The Children and Families Act 2014 (Transitional and Saving Provisions) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2015

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order amends the Children and Families Act 2014 (Transitional and Saving Provisions) (No. 2) Order 2014 (the Transitional Order).

Article 3 amends Article 21 of the Transitional Order so that on and after 1st September 2015, where a decision has been made to prepare an EHC plan following an EHC needs assessment under Part 5 of the Transitional Order, the EHC plan is required to be finalised within the period of 18 weeks beginning with the day on which the EHC needs assessment began. Article 3(3) inserts a new paragraph (3A) into Article 21 which has the effect that, if notice of an assessment has been provided before 1st September 2015, then the EHC plan will continue to be required to be finalised within the period of 14 weeks beginning with the day on which the EHC needs assessment began.

Article 4 amends Article 22 so that on and after 1st September 2015, where a decision has been made not to prepare an EHC plan following an EHC needs assessment under Part 5 of the Transitional Order, notification of that decision must be given within the period of 14 weeks beginning with the day on which the EHC needs assessment began. Article 4(3) inserts a new paragraph (3A) into Article 22 with the effect that, if notice of an assessment has been provided before 1st September 2015, the period within which notification of the decision must be given continues to be 10 weeks.

Articles 6 and 7 make similar amendments to Article 34 and 35 of the Transitional Order in respect of detained persons under Part 7.

Article 5 amends Article 24 of the Transitional Order so that, where a local authority decides to replace a statement for a child or young person with an EHC plan following re-assessment under Article 23, the EHC plan is required to be finalised within the period of 18 weeks beginning with the day on which the request for assessment was made or the assessment was ordered on appeal. Where the request or order was made before 1st September the finalised EHC plan will continue to be required within 14 weeks. Article 5(1)(c) also clarifies that where Article 24(2) refers to assessments being ordered on appeal, it is referring to cases falling within Article 23(4).