan, and

(b)review the plan as soon as reasonably practicable after the release date.

(3)Subsection (2)(b) is subject to any contrary provision in regulations under section 44(7)(b).

49Personal budgets and direct payments

(1)A local authority that maintains an EHC plan, or is securing the preparation of an EHC plan, for a child or young person must prepare a personal budget for him or her if asked to do so by the child’s parent or the young person.

(2)The authority prepares a “personal budget” for the child or young person if it identifies an amount as available to secure particular provision that is specified, or proposed to be specified, in the EHC plan, with a view to the child’s parent or the young person being involved in securing the provision.

(3)Regulations may make provision about personal budgets, in particular—

(a)about requests for personal budgets;

(b)about the amount of a personal budget;

(c)about the sources of the funds making up a personal budget;

(d)for payments (“direct payments”) representing all or part of a personal budget to be made to a child’s parent or a young person, or a person of a prescribed description in prescribed circumstances, in order to secure provision to which the budget relates;

(e)about the description of provision to which personal budgets and direct payments may (and may not) relate;

(f)for a personal budget or direct payment to cover the agreed cost of the provision to which the budget or payment relates;

(g)about when, how, to whom and on what conditions direct payments may (and may not) be made;

(h)about when direct payments may be required to be repaid and the recovery of unpaid sums;

(i)about conditions with which a person or body making direct payments must comply before, after or at the time of making a direct payment;

(j)about arrangements for providing information, advice or support in connection with personal budgets and direct payments.

(4)If the regulations include provision authorising direct payments, they must—

(a)require the consent of a child’s parent or a young person, or a person of a prescribed description in prescribed circumstances, to be obtained before direct payments are made;

(b)require the authority to stop making direct payments where the required consent is withdrawn.

(5)Special educational provision acquired by means of a direct payment made by a local authority is to be treated as having been secured by the authority in pursuance of its duty under section 42(2), subject to any prescribed conditions or exceptions.

(6)Subsection (7) applies if—

(a)an EHC plan is maintained for a child or young person, and

(b)health care provision specified in the plan is acquired for him or her by means of a payment made by a commissioning body under section 12A(1) of the National Health Service Act 2006 (direct payments for health care).

(7)The health care provision is to be treated as having been arranged by the commissioning body in pursuance of its duty under section 42(3) of this Act, subject to any prescribed conditions or exceptions.

(8)“Commissioning body”, in relation to any specified health care provision, means a body that is under a duty to arrange health care provision of that kind in respect of the child or young person.

50Continuation of services under section 17 of the Children Act 1989

After section 17 of the Children Act 1989 (provision of services for children etc) insert—

“17ZGSection 17 services: continued provision where EHC plan maintained

(1)This section applies where, immediately before a child in need reaches the age of 18—

(a)a local authority in England is providing services for the child in the exercise of functions conferred by section 17, and

(b)an EHC plan is maintained for the child.

(2)The local authority may continue to provide services for the child in the exercise of those functions after the child reaches the age of 18, but may not continue to do so after the EHC plan has ceased to be maintained.

(3)In this section “EHC plan” means a plan within section 37(2) of the Children and Families Act 2014.”

Appeals, mediation and dispute resolution

51Appeals

(1)A child’s parent or a young person may appeal to the First-tier Tribunal against the matters set out in subsection (2), subject to section 55 (mediation).

(2)The matters are—

(a)a decision of a local authority not to secure an EHC needs assessment for the child or young person;

(b)a decision of a local authority, following an EHC needs assessment, that it is not necessary for special educational provision to be made for the child or young person in accordance with an EHC plan;

(c)where an EHC plan is maintained for the child or young person—

(i)the child’s or young person’s special educational needs as specified in the plan;

(ii)the special educational provision specified in the plan;

(iii)the school or other institution named in the plan, or the type of school or other institution specified in the plan;

(iv)if no school or other institution is named in the plan, that fact;

(d)a decision of a local authority not to secure a re-assessment of the needs of the child or young person under section 44 following a request to do so;

(e)a decision of a local authority not to secure the amendment or replacement of an EHC plan it maintains for the child or young person following a review or re-assessment under section 44;

(f)a decision of a local authority under section 45 to cease to maintain an EHC plan for the child or young person.

