Main definitions

1 Additional support needs

(1) A child or young person has additional support needs for the purposes of this Act where, for whatever reason, the child or young person is, or is likely to be, unable without the provision of additional support to benefit from school education provided or to be provided for the child or young person.

(2) In subsection (1), the reference to school education includes, in particular, such education directed to the development of the personality, talents and mental and physical abilities of the child or young person to their fullest potential.

(3) In this Act, “additional support” means—

(a) in relation to a prescribed pre-school child, a child of school age or a young person receiving school education, provision which is additional to, or otherwise different from, the educational provision made generally for children or, as the case may be, young persons of the same age in schools (other than special schools) under the management of the education authority for the area to which the child or young person belongs,

(b) in relation to a child under school age other than a prescribed pre-school child, such educational provision as is appropriate in the circumstances.

2 Co-ordinated support plans

(1) For the purposes of this Act, a child or young person requires a plan (referred to in this Act as a “co-ordinated support plan”) for the provision of additional support if—

(a) an education authority are responsible for the school education of the child or young person,

(b) the child or young person has additional support needs arising from—

(i) one or more complex factors, or

(ii) multiple factors,

(c) those needs are likely to continue for more than a year, and

(d) those needs require significant additional support to be provided—

(i) by the education authority in the exercise of any of their other functions as well as in the exercise of their functions relating to education, or

(ii) by one or more appropriate agencies (within the meaning of section 23(2)) as well as by the education authority themselves.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1)—

(a) a factor is a complex factor if it has or is likely to have a significant adverse effect on the school education of the child or young person,

(b) multiple factors are factors which—

(i) are not by themselves complex factors, but

(ii) taken together, have or are likely to have a significant adverse effect on the school education of the child or young person.

3 Children and young persons who lack capacity

(1) For the purposes of this Act, a child or young person lacks capacity to do something if the child or young person is incapable of doing it by reason of mental illness, developmental disorder or learning disability or of inability to communicate because of a physical disability.

(2) However, a child or young person is not to be treated as lacking capacity by reason only of a lack or deficiency in a faculty of communication if that lack or deficiency can be made good by human or mechanical aid (whether of an interpretative nature or otherwise).

General powers and duties

4 Duties of education authority in relation to children and young persons for whom they are responsible

(1) Every education authority must—

(a) in relation to each child and young person having additional support needs for whose school education the authority are responsible, make adequate and efficient provision for such additional support as is required by that child or young person, and

(b) make appropriate arrangements for keeping under consideration—

(i) the additional support needs of, and

(ii) the adequacy of the additional support provided for,

each such child and young person.

(2) Subsection (1)(a) does not require an education authority to do anything which—

(a) they do not otherwise have power to do, or

(b) would result in unreasonable public expenditure being incurred.

5 General functions of education authority in relation to additional support needs

(1) Every education authority must in exercising any of their functions in connection with the provision of school education, take account of the additional support needs of children and young persons having such needs.

(2) Every education authority must, subject to subsection (3), provide such additional support as is appropriate for each child—

(a) under school age (other than a prescribed pre-school child),

(b) belonging to the authority’s area, and

(c) who has additional support needs arising from a disability (within the meaning of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (c. 50)) which the child has.

(3) The duty in subsection (2) applies only where the authority has established, in pursuance of section 7(5) of this Act, that the child has the additional support needs referred to in subsection (2)(c) following the child having been brought to the authority’s attention as having or appearing to have such needs by a Health Board.

(4) An education authority may provide such additional support as is appropriate for children (other than children to whom the education authority have a duty under subsection (2)) and young persons belonging to the area of the authority—

(a) having additional support needs, but

(b) for whose school education the authority are not responsible.

Establishment of additional support needs and need for co-ordinated support plan

6 Children and young persons for whom education authority are responsible

(1) Every education authority must make such arrangements as they consider appropriate for identifying—

(a) from among the children and young persons for whose school education they are responsible—

(i) those who have additional support needs, and

(ii) those having additional support needs who require a co-ordinated support plan, and

(b) the particular additional support needs of the children and young persons so identified.

