Part VU.K. Nursery education

Further provisions relating to nursery educationU.K.

123 Children with special educational needs.E+W

(1)It shall be the duty of—

(a)any [F1local authority] [F2in England] or other person providing [F3 relevant early years education], and

(b)any person employed by such an authority or other person, or otherwise engaged to provide his services, in the provision of such education,

[F4to have regard to the provisions of the code of practice issued under section 77 of the Children and Families Act 2014 (in the case of education in England) F5....]

[F6(1A)Subsection (1) does not apply in so far as the person in question is already under a duty to have regard to the provisions of the code of practice in question.]

(2)[F7The code of practice in question] may include practical guidance in respect of the provision of [F8relevant early years education] for children with special educational needs in circumstances where functions under [F9Part 3 of the Children and Families Act 2014 F10...] do not fall to be discharged.

(3)But unless [F11the code of practice in question] includes provision made by virtue of subsection (2)—

(a)the Secretary of State shall publish a document explaining how the practical guidance contained in that code applies in circumstances where functions under [F12Part 3 of the Children and Families Act 2014] F13... 1996 do not fall to be discharged, and

(b)the duty imposed by subsection (1) includes a duty to have regard to the provisions of that document.

[F14(3A)Subsection (3B) applies if—

(a)a [F1local authority] or other person providing [F15relevant early years education] for a child makes special educational provision for him because it is considered that he has special educational needs;

(b)no [F16EHC plan ] F17... 1996 is maintained for the child; and

(c)his parent has not previously been informed under subsection (3B) of the special educational provision made for him.

(3B)The [F1local authority] or other person concerned must inform the child’s parent that special educational provision is being made for him because it is considered that he has special educational needs.]

[F18(4)In this section “relevant early years education” means—

(a)in relation to England, early years provision as defined by section 20 of the Childcare Act 2006 which is—

[F19(i)]provided under arrangements made by a local authority in England in pursuance of the duty imposed by section 7 of that Act (whether or not the local authority provides the early years provision); [F20or

(ii)provided under arrangements made by a local authority in pursuance of any duty imposed under section 2 of the Childcare Act 2016 (whether or not the local authority provides the early years provision);]

F21(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

Textual Amendments

F1Words in Act substituted (5.5.2010) by The Local Education Authorities and Children’s Services Authorities (Integration of Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/1158), art. 1, Sch. 2 para. 10(2) (with Sch. 2 para. 10(4))

F14S. 123(3A)(3B) inserted (1.1.2002 for E. and 1.4.2002 for W.) by 2001 c. 10, ss. 7(2), 43(3) (with s. 43(13)); S.I. 2001/2217, art. 5, Sch. Pt. II (which S.I. was amended by S.I. 2001/2614, art. 4); S.I. 2002/74, art. 5, Sch. Pt. II