Education Act 1996, section 324

Statement of special educational needs

Part IV Special educational needs

(1)If, in the light of an assessment under section 323 of any child’s educational needs and of any representations made by the child’s parent in pursuance of Schedule 27, it is necessary for the [F6 local authorityF6] to determine the special educational provision which any learning difficulty he may have calls for, the authority shall make and maintain a statement of his special educational needs.

(2)The statement shall be in such form and contain such information as may be prescribed.

(3)In particular, the statement shall—

(a)give details of the authority’s assessment of the child’s special educational needs, and

(b)specify the special educational provision to be made for the purpose of meeting those needs, including the particulars required by subsection (4).

(4)The statement shall—

(a)specify the type of school or other institution which the [F6 local authorityF6] consider would be appropriate for the child,

(b)if they are not required under Schedule 27 to specify the name of any school in the statement, specify the name of any school or institution (whether in the United Kingdom or elsewhere) which they consider would be appropriate for the child and should be specified in the statement, and

(c)specify any provision for the child for which they make arrangements under section 319 and which they consider should be specified in the statement.

[F511 (4A)Subsection (4)(b) does not require the name of a school or institution to be specified if the child’s parent has made suitable arrangements for the special educational provision specified in the statement to be made for the child.F511]

(5)Where a [F6 local authorityF6] maintain a statement under this section, then—

(a)unless the child’s parent has made suitable arrangements, the authority—

(i)shall arrange that the special educational provision specified in the statement is made for the child, and

(ii)may arrange that any non-educational provision specified in the statement is made for him in such manner as they consider appropriate, and

(b)if the name of a [F512 maintained schoolF512] [F513 or maintained nursery schoolF513] is specified in the statement, the governing body of the school shall admit the child to the school.

[F514 (5A)Subsection (5)(b) has effect regardless of any duty imposed on the governing body of a school by section 1(6) of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998.F514]

(6)Subsection (5)(b) does not affect any power to exclude from a school a pupil who is already a registered pupil there.

(7)Schedule 27 has effect in relation to the making and maintenance of statements under this section.

Definitions used in section 324 11

child

“child” means a person who is not over compulsory school age;

Defined in s.579(1) · see it in the full Act

“child” includes any person who has not attained the age of 19 and is a registered pupil at a school;

Defined in s.312(5) · see it in the full Act
parent

(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, “parent”, in relation to a child or young person, includes any person—

(a)who is not a parent of his but who has parental responsibility for him, or

(b)who has care of him,

Defined in s.576(1) · see it in the full Act
local authority

“local authority” means—

(a)

a local authority in England;

(b)

a local authority in Wales;

Defined in s.579(1) · see it in the full Act
special educational provision

“special educational provision”—

(a)

in relation to a person in the area of a local authority in England, has the meaning given by section 21(1) and (2) of the Children and Families Act 2014;

(b)

in relation to a child in the area of a local authority in Wales, has the meaning given by section 312(4);

Defined in s.579(1) · see it in the full Act

(4) In this Act “special educational provision” means—

(a)in relation to a child who has attained the age of two, educational provision which is additional to, or otherwise different from, the educational provision made generally for children of his age in schools maintained by the local authority (other than special schools) . . ., and

(b)in relation to a child under that age, educational provision of any kind.

Defined in s.312(4) · see it in the full Act
special educational needs

“special educational needs”—

(a)

in relation to a child or person over compulsory school age but under 25 in the area of a local authority in England, has the meaning given by section 20(1) of the Children and Families Act 2014;

(b)

in relation to a child in the area of a local authority in Wales, has the meaning given by section 312;

Defined in s.579(1) · see it in the full Act
prescribed

(2) In sections 436C, 436E, 436F, 436I and paragraph 5 of Schedule 31A “prescribed” means—

(a)prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State in relation to England, and

(b)prescribed by regulations made by the Welsh Ministers in relation to Wales.

Defined in s.436S(2) · see it in the full Act

“prescribed” (except in Chapter 5A) means prescribed by regulations;

Defined in s.579(1) · see it in the full Act
school

(1) In this Act (subject to subsections (1A) to (1C) ) “school” means an educational institution which is outside the further education sector and the wider higher education sector and is an institution for providing—

(a)primary education,

(b)secondary education, or

(c)both primary and secondary education,

Defined in s.4(1) · see it in the full Act
maintained school

“maintained school” means any community, foundation or voluntary school or any community or foundation special school not established in a hospital.

Defined in s.312(5) · see it in the full Act
maintained nursery school

“maintained nursery school” has the meaning given by section 22(9) of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 ;

Defined in s.579(1) · see it in the full Act
pupil

(3) The definition of “pupil” in subsections (1) and (1A) also apply (unless the context otherwise requires) for the purposes of any instrument made or having effect as if made under the Education Acts.

