The Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1996

[F1SCHEDULE 2N.I.MAKING AND MAINTENANCE OF STATEMENTS UNDER ARTICLE 16

IntroductoryN.I.

1.  In this Schedule—N.I.

• “amendment notice” has the meaning given in paragraph 3,

• “statement” means a statement of a child's special educational needs under Article 16,

• “periodic review” means a review conducted in accordance with Article 19(1)(b), and

• “re-assessment review” means a review conducted in accordance with Article 19(1)(a).

Copy of proposed statementN.I.

2.—(1) Before making a statement, [F2the Authority] shall serve on the parent of the child concerned a copy of the proposed statement.N.I.

(2) The copy of the proposed statement shall not specify—

(a)any prescribed matter,

(b)any matter in pursuance of Article 16(4).

Amendments to a statementN.I.

3.—(1) A board shall not amend a statement except—N.I.

(a)in compliance with an order of the Tribunal,

(b)as directed by the Department under paragraph 2(4) of Schedule 13 to the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 (NI 3), or

(c)in accordance with the procedure laid down in this Schedule.

(2) If, following a re-assessment review, [F2the Authority] proposes to amend a statement, it shall serve on the parent of the child concerned a copy of the proposed amended statement.

(3) The copy of the proposed amended statement shall not specify—

(a)any prescribed matter,

(b)any matter in pursuance of Article 16(4).

(4) If, following a periodic review, [F2the Authority] proposes to amend a statement, it shall serve on the parent of the child concerned—

(a)a copy of the existing statement, and

(b)an amendment notice.

(5) If, at any other time, [F2the Authority] proposes to amend a statement, it shall proceed as if the proposed amendment were an amendment proposed after a periodic review.

(6) An amendment notice is a notice in writing giving details of the amendments to the statement proposed by [F2the Authority] .

Provision of additional informationN.I.

4.—(1) Sub-paragraph (2) applies when [F2the Authority] serves on a parent—N.I.

(a)a copy of a proposed statement under paragraph 2,

(b)a copy of a proposed amended statement under paragraph 3, or

(c)an amendment notice under paragraph 3.

(2) The board shall also serve on the parent a written notice explaining (to the extent that they are applicable)—

(a)the arrangements under paragraph 5,

(b)the effect of paragraph 6, and

(c)the right to appeal under Article 18.

(3) A notice under sub-paragraph (2) shall contain such other information as may be prescribed.

Preference as to schoolN.I.

5.—(1) Every board shall make arrangements for enabling a parent—N.I.

(a)on whom a copy of a proposed statement has been served under paragraph 2,

(b)on whom a copy of a proposed amended statement has been served under paragraph 3, or

(c)on whom an amendment notice has been served under paragraph 3 which contains a proposed amendment about—

(i)the type or name of a school or institution, or

(ii)the provision made for the child concerned otherwise than in a school or institution under arrangements made under Article 10(1)(b),

to be specified in the statement,

to express a preference as to the grant-aided school at which he wishes education to be provided for his child and to give reasons for his preference.

(2) Any such preference must be expressed or made within the period of fifteen days beginning—

(a)with the date on which the written notice mentioned in paragraph 4 was served on the parent, or

(b)if a meeting has (or meetings have) been arranged under paragraph 7(1)(b) or (2), with the date fixed for that meeting (or the last of those meetings).

(3) Where [F2the Authority] makes a statement in a case where the parent of the child concerned has expressed a preference in pursuance of such arrangements as to the grant-aided school at which he wishes education to be provided for his child, [F2the Authority] shall specify the name of that school in the statement unless—

(a)the school is unsuitable to the child's age, ability or aptitude or to his special educational needs, or

(b)the attendance of the child at the school would be incompatible with the provision of efficient education for the children with whom he would be educated or the efficient use of resources.

Consultation on specifying name of school in statementN.I.

6.—(1) Sub-paragraph (2) applies if [F2the Authority] is considering—N.I.

(a)specifying the name of a grant-aided school in a statement, or

(b)amending a statement—

(i)if no school was specified in the statement before the amendment, so that a grant-aided school will be specified in it,

(ii)if a school was specified in the statement before the amendment, so that a different school, which is a grant-aided school, will be specified in it.

(2) The board shall—

(a)serve a copy of the proposed statement or amended statement, or of the existing statement and of the amendment notice, on each affected body, and

(b)consult each affected body.

(3) “Affected body” means—

(a)the Board of Governors of any school which [F2the Authority] is considering specifying; F3...

F3(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

RepresentationsN.I.

7.—(1) A parent on whom a copy of a proposed statement has been served under paragraph 2 or on whom a proposed amended statement or an amendment notice has been served under paragraph 3 may—N.I.

(a)make representations (or further representations) to [F2the Authority] about the content of the proposed statement or the statement as it will have effect if amended in the way proposed by [F2the Authority] , and

(b)require [F2the Authority] to arrange a meeting between him and an officer of [F2the Authority] at which the proposed statement or the statement as it will have effect if amended in the way proposed by [F2the Authority] can be discussed.

(2) Where a parent, having attended a meeting arranged by [F2the Authority] under sub-paragraph (1)(b) in relation to—

(a)a proposed statement, or

(b)an amendment proposed following a re-assessment review,

disagrees with any part of the assessment in question, he may require [F2the Authority] to arrange such meeting or meetings as it considers will enable him to discuss the relevant advice with the appropriate person or persons.

(3) In this paragraph—

• “relevant advice” means such of the advice given to [F2the Authority] in connection with the assessment as it considers to be relevant to that part of the assessment with which the parent disagrees, and

• “appropriate person” means the person who gave the relevant advice or any other person who, in the opinion of [F2the Authority] , is the appropriate person to discuss it with the parent.