(2) Where an education authority receive from a person specified in subsection (3) a request to establish whether any child or young person for whose school education the authority are responsible—

(a) has additional support needs, or

(b) requires a co-ordinated support plan,

the authority must, in accordance with the arrangements made by them under subsection (1), comply with the request unless the request is unreasonable.

(3) The persons referred to in subsection (2) are—

(a) in the case of a child, the child’s parent,

(b) in the case of a young person—

(i) the young person, or

(ii) if the authority are satisfied that the young person lacks capacity to make the request, the young person’s parent.

(4) Where, in pursuance of a request referred to in subsection (2), an education authority establish that a child or young person has additional support needs, the authority must inform the person who made the request of that fact.

(5) Subsection (6) applies where a child or young person for whose school education an education authority are responsible comes to the attention of the authority as—

(a) having, or appearing to have, additional support needs, or

(b) having such needs and requiring, or appearing to require, a co-ordinated support plan.

(6) Where this subsection applies, the education authority must, in accordance with the arrangements made by them under subsection (1), establish whether the child or young person does have additional support needs or, as the case may be, require a co-ordinated support plan, unless the authority consider it unreasonable to do so.

(7) Subsections (2) and (6) are without prejudice to subsection (1).

7 Other children and young persons

(1) Where an education authority receive a request of a type specified in subsection (2) relating to any child or young person—

(a) belonging to the area of the authority, but

(b) for whose school education the authority are not responsible,

the authority may, in accordance with the arrangements made by them under section 6(1), comply with the request.

(2) The types of request referred to in subsection (1) are—

(a) a request from a person specified in subsection (3) to establish whether the child or young person in relation to whom the request is made—

(i) has additional support needs, or

(ii) would, if the education authority were responsible for the school education of the child or young person, require a co-ordinated support plan,

(b) in the case of a child or young person being provided with school education at an independent school or a grant-aided school, a request from the managers of the school to establish whether the child or young person would, if the education authority were responsible for the school education of the child or young person, require such a plan.

(3) The persons referred to in subsection (2)(a) are—

(a) in the case of a child, the child’s parent,

(b) in the case of a young person—

(i) the young person, or

(ii) if the authority are satisfied that the young person lacks capacity to make the request, the young person’s parent.

(4) Subsection (5) applies where a child or young person—

(a) belonging to the area of an education authority, but

(b) for whose school education an education authority are not responsible,

comes to the attention of the authority (otherwise than as a result of a request referred to in subsection (1)) as having, or appearing to have, additional support needs.

(5) Where this subsection applies, the education authority may, in accordance with the arrangements made by them under section 6(1), establish whether the child or young person does have additional support needs.

(6) Subsection (7) applies where, in pursuance of this section, an education authority establish that a child or young person—

(a) has additional support needs, or

(b) would, if the education authority were responsible for the school education of the child or young person, require a co-ordinated support plan.

(7) Where this subsection applies, the education authority must provide the persons mentioned in subsection (8) with such information and advice as to the additional support required by the child or young person as they consider appropriate.

(8) The persons referred to in subsection (7) are—

(a) in the case of a child, the child’s parent,

(b) in the case of a young person—

(i) the young person, or

(ii) if the authority are satisfied that the young person lacks capacity to understand the information or advice, the young person’s parent,

(c) where the authority establish the matter referred to in subsection (6) pursuant to a request made by the managers of an independent school or a grant-aided school, those managers.

8 Assessments and examinations

(1) Where—

(a) an education authority propose—

(i) in pursuance of any provision of this Act, to establish whether a child or young person has additional support needs or requires, or would require, a co-ordinated support plan, or

(ii) to review under section 10 any such plan prepared for any child or young person, and

(b) the appropriate person makes a request that the education authority arrange for the child or young person to whom the proposal referred to in paragraph (a) relates to undergo, for the purposes of the proposal, a process of assessment or examination (such a request being referred to in this section as an “assessment request”),

the education authority must comply with the assessment request unless the request is unreasonable.