Defined in s.3(3) · see it in the full Act

(1) In this Act “pupil” means a person for whom education is being provided at a school, other than—

(a)a person who has attained the age of 19 for whom further education is being provided, or

(b)a person for whom part-time education suitable to the requirements of persons of any age over compulsory school age is being provided.

Defined in s.3(1) · see it in the full Act
registered pupil

“registered pupil”, in relation to a school, means a person registered as a pupil at the school in the register kept under this section; and

Defined in s.434(5) · see it in the full Act

Cases considering section 324 84

A v Essex County Council

[2010] UKSC 33 · 14 July 2010Limits

The section required Essex to make and maintain a statement of special educational needs and arrange the specified provision. Any breach remained distinct from the question whether A was denied effective access under article 2 (see paras [7]; [15]; [82]-[86]; [124]-[131]). The statutory obligation to arrange the provision specified in a special educational needs statement did not convert that provision into the minimum education guaranteed by the Convention (see paras [83]-[86]).

Mulla v Hackney Learning Trust

[2014] EWCA Civ 397 · 2 April 2014Interprets

Section 324 provides the statutory framework for statements of special educational needs. The court relies on its structure, particularly subsection (4)(b), to hold that the school-naming power remains available during maintenance of a statement. (see paras [6], [22]-[24]) Section 324(4) is treated as permitting specification of an appropriate school where Schedule 27 does not require specification of the parent’s requested school. The court applies that power to a paragraph 8 change-of-school request. (see paras [6], [17], [22]-[24]) Section 324(4)(b) permits a local authority, where Schedule 27 imposes no duty to specify the requested school, to specify a school it considers appropriate. The power applies to a paragraph 8 request and engages section 9. (see paras [17], [22]-[25]) Section 324(7) gives Schedule 27 effect in relation to the making and maintenance of statements. That relationship supports applying section 324(4)(b) during maintenance of a statement. (see paras [6], [22]-[23])

Haining v Warrington Borough Council

[2014] EWCA Civ 398 · 2 April 2014

The statement-making provision formed part of the statutory framework. The court treated the authority’s power to specify an appropriate school under section 324(4) as the context in which the separate section 9 inquiry operates. (see paras [8]; [39]-[40]) Where paragraph 3(3) prevents the preferred school being named, the authority must exercise its discretion to specify an appropriate school and take section 9 into account. The court held that this may require consideration of wider public expenditure. (see paras [39]-[41])

64 more judgments, and what each says about section 324, are in the case-law panel in the full Act.

Amendments and notes

10 notes from legislation.gov.uk

Amendments

  1. F6Words 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), Sch. 2 para. 7(2) (with Sch. 2 para. 7(4)(5))
  2. F511S. 324(4A) inserted (11.5.2001 for certain purposes, 1.1.2002 otherwise for E., 1.4.2002 otherwise for W.) by 2001 c. 10, ss. 9, 43(4)(c) (with s. 43(13)); S.I. 2001/2217, art. 5, Sch. Pt. II (as amended by S.I. 2001/2614, art. 4); S.I. 2002/74, art. 5, Sch. Pt. II
  3. F512Words in s. 324(5)(b) substituted (1.9.1999) by 1998 c. 31, s. 140(1), Sch. 30 para. 77(a) (with ss. 138(9), 144(6)); S.I. 1999/2323, art. 2(1), Sch. 1
  4. F513Words in s. 324(5)(b) inserted (1.9.2003 for E., 31.10.2005 for W.) by Education Act 2002 (c. 32), s. 216(4), Sch. 21 para. 43 (with ss. 210(8), 214(4)); S.I. 2003/1667, art. 4; S.I. 2005/2910, art. 4, Sch.
  5. F514S. 324(5A) inserted (1.10.1998) by 1998 c. 31, ss. 140(1), 145(3), Sch. 30 para. 77(b) (with ss. 138(9), 144(6))

Modifications

  1. C108S. 324(5)(b)(5A) applied (with modifications) (1.9.1999) by S.I. 1999/2800, reg. 7, Sch. paras. 1, 2-8
  2. C109S. 324(5)(b)(5A) applied (with modifications) (E.) (8.5.2003) by The New School (Admissions) (England) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/1041), regs. 1(1), 9, Sch. para. 1(a)
  3. C110S. 324(5)(b) applied (with modifications) (W.) (1.2.2006) by The New School (Admissions) (Wales) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/175), regs. 1(1), 9, Sch. (with reg. 2(2))
  4. C111S. 324(5A) applied (with modifications) (E.) (8.5.2003) by The New School (Admissions) (England) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/1041), regs. 1(1), 9, Sch. para. 1(a)
  5. C112S. 324(5A) applied (with modifications) (W.) (1.2.2006) by The New School (Admissions) (Wales) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/175), regs. 1(1), 9, Sch. (with reg. 2(2))