Education Act 1996

Representations

4(1)A parent on whom a copy of a proposed statement has been served under paragraph 2 may—

(a)make representations (or further representations) to the local education authority about the content of the statement, and

(b)require the authority to arrange a meeting between him and an officer of the authority at which the statement can be discussed.

(2)Where a parent, having attended a meeting arranged by a local education authority under sub-paragraph (1)(b), disagrees with any part of the assessment in question, he may require the authority to arrange such meeting or meetings as they consider 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 the authority in connection with the assessment as they consider 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 the 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 15 days beginning—

(a)with the date on which the written notice mentioned in paragraph 2(b) 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 15 days beginning with the date on which the written notice mentioned in paragraph 2(b) was served on the parent.

(6)A requirement under sub-paragraph (2) must be made within the period of 15 days beginning with the date fixed for the meeting arranged under sub-paragraph (1)(b).