(2) In subsection (1)(b), “the appropriate person” means—

(a) where the proposal referred to in subsection (1)(a) arises from a request referred to in section 6(2), 7(1) or 10(4), the person making the request,

(b) in any other case—

(i) where the proposal relates to a child, the child’s parent,

(ii) where the proposal relates to a young person, the young person or, where the authority are satisfied that the young person lacks capacity to make the request, the young person’s parent.

(3) Where a child or young person is to undergo a process of assessment or examination in pursuance of an assessment request, the process is to be carried out by such person as the education authority consider appropriate.

(4) In subsection (1)(b), the reference to assessment or examination includes educational, psychological or medical assessment or examination.

Co-ordinated support plans

9 Duty to prepare co-ordinated support plans

(1) Where an education authority establish in pursuance of any provision of this Act that a child or young person for whose school education they are responsible requires a co-ordinated support plan, they must prepare such a plan for the child or young person.

(2) A co-ordinated support plan prepared under subsection (1) must contain—

(a) a statement of the education authority’s conclusions as to—

(i) the factor or factors from which the additional support needs of the child or young person arise,

(ii) the educational objectives sought to be achieved taking account of that factor or those factors,

(iii) the additional support required by the child or young person to achieve those objectives, and

(iv) the persons by whom the support should be provided,

(b) a nomination of a school to be attended by the child or young person,

(c) the name and other appropriate contact details of—

(i) the officer of the authority responsible for the discharge of the authority’s duty under subsection (5)(d) of section 11, or

(ii) if the authority arrange under subsection (6) of that section for that duty to be discharged by another person, that other person, and

(d) the name and other appropriate contact details of an officer of the authority from whom—

(i) in the case of a plan prepared for a child, the child’s parent,

(ii) in the case of a plan prepared for a young person, the young person or, where the authority are satisfied that the young person lacks capacity to seek advice or information, the young person’s parent,

can obtain advice and further information.

(3) The references in subsection (2)(a) to educational objectives are to objectives set to secure that the child or young person benefits from school education (within the meaning of section 1(1)) provided or to be provided for the child or young person.

10 Reviews of co-ordinated support plans

(1) Every education authority must keep under consideration the adequacy of any co-ordinated support plans prepared (and not discontinued) for any children or young persons belonging to their area.

(2) The education authority must carry out a review of each such co-ordinated support plan—

(a) on the expiry of the period of 12 months beginning with the date on which the plan was prepared, and

(b) thereafter, on the expiry of each successive period of 12 months beginning with the date on which the previous review (whether carried out under this subsection or subsection (3) or (4)) of the plan was completed.

(3) An education authority may carry out a review of such a co-ordinated support plan before the expiry of a period referred to in subsection (2) only—

(a) pursuant to a request referred to in subsection (4), or

(b) if the authority consider it necessary or expedient to do so because of a significant change in the circumstances of the child or young person for whom the plan was prepared since the plan was prepared or, as the case may be, last reviewed.

(4) Where the education authority receive from a person specified in subsection (5) a request to carry out a review of any such co-ordinated support plan as is mentioned in subsection (1) before the expiry of a period referred to in subsection (2), the authority must carry out a review of the plan unless the request is unreasonable.

(5) The persons referred to in subsection (4) are—

(a) in the case of a co-ordinated support plan prepared for a child, the child’s parent,

(b) in the case of a co-ordinated support plan prepared for a young person—

(i) the young person, or

(ii) where the education authority are satisfied that the young person lacks capacity to make the request, the young person’s parent.