(4) Any representations under sub-paragraph (1)(a) must be made within the period of fifteen days beginning—

(a)with the date on which the written notice mentioned in paragraph 4 was served on the parent, or

(b)if a meeting has (or meetings have) been arranged under sub-paragraph (1)(b) or (2), with the date fixed for that meeting (or the last of those meetings).

(5) A requirement under sub-paragraph (1)(b) must be made within the period of fifteen days beginning with the date on which the written notice mentioned in paragraph 4 was served on the parent.

(6) A requirement under sub-paragraph (2) must be made within the period of fifteen days beginning with the date fixed for the meeting arranged under sub-paragraph (1)(b).

Making the statementN.I.

8.—(1) Where representations are made to [F2the Authority] under paragraph 7(1)(a), [F2the Authority] shall not make or amend the statement until it has considered the representations and the period or the last of the periods allowed by paragraph 7 for making requirements or further representations has expired.N.I.

(2) If [F2the Authority] makes a statement, it may be in the form originally proposed (except as to the matters required to be excluded from the copy of the proposed statement) or in a form modified in the light of the representations.

(3) If [F2the Authority] amends a statement following service of a proposed amended statement under paragraph 3, the amended statement made may be in the form proposed or in a form modified in the light of the representations.

(4) If [F2the Authority] amends a statement following service of an amendment notice, the amendments may be those proposed in the notice or amendments modified in the light of the representations.

(5) Regulations may provide that, where [F2the Authority] is under a duty (subject to compliance with the preceding requirements of this Schedule) to make a statement, the duty, or any step required to be taken for performance of the duty, must, subject to prescribed exceptions, be performed within the prescribed period.

(6) Such provision shall not relieve [F2the Authority] of the duty to make a statement, or take any step, which has not been performed or taken within that period.

Service of statementN.I.

9.—(1) Where [F2the Authority] makes or amends a statement it shall serve a copy of the statement, or the amended statement, on the parent of the child concerned.N.I.

(2) It shall, at the same time, give the parent written notice of his right to appeal under Article 18(1) against—

(a)the description in the statement of [F4the Authority's] assessment of the child's special educational needs,

(b)the special educational provision specified in the statement (including the name of a school specified in the statement), or

(c)if no school is named in the statement, that fact.

(3) A notice under sub-paragraph (2) must contain such other information as may be prescribed.

Keeping, disclosure and transfer of statementsN.I.

10.—(1) Regulations may make provision as to the keeping and disclosure of statements.N.I.

F5(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Change of named schoolN.I.

11.—(1) Sub-paragraph (2) applies where—N.I.

(a)the parent of a child for whom a statement is maintained which specifies the name of a school or institution asks [F2the Authority] to substitute for that name the name of a grant-aided school specified by the parent, and

(b)the request is not made less than twelve months after—

(i)a request under this paragraph,

(ii)the service of a copy of the statement or amended statement under paragraph 9, or

(iii)if the parent has appealed to the Tribunal under Article 18 or this paragraph, the date when the appeal is concluded,

whichever is the later.

(2) The board shall comply with the request unless—

(a)the school is unsuitable to the child's age, ability or aptitude or to his special educational needs, or

(b)the attendance of the child at the school would be incompatible with the provision of efficient education for the children with whom he would be educated or the efficient use of resources.

(3) Where [F2the Authority] decides not to comply with the request—

(a)it shall give notice in writing of that fact to the child's parent, and

(b)the parent of the child may appeal to the Tribunal against the decision.

(4) A notice under sub-paragraph (3)(a) must inform the parent of the right of appeal under sub-paragraph (3)(b) and contain such other information as may be prescribed

(5) On the appeal the Tribunal may—

(a)dismiss the appeal, or

(b)order [F2the Authority] to substitute for the name of the school or other institution specified in the statement the name of the grant-aided school specified by the parent.

(6) Regulations may provide that, where [F2the Authority] is under a duty to comply with a request under this paragraph, the duty must, subject to prescribed exceptions, be performed within the prescribed period.

(7) Such provision shall not relieve [F2the Authority] of the duty to comply with such a request which has not been complied with within that period.

Procedure for ceasing to maintain a statementN.I.

12.—(1) A board may not cease to maintain a statement except in accordance with paragraph 13.N.I.

(2) Sub-paragraph (1) does not apply where [F2the Authority] —

(a)ceases to maintain a statement for a child who has ceased to be a child for whom it is responsible, or

(b)is ordered to cease to maintain a statement under Article 18(3)(c).

13.—(1) A board may cease to maintain a statement only if it is no longer necessary to maintain it.N.I.

(2) Where [F2the Authority] decides to cease to maintain a statement—

(a)it shall give notice in writing of that fact to the child's parent, and

(b)the parent of the child may appeal to the Tribunal against the decision.

(3) A notice under sub-paragraph (2)(a) must inform the parent of the right of appeal under sub-paragraph (2)(b) and contain such other information as may be prescribed.

(4) On an appeal under this paragraph the Tribunal may—

(a)dismiss the appeal, or

(b)order [F2the Authority] to continue to maintain the statement in its existing form or with such amendments of the description in the statement of [F4the Authority's] assessment of the child's special educational needs or the special educational provision specified in the statement, and such other consequential amendments, as the Tribunal may determine.

(5) Except where the parent of the child appeals to the Tribunal under this paragraph, [F2the Authority] may only cease to maintain a statement under this paragraph within the prescribed period beginning with the service of the notice under sub-paragraph (2).

(6) A board may not, under this paragraph, cease to maintain a statement if—

(a)the parent of the child has appealed under this paragraph against [F4the Authority's] determination to cease to maintain the statement; and

(b)the appeal has not been determined by the Tribunal or withdrawn.]