(3)A child’s parent or a young person may appeal to the First-tier Tribunal under subsection (2)(c)—

(a)when an EHC plan is first finalised for the child or young person, and

(b)following an amendment or replacement of the plan.

(4)Regulations may make provision about appeals to the First-tier Tribunal in respect of EHC needs assessments and EHC plans, in particular about—

(a)other matters relating to EHC plans against which appeals may be brought;

(b)making and determining appeals;

(c)the powers of the First-tier Tribunal on determining an appeal;

(d)unopposed appeals.

(5)Regulations under subsection (4)(c) may include provision conferring power on the First-tier Tribunal, on determining an appeal against a matter, to make recommendations in respect of other matters (including matters against which no appeal may be brought).

(6)A person commits an offence if without reasonable excuse that person fails to comply with any requirement—

(a)in respect of the discovery or inspection of documents, or

(b)to attend to give evidence and produce documents,

where that requirement is imposed by Tribunal Procedure Rules in relation to an appeal under this section or regulations under subsection (4)(a).

(7)A person guilty of an offence under subsection (6) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

52Right to mediation

(1)This section applies where—

(a)a decision against which an appeal may be brought under section 51 is made in respect of a child or young person, or

(b)an EHC plan for a child or young person is made, amended or replaced.

(2)Before the end of the prescribed period after the decision is made, or the plan is made, amended or replaced, the local authority must notify the child’s parent or the young person of—

(a)the right to mediation under section 53 or 54, and

(b)the requirement to obtain a certificate under section 55 before making certain appeals.

(3)If the parent or young person wishes to pursue mediation under section 53 or 54, he or she must inform the local authority of—

(a)that fact, and

(b)the issues in respect of which he or she wishes to pursue mediation (“the mediation issues”).

(4)If the mediation issues are, or include, the fact that no health care provision, or no health care provision of a particular kind, is specified in the plan, the parent or young person must also inform the local authority of the health care provision which he or she wishes to be specified in the plan.

53Mediation: health care issues

(1)This section applies where—

(a)the parent or young person informs the local authority under section 52 that he or she wishes to pursue mediation, and

(b)the mediation issues include health care provision specified in the plan or the fact that no health care provision, or no health care provision of a particular kind, is specified in the plan.

(2)The local authority must notify each relevant commissioning body of—

(a)the mediation issues, and

(b)anything of which it has been informed by the parent or young person under section 52(4).

(3)If the mediation issues are limited to the health care provision specified in the plan or the fact that no health care provision, or no health care provision of a particular kind, is specified in the plan, the responsible commissioning body (or, where there is more than one, the responsible commissioning bodies acting jointly) must—

(a)arrange for mediation between it (or them) and the parent or young person,

(b)ensure that the mediation is conducted by an independent person, and

(c)participate in the mediation.

(4)If the mediation issues include anything else—

(a)the local authority must—

(i)arrange for mediation between it, each responsible commissioning body and the parent or young person,

(ii)ensure that the mediation is conducted by an independent person, and

(iii)participate in the mediation, and

(b)each responsible commissioning body must also participate in the mediation.

(5)For the purposes of this section, a person is not independent if he or she is employed by any of the following—

(a)a local authority in England;

(b)a clinical commissioning group;

(c)the National Health Service Commissioning Board.

(6)In this section “responsible commissioning body”—

(a)if the mediation issues in question are or include the health care provision specified in an EHC plan, means a body that is under a duty to arrange health care provision of that kind in respect of the child or young person;

(b)if the mediation issues in question are or include the fact that no health care provision, or no health care provision of a particular kind, is specified in an EHC plan, means a body that would be under a duty to arrange health care provision of the kind in question if it were specified in the plan.