(6) In reviewing any co-ordinated support plan under this section, the education authority must, in accordance with the arrangements made by them under section 6(1), establish whether the child or young person for whom the plan was prepared still requires such a plan and—

(a) if so, continue the plan for the child or young person and make such amendments of it as the authority consider necessary or appropriate, or

(b) if not, discontinue the plan.

11 Co-ordinated support plans: further provision

(1) Subsection (2) applies where an education authority propose—

(a) in pursuance of any provision of this Act, to establish whether any child or young person requires, or would require, a co-ordinated support plan,

(b) to review under section 10 any such plan prepared for any child or young person.

(2) Where this subsection applies, the education authority must—

(a) before proceeding, inform the persons mentioned in subsection (3) of their proposal, and

(b) on establishing the matter referred to in subsection (1)(a) or, as the case may be, completing the review referred to in subsection (1)(b), inform those persons of—

(i) the outcome, and

(ii) the rights (if any) which they have under section 18(1) to make a reference to a Tribunal in connection with the outcome.

(3) The persons referred to in subsection (2)(a) are—

(a) in the case of a child, the child’s parent,

(b) in the case of a young person—

(i) the young person, or

(ii) if the authority are satisfied that the young person lacks capacity to understand the information, the young person’s parent,

(c) where the proposal arises as a result of a request referred to in section 7(1) made by the managers of an independent school or a grant-aided school, those managers.

(4) Subsection (5) applies where an education authority—

(a) prepare a co-ordinated support plan for any child or young person under this Act, or

(b) amend any such plan—

(i) following a review carried out under section 10, or

(ii) pursuant to a requirement made by a Tribunal under subsection (4)(b) or (5)(b)(ii) of section 19.

(5) Where this subsection applies, the education authority must—

(a) give a copy of the plan or amended plan—

(i) in the case of a child, to the child’s parent,

(ii) in the case of a young person, to that young person or, if the authority are satisfied that the young person lacks capacity to understand the plan, to the young person’s parent,

(b) ensure that additional support is provided by them for the child or young person in accordance with the plan or amended plan so far as they have power to do so,

(c) seek to ensure that additional support is provided for the child or young person in accordance with the plan or amended plan by any person (other than the education authority) identified in the plan as a person by whom such support should be provided,

(d) co-ordinate, so far as possible, the provision of additional support for the child or young person as mentioned in paragraphs (b) and (c) by the authority and any other persons by whom such support is to be provided, and

(e) inform such persons as they consider appropriate, being persons who will be involved in the provision of additional support for the child or young person, of such matters contained in the plan or amended plan as they consider appropriate.

(6) The education authority may arrange for the discharge of their duty under subsection (5)(d) by another person.

(7) Subsection (6)—

(a) does not affect the responsibility of the education authority for the discharge of their duty under subsection (5)(d), and

(b) is without prejudice to any other power of the education authority to arrange for the discharge of any of their functions under this Act by another person.

(8) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make further provision as to co-ordinated support plans including, in particular, provision as to—

(a) the form of such plans,

(b) the information (in addition to that required by section 9(2)) to be contained in them,

(c) the preparation, keeping, disclosure, discontinuance and destruction of such plans,

(d) the procedures to be followed in carrying out reviews of such plans under section 10,

(e) the transfer of such plans when the children and young persons for whom they are prepared move from the area of one education authority to that of another,

(f) without prejudice to the generality of the other paragraphs in this subsection, the times by which—

(i) such plans are to be prepared, and

(ii) reviews of them under section 10 are to be completed, and

(g) such other matters in relation to co-ordinated support plans as the Scottish Ministers think necessary or expedient.

Exchange of information

12 Duties to seek and take account of views, advice and information

(1) In—

(a) establishing in pursuance of any provision of this Act whether any child or young person—

(i) has additional support needs, or

(ii) requires, or would require, a co-ordinated support plan,

(b) establishing in pursuance of a review carried out under section 10 whether any child or young person still requires a co-ordinated support plan,

(c) preparing such a plan for any child or young person, or

(d) determining in pursuance of section 4(1) what provision to make for such additional support as is required by any child or young person having additional support needs,

the education authority must comply with the duty described in subsection (2).

