3.—(1) An appropriate agency need not meet the time limit under regulation 2 if it complies with paragraph (2) below and meeting that time limit would be impractical because–
(a)before the expiry of that time limit a process of assessment or examination of the child or young person who is the subject of the request–
(i)cannot take place; or
(ii)the results of that process are not available;
(b)the child or young person failed to keep an appointment for an assessment or examination before the expiry of that time limit;
(c)it was necessary for that agency to ask for relevant advice or information from another appropriate agency or any other person and such advice or information has not been provided before the expiry of the time limit in response to such an inquiry made before that expiry.
(2) The appropriate agency must, when it becomes aware that the time limit under regulation 2 cannot be met, inform the education authority which made the request of–
(a)the reason why the time limit cannot be complied with; and
(b)a new date by which the help requested will be provided.
(3) The date established under paragraph (2)(b) above must not exceed the time limit referred to in regulation 2 by longer than is reasonably necessary in the circumstances and in any event must be not later than 16 weeks starting on the date when the request was made by the authority.