Citation and commencement

1.  This Order may be cited as the Children and Families Act 2014 (Transitional and Saving Provisions) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2015 and comes into force on 1st September 2015.

Amendment of the Children and Families Act 2014 (Transitional and Saving Provisions) (No. 2) Order 2014

2.  The Children and Families Act 2014 (Transitional and Saving Provisions) (No. 2) Order 2014 (2) is amended as follows.

3.  Article 21 (effect of decision to prepare EHC plan following EHC needs assessment) is amended as follows-

(1) In paragraph (2) after "subject to paragraphs (3)" insert ", (3A)".

(2) In paragraph (3)-

(a)for "Regulation 13" substitute "Subject to paragraph (3A), regulation 13"; and

(b)for "14 weeks" substitute "18 weeks".

(3) After paragraph (3) insert-

"(3A) Where notice of an assessment has been given under Article 18(1) before 1st September 2015, the finalised EHC plan is required to be sent to the parties listed in paragraph (3) as soon as is practicable, and in any event within the period of 14 weeks beginning with the day on which the EHC needs assessment began.".

4.  Article 22 (effect of decision not to prepare EHC plan following EHC needs assessment) is amended as follows-

(1) In paragraph (2) for "subject to paragraph (3)" substitute "subject to paragraphs (3) and (3A)".

(2) In paragraph (3)-

(a)for "Regulation 10" substitute "Subject to paragraph (3A), regulation 10"; and

(b)for "10 weeks" substitute "14 weeks".

(3) After paragraph (3) insert-

"(3A) Where notice of an assessment has been given under Article 18(1) before 1st September 2015, paragraph (3) of this Article applies except that regulation 10 of the SEND Regulations 2014 applies as if paragraph (1) of that regulation required the notification to be given in accordance with section 36(9) of the 2014 Act to be given as soon as is practicable, and in any event within the period of 10 weeks beginning with the day on which the EHC needs assessment began.".

5.  Article 24 (effect of decision to replace statement following re-assessment) is amended as follows-

(1) In paragraph (2)-

(a)for "Regulation 27" substitute "Subject to paragraph (2A), regulation 27";

(b)for "14 weeks" substitute "18 weeks"; and

(c)for "Article 22(4)" substitute "Article 23(4)".

(2) After paragraph (2) insert-

"(2A) Where the request for assessment was made before 1st September 2015 or, in a case within Article 23(4), the date on which the assessment was ordered on appeal was before 1st September 2015, the finalised EHC plan is required to be sent to the parties listed in paragraph (2) as soon as is practicable, and in any event within the period of 14 weeks beginning with the day on which the request was made or, in a case within Article 23(4), the assessment was ordered on appeal.".

6.  Article 34 (effect of decision to prepare EHC plan following detained person's EHC needs assessment) is amended as follows-

(1) In paragraph (2) after "subject to paragraphs (3)" insert ", (3A)".

(2) In paragraph (3)-

(a)for "Regulation 13" substitute "Subject to paragraph (3A), regulation 13"; and

(b)for "14 weeks" substitute "18 weeks".

(3) After paragraph (3) insert-

"(3A) Where notice of an assessment has been given under Article 32(1) before 1st September 2015, the finalised EHC plan is required to be sent to the parties listed in paragraph (3) as soon as is practicable, and in any event within the period of 14 weeks beginning with the day on which the detained person's EHC needs assessment began.".

7.  Article 35 (effect of decision not to prepare EHC plan following detained person's EHC needs assessment) is amended as follows-

(1) In paragraph (2) for "subject to paragraph (3)" substitute "subject to paragraphs (3) and (3A)".

(2) In paragraph (3)-

(a)for "Regulation 10" substitute "Subject to paragraph (3A), regulation 10"; and

(b)for "10 weeks" substitute "14 weeks".

(3) After paragraph (3) insert-

"(3A) Where notice of an assessment has been given under Article 32(1) before 1st September 2015, paragraph (3) of this Article applies except that regulation 10 of the Detained Persons Regulations 2015 applies as if paragraph (1) of that regulation required the notification to be given in accordance with section 71(10) of the 2014 Act to be given as soon as is practicable, and in any event within the period of 10 weeks beginning with the day on which the detained person's EHC needs assessment began.".

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).