(2) That duty is a duty to—

(a) seek and take account of relevant advice and information from such appropriate agencies and other persons as the education authority think appropriate,

(b) subject to subsection (3), seek and take account of the views of—

(i) in the case of a child, the child (unless the authority are satisfied that the child lacks capacity to express a view) and the child’s parent, and

(ii) in the case of a young person, that young person or, if the authority are satisfied that the young person lacks capacity to express a view, the young person’s parent,

(c) take account of any relevant advice or information provided to the authority by or on behalf of the child or young person concerned, and

(d) take account of any relevant advice and information in the authority’s possession or control by virtue of any of their functions other than their functions relating to education.

(3) In the cases mentioned in subsection (1)(a)(i) and (d), the duty described in subsection (2)(b) applies only in relation to such children and young persons as the authority consider appropriate.

(4) Advice or information is relevant for the purposes of subsection (2)(a), (c) or (d) if it is likely to assist the education authority in doing any of the things referred to in paragraphs (a) to (d) of subsection (1).

(5) Every education authority must—

(a) no later than 12 months before the date on which any child or young person—

(i) having additional support needs, and

(ii) for whose school education the authority are responsible,

is expected to cease receiving school education, or

(b) where the education authority become aware that the child or young person is to cease receiving school education less than 12 months before that date, as soon as reasonably practicable after they become so aware,

comply with the duty in subsection (6).

(6) That duty is a duty to—

(a) request from such appropriate agency or agencies as the authority think fit (if any) such information as the authority consider appropriate concerning any provision which the agency is or, as the case may be, the agencies are likely to make for the child or young person on ceasing to receive school education,

(b) where the authority make a request under paragraph (a), seek the views of—

(i) in the case of a child, that child (unless the authority are satisfied that the child lacks capacity to express a view) and the child’s parent, or

(ii) in the case of a young person, that young person or, if the authority are satisfied that the young person lacks capacity to express a view, the young person’s parent, and

(c) take account of—

(i) any information provided by any appropriate agency or agencies pursuant to a request under paragraph (a),

(ii) any views expressed by the child or young person or the child’s or young person’s parent pursuant to paragraph (b), and

(iii) any provision which the education authority themselves are, in the exercise of any of their functions other than their functions relating to education, likely to make for the child or young person on ceasing to receive school education,

in considering the adequacy of the additional support to be provided for the child or young person during the period before the child or young person ceases to receive school education.

(7) Subsections (5) and (6) are without prejudice to section 4(1)(b).

13 Provision of information etc. on occurrence of certain events

(1) Every education authority must—

(a) no later than 6 months before the date on which any child or young person—

(i) having additional support needs, and

(ii) for whose school education the authority are responsible,

is expected to cease receiving school education, or

(b) where the education authority become aware that the child or young person is to cease receiving school education less than 6 months before that date, as soon as reasonably practicable after they become so aware,

comply with the duty in subsection (2).

(2) That duty is a duty—

(a) to provide such appropriate agency or agencies as the authority think fit (if any) with the information specified in subsection (3), and

(b) to—

(i) consider what (if any) provision the authority are, in the exercise of any of their functions other than their functions relating to education, likely to make for the child or young person on ceasing to receive school education, and

(ii) for that purpose, take into account any information specified in subsection (3).

(3) The information referred to in subsection (2) is—

(a) information as to the date on which the child or young person is expected to cease receiving school education, and

(b) such other information as the authority consider appropriate concerning the child or young person and the additional support needs of the child or young person.

(4) Every education authority must, when any such child or young person as is referred to in subsection (1) ceases to receive school education, inform such appropriate agency or agencies as the authority think fit of that fact as soon as reasonably practicable.