54Mediation: educational and social care issues etc

(1)This section applies where—

(a)the parent or young person informs the local authority under section 52 that he or she wishes to pursue mediation, and

(b)the mediation issues do not include health care provision specified in the plan or the fact that no health care provision, or no health care provision of a particular kind, is specified in the plan.

(2)The local authority must—

(a)arrange for mediation between it and the parent or young person,

(b)ensure that the mediation is conducted by an independent person, and

(c)participate in the mediation.

(3)For the purposes of this section, a person is not independent if he or she is employed by a local authority in England.

55Mediation

(1)This section applies where a child’s parent or young person intends to appeal to the First-tier Tribunal under section 51 or regulations made under that section in respect of—

(a)a decision of a local authority, or

(b)the content of an EHC plan maintained by a local authority.

(2)But this section does not apply in respect of an appeal concerning only—

(a)the school or other institution named in an EHC plan;

(b)the type of school or other institution specified in an EHC plan;

(c)the fact that an EHC plan does not name a school or other institution.

(3)The parent or young person may make the appeal only if a mediation adviser has issued a certificate to him or her under subsection (4) or (5).

(4)A mediation adviser must issue a certificate under this subsection to the parent or young person if—

(a)the adviser has provided him or her with information and advice about pursuing mediation under section 53 or 54, and

(b)the parent or young person has informed the adviser that he or she does not wish to pursue mediation.

(5)A mediation adviser must issue a certificate under this subsection to the parent or young person if the adviser has provided him or her with information and advice about pursuing mediation under section 53 or 54, and the parent or young person has—

(a)informed the adviser that he or she wishes to pursue mediation under the appropriate section, and

(b)participated in such mediation.

56Mediation: supplementary

(1)Regulations may make provision for the purposes of sections 52 to 55, in particular—

(a)about giving notice;

(b)imposing time limits;

(c)enabling a local authority or commissioning body to take prescribed steps following the conclusion of mediation;

(d)about who may attend mediation;

(e)where a child’s parent is a party to mediation, requiring the mediator to take reasonable steps to ascertain the views of the child;

(f)about the provision of advocacy and other support services for the parent or young person;

(g)requiring a local authority or commissioning body to pay reasonable travel expenses and other expenses of a prescribed description, up to any prescribed limit;

(h)about exceptions to the requirement in section 55(3);

(i)about the training, qualifications and experience of mediators and mediation advisers;

(j)conferring powers or imposing requirements on local authorities, commissioning bodies, mediators and mediation advisers.

(2)In section 55 and this section “mediation adviser” means an independent person who can provide information and advice about pursuing mediation.

(3)For the purposes of subsection (2), a person is not independent if he or she is employed by any of the following—

(a)a local authority in England;

(b)a clinical commissioning group;

(c)the National Health Service Commissioning Board.

(4)In this section “commissioning body” means a body that is under a duty to arrange health care provision of any kind.

57Resolution of disagreements

(1)A local authority in England must make arrangements with a view to avoiding or resolving disagreements within subsection (2) or (3).

(2)The disagreements within this subsection are those about the exercise by the local authority or relevant bodies of their functions under this Part, where the disagreement is between—

(a)the local authority or a relevant body, and

(b)the parents of children, and young people, in the authority’s area.

(3)The disagreements within this subsection are those about the exercise by the local authority of its functions relating to EHC needs assessments, the preparation and review of EHC plans, and re-assessment of educational, health care and social care needs, where the disagreement is between—

(a)the local authority and a responsible commissioning body, or

(b)a responsible commissioning body and the parents of children, or young people, in the authority’s area.

(4)A local authority in England must make arrangements with a view to avoiding or resolving, in each relevant school or post-16 institution, disagreements within subsection (5).

