The Children and Families Act 2014 (Transitional and Saving Provisions) (No. 2) Order 2014

Request for assessment not determined before commencement date

6.—(1) This Article applies in relation to a child or young person to whom this Part applies if, before the commencement date, a request was made for a local authority to make an assessment in relation to the child or young person under section 323 or 331 of EA 1996 and—

(a) the authority had not decided whether to make such an assessment before that date, or

(b) the authority had decided to make such an assessment before that date, but the assessment had not begun before that date.

(2) The old law continues to have effect in relation to the child or young person until the relevant time.

(3) The new law does not have effect in relation to the child or young person until the relevant time.

(4) The relevant time is—

(a) where the local authority decides not to make an assessment under section 323 of EA 1996 and no appeal under section 329(2) or 329A(8) of that Act is brought against that decision within the period allowed for bringing such appeals, the end of that period;

(b) where the authority decides not to make an assessment under section 323 of EA 1996 and such an appeal is brought within that period—

(i) if the appeal is withdrawn or abandoned, when it is withdrawn or abandoned;

(ii) if, on the final determination of the appeal, it is dismissed, when it is dismissed;

(iii) if, on the final determination of the appeal, the local authority is ordered to arrange for an assessment to be made in respect of the child, the time found by applying sub-paragraphs (d) to (f) following the assessment;

(c) where the authority decides not to make an assessment under section 331, when it informs the parent of the child or young person of that fact;

(d) where an assessment is made and the authority makes a statement as a result of the assessment, the time when the old law ceases to apply in relation to the child or young person by virtue of Part 5 of this Order;

(e) where an assessment is made, the authority decides not to make a statement as a result of the assessment and no appeal under section 325 of EA 1996 is brought against that decision within the period allowed for bringing such appeals, the end of that period;

(f) where an assessment is made, the authority decides not to make a statement as a result of the assessment and such an appeal is brought within that period—

(i) if the appeal is withdrawn or abandoned, when it is withdrawn or abandoned;

(ii) if, on the final determination of the appeal, it is dismissed, when it is dismissed;

(iii) if, on the final determination of the appeal, the local authority is ordered to make and maintain a statement, when the old law ceases to apply in relation to the child or young person by virtue of Part 5 of this Order;

(iv) if, on the final determination of the appeal, the local authority is ordered to reconsider whether it is necessary for the authority to determine the special educational provision which any learning difficulty the child may have calls for, the time found by applying sub-paragraphs (d) and (e) and this sub-paragraph following the reconsideration.

(5) But the following provisions of this Article apply in place of paragraphs (2) to (4) if—

(a) the local authority notifies the child’s parent or the young person that it proposes to treat the request as a request for an EHC needs assessment, and

(b) the child’s parent or the young person gives his or her consent to that course of action.

(6) The request is to be treated for all purposes as a request for an EHC needs assessment.

(7) Anything done in relation to the request is to be treated as having been done under Part 3 of the 2014 Act and the SEND Regulations 2014.

(8) Regulation 5 of the SEND Regulations 2014 has effect as if paragraph (1) of that regulation required the local authority to notify the child’s parent or the young person of its decision whether it is necessary to secure an EHC needs assessment for the child or young person as soon as is practicable and in any event within the period of 6 weeks beginning with the day on which the child’s parent or the young person gave his or her consent under paragraph (5)(b).