(5) Information is to be provided under subsection (2)(a) or (4) only with the consent of—

(a) in the case of a child, the child’s parent,

(b) in the case of a young person—

(i) the young person, or

(ii) where the education authority are satisfied that the young person lacks capacity to give consent, the young person’s parent.

(6) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make provision for the taking by education authorities of specified action in connection with the occurrence or likely occurrence of specified changes in the school education of children and young persons—

(a) having additional support needs, and

(b) for whose school education the authorities are responsible.

(7) Regulations under subsection (6) may, in particular, make provision—

(a) for the disclosure by the authorities of specified information about such children or young persons—

(i) to specified persons or persons of specified descriptions,

(ii) subject to specified conditions,

(b) for such information to be disclosed, or any other action taken, by specified times.

(8) In subsections (6) and (7), “specified” means specified in regulations under subsection (6).

Supporters and advocacy

14 Supporters and advocacy

(1) Where, in connection with the exercise of an education authority’s functions under this Act in relation to any child or young person, the relevant person wishes—

(a) to have another person (referred to as a “supporter”) present at any discussions with the authority for the purpose of supporting the relevant person in the course of those discussions, or

(b) another person (referred to as an “advocate”) to—

(i) conduct such discussions or any part of them, or

(ii) make representations to the authority,

on the relevant person’s behalf,

the education authority must comply with the relevant person’s wishes, unless the wishes are unreasonable.

(2) In subsection (1), “the relevant person” means—

(a) in the case of a child, the child’s parent,

(b) in the case of a young person—

(i) the young person, or

(ii) if the authority are satisfied that the young person lacks capacity to participate in discussions or make representations as referred to in subsection (1), the young person’s parent.

(3) Nothing in subsection (1) is to be read as requiring an education authority to provide or pay for a supporter or advocate.

Mediation and dispute resolution

15 Mediation services

(1) Every education authority must make such arrangements as they consider appropriate for the provision of independent mediation services for the purposes of seeking to avoid or resolve disagreements between the authority and—

(a) parents of children belonging to the area of the authority,

(b) young persons belonging to that area, or

(c) in relation to any such young persons who lack capacity to express a view or make a decision for those purposes, their parents,

concerning the exercise by the authority of their functions under this Act in relation to such children or young persons.

(2) Mediation services are independent for the purposes of subsection (1) if the person providing the services has no involvement in the exercise by or on behalf of the authority of their functions under this Act (apart from this section).

(3) Arrangements made in pursuance of subsection (1)—

(a) must not require any parent or young person—

(i) to refer any disagreement with the authority to the mediation services provided in accordance with the arrangements, or

(ii) to pay any fee or charge for the provision of the mediation services, and

(b) do not affect the entitlement of any parent or young person to refer any matter to a Tribunal.

(4) In this section and section 16, references to the exercise by an education authority of any function include references to a failure to exercise the function.

16 Dispute resolution

(1) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make provision about the resolution of disputes between any education authority and—

(a) the parent of any child belonging to the area of the authority,

(b) any young person belonging to that area, or

(c) in relation to any such young person who lacks capacity to express a view or make a decision for the purposes of resolving such disputes, the young person’s parent,

concerning the exercise by the authority of any of their functions under this Act in relation to the child or young person.

(2) Regulations under subsection (1) may, in particular, make provision—

(a) requiring education authorities to establish a procedure in accordance with the regulations for the resolution of such disputes,

(b) applying to all such disputes or only to such descriptions of such disputes as may be specified in the regulations.

(3) However, such regulations, and any provision made in pursuance of such regulations—

(a) must not require any parent or young person—

(i) to use any procedure established in accordance with the regulations for the resolution of any dispute with an education authority, or

(ii) to pay any fee or charge for using any such procedure, and

(b) do not affect the entitlement of any parent or young person to refer any matter to a Tribunal.

