8.—(1) Where a local authority requests the co-operation of a body in securing an EHC needs assessment in accordance with section 31 of the Act, that body must comply with such a request within 6 weeks of the date on which they receive it.
(2) A body need not comply with the time limit referred to in paragraph (1) if it is impractical to do so because—
(a)exceptional circumstances affect the child, the child’s parent or the young person during that 6 week period;
(b)the child, the child’s parent or the young person are absent from the area of the authority for a continuous period of not less than 4 weeks during that 6 week period; or
(c)the child or young person fails to keep an appointment for an examination or a test made by the body during that 6 week period.