(5)The disagreements within this subsection are those about the special educational provision made for a child or young person with special educational needs who is a registered pupil or a student at the relevant school or post-16 institution concerned, where the disagreement is between—

(a)the child’s parent, or the young person, and

(b)the appropriate authority for the school or post-16 institution.

(6)Arrangements within this section must provide for the appointment of independent persons with the function of facilitating the avoidance or resolution of the disagreements to which the arrangements apply.

(7)For the purposes of subsection (6) a person is not independent if he or she is employed by any of the following—

(a)a local authority in England;

(b)a clinical commissioning group;

(c)the National Health Service Commissioning Board.

(8)A local authority in England must take such steps as it thinks appropriate for making the arrangements under this section known to—

(a)the parents of children in its area with special educational needs,

(b)young people in its area with special educational needs, and

(c)the head teachers, governing bodies, proprietors and principals of schools and post-16 institutions in its area.

(9)A local authority in England may take such steps as it thinks appropriate for making the arrangements under this section known to such other persons as it thinks appropriate.

(10)In this section—

“relevant body” means—
(a)
the governing body of a maintained school, maintained nursery school or institution within the further education sector;
(b)
the proprietor of an Academy;
“relevant school or post-16 institution” means—
(a)
a maintained school;
(b)
a maintained nursery school;
(c)
a post-16 institution;
(d)
an Academy;
(e)
an independent school;
(f)
a non-maintained special school;
(g)
a pupil referral unit;
(h)
a place at which relevant early years education is provided;
“responsible commissioning body”, in relation to any particular health care provision, means a body that is under a duty to arrange health care provision of that kind in respect of the child or young person concerned.

(11)For the purposes of this section, the “appropriate authority” for a relevant school or post-16 institution is—

(a)in the case of a maintained school, maintained nursery school or non-maintained special school, the governing body;

(b)in the case of a post-16 institution, the governing body, proprietor or principal;

(c)in the case of an Academy or independent school, the proprietor;

(d)in the case of a pupil referral unit, the management committee;

(e)in the case of a place at which relevant early years education is provided, the provider of the relevant early years education.

58Appeals and claims by children: pilot schemes

(1)The Secretary of State may by order make pilot schemes enabling children in England to—

(a)appeal to the First-tier Tribunal under section 51;

(b)make a claim to the First-tier Tribunal under Schedule 17 to the Equality Act 2010 (disabled pupils: enforcement) that a responsible body in England has contravened Chapter 1 of Part 6 of that Act because of the child’s disability.

(2)An order under subsection (1) may, in particular, make provision—

(a)about the age from which children may appeal or make a claim;

(b)in respect of appeals under section 51, about mediation and the application of section 55;

(c)about the bringing of appeals or making of claims by a child and by his or her parent concurrently;

(d)about determining whether a child is capable of bringing an appeal or making a claim, and the assistance and support a child may require to be able to do so;

(e)enabling a person to exercise a child’s rights under an order under subsection (1) on behalf of the child;

(f)enabling children to have access to advice and information which is available to a parent or young person in respect of an appeal or claim of a kind mentioned in subsection (1);

(g)about the provision of advocacy and other support services to children;

(h)requiring notices to be given to a child (as well as to his or her parent);

(i)requiring documents to be served on a child (as well as on his or her parent).

(3)An order under subsection (1) may apply a statutory provision, with or without modifications.

(4)In subsection (3), “statutory provision” means a provision made by or under this or any other Act, whenever passed or made.

(5)This section is repealed at the end of five years beginning with the day on which this Act is passed.

59Appeals and claims by children: follow-up provision

(1)The Secretary of State may by order provide that children in England may—

(a)appeal to the First-tier Tribunal under section 51;

(2)The Secretary of State may not make an order under subsection (1) until the end of two years beginning with the day on which the first order is made under section 58(1).

(3)An order under subsection (1) may, in particular, make provision—