Appeals

17 Additional Support Needs Tribunals for Scotland

(1) Tribunals to be known as Additional Support Needs Tribunals for Scotland (each referred to in this Act as “a Tribunal”) are to be constituted in accordance with this Act to exercise the functions which are conferred on a Tribunal by virtue of this Act.

(2) There is to be an officer to be known as the President of the Additional Support Needs Tribunals for Scotland (referred to in this Act as “the President”) who is to be an individual appointed by the Scottish Ministers.

(3) The President has such functions as are conferred on the President by virtue of this Act.

(4) Schedule 1 makes further provision about the constitution and procedures of the Tribunals, the appointment and functions of the President and administrative and other matters in connection with the Tribunals and the President.

(5) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make such further provision in connection with the Tribunals and the President as they think fit.

18 References to Tribunal in relation to co-ordinated support plan

(1) Any of the persons specified in subsection (2) may refer to a Tribunal any decision, failure or information specified in subsection (3) relating to any child or young person for whose school education an education authority are responsible.

(2) The persons referred to in subsection (1) are—

(a) where the decision, failure or information relates to a child, the parent of the child,

(b) where the decision, failure or information relates to a young person—

(i) the young person, or

(ii) where the young person lacks capacity to make the reference, the young person’s parent.

(3) The decisions, failures and information referred to in subsection (1) are—

(a) a decision of the education authority that the child or young person—

(i) requires a co-ordinated support plan, or

(ii) following a review carried out under section 10, still requires such a plan,

(b) a decision of the education authority that the child or young person—

(i) does not require such a plan, or

(ii) following a review carried out under section 10, no longer requires such a plan,

(c) where it has been established that the child or young person does require a co-ordinated support plan, failure by the education authority to prepare a plan by the time required by regulations made in pursuance of subsection (8)(f)(i) of section 11,

(d) where a co-ordinated support plan has been prepared (and not discontinued) for the child or young person—

(i) any of the information contained in the plan by virtue of subsection (2)(a) of section 9,

(ii) failure by the education authority to carry out a review of the plan as required by subsection (2) of section 10,

(iii) where such a review is carried out, failure by the education authority to complete the review by the time required by regulations made in pursuance of subsection (8)(f)(ii) of section 11, or

(iv) a decision of the education authority to refuse a request referred to in subsection (4) of section 10,

(e) where subsection (4) applies, a decision of the education authority refusing a placing request made in respect of the child or young person.

(4) This subsection applies where, at the time the placing request is refused—

(a) a co-ordinated support plan has been prepared (and not discontinued) for the child or young person,

(b) no such plan has been prepared, but it has been established by the education authority that the child or young person requires such a plan, or

(c) the education authority have decided that the child or young person does not require such a plan and that decision has been referred to a Tribunal under subsection (1).

(5) A decision of an education authority not to comply with a request referred to in section 6(2)(b) made in relation to any child or young person is to be treated for the purposes of this section as a decision of the authority that the child or young person does not require a co-ordinated support plan.

(6) Where, in respect of any child or young person for whom a co-ordinated support plan has been prepared (and not discontinued), any of the information referred to in subsection (3)(d)(i) has been referred under subsection (1) to a Tribunal, a further reference under that subsection in respect of the same information is not competent unless, since the last such reference was disposed of, a review of the plan has been carried out under section 10.

(7) Where a decision referred to in subsection (3)(e) in respect of a child or young person has been referred under subsection (1) to a Tribunal, a further reference under that subsection of such a decision in respect of the child or young person is not competent during the period of 12 months beginning with the day on which the last such reference of such a decision was made, unless, during that period—

(a) a review of any co-ordinated support plan prepared for the child or young person has been carried out under section 10,

(b) any such plan prepared for the child or young person has been amended pursuant to a requirement made by a Tribunal under section 19(4)(b), or

(c) where the last such reference of such a decision was made by virtue of subsection (4)(c), a co-ordinated support plan has been prepared for the child or young person.

19 Powers of Tribunal in relation to reference

(1) This section specifies the powers of a Tribunal in relation to a reference made under section 18.

(2) Where the reference relates to a decision referred to in subsection (3)(a), (b) or (d)(iv) of that section, the Tribunal may—

(a) confirm the decision, or

(b) overturn the decision and require the education authority to take such action as the Tribunal considers appropriate by such time as the Tribunal may require.

(3) Where the reference relates to a failure referred to in subsection (3)(c) or (d)(ii) or (iii) of that section, the Tribunal may require the education authority to take such action to rectify the failure as the Tribunal considers appropriate by such time as the Tribunal may require.

(4) Where the reference relates to information referred to in subsection (3)(d)(i) of that section, the Tribunal may—

(a) confirm the information, or

(b) require the education authority to make such amendment of the information as the Tribunal considers appropriate by such time as the Tribunal may require.

(5) Where the reference relates to a decision referred to in subsection (3)(e) of that section, the Tribunal may—

(a) confirm the decision if satisfied that—

(i) one or more of the grounds of refusal specified in paragraph 3(1) or (3) of schedule 2 exists or exist, and

(ii) in all the circumstances it is appropriate to do so,

(b) overturn the decision and require the education authority to—

(i) place the child or young person in the school specified in the placing request to which the decision related, and

(ii) make such amendments to the co-ordinated support plan prepared for the child or young person as the Tribunal considers appropriate by such time as the Tribunal may require, or

(c) where—

(i) the decision was referred to the Tribunal by virtue of the application of subsection (4)(c) of that section, and

(ii) the Tribunal has confirmed the decision of the education authority that the child or young person does not require a co-ordinated support plan,

refer the decision to an appeal committee set up under section 28D of the 1980 Act.

(6) Paragraphs 6 and 7 of schedule 2 apply to a reference made to an appeal committee under subsection (5)(c) as they apply to a reference made to an appeal committee under paragraph 5 of that schedule.

(7) In exercising its powers under this section, a Tribunal must take account, so far as relevant, of any code of practice published by the Scottish Ministers under section 27(1).

20 References to Tribunal and powers of Tribunal: further provision

(1) The Scottish Ministers may by order extend the categories of decision, failure or information in respect of which a reference to the Tribunal under section 18(1) may be made; and without prejudice to the generality such further categories of decision, failure or information may include—

(a) a decision of the education authority—

(i) that the child or young person has, or does not have, additional support needs,

(ii) that a child or young person has additional support needs of a type that the person making the referral considers are not an accurate reflection of the child or young person’s additional support needs,

(iii) to refuse an assessment request as referred to in section 8,

(iv) as to the person, or to the means used, or to be used, to carry out the process of assessment or examination referred to in section 8,

(b) failure by—

(i) the education authority,

(ii) any person identified in any co-ordinated support plan prepared for the child or young person as a person by whom additional support should be provided, or

(iii) a combination of these persons,

to provide the additional support required by the child or young person.

(2) Any order made under subsection (1) may also include provision to allow the President to reject references to the Tribunal arising from any further category of decision, failure or information referred to in the order without a hearing where the President is satisfied that the reference prima facie raises no substantial issue.

(3) Orders made under subsection (1) may also make such consequential provision as the Scottish Ministers consider necessary or expedient, including provision as to the Tribunal’s powers in relation to any new category of decision, failure or information that may be referred to it.

21 Appeal to Court of Session against Tribunal decision

(1) Either of the persons specified in subsection (2) may appeal on a point of law to the Court of Session against a decision of a Tribunal relating to a reference made under section 18.

(2) The persons referred to in subsection (1) are—

(a) the person who made the reference to the Tribunal,

(b) the education authority concerned.

(3) Where the Court of Session allows an appeal under subsection (1) it may—

(a) remit the reference back to the Tribunal or to a differently constituted Tribunal to be considered again and give the Tribunal such directions about the consideration of the case as the Court considers appropriate,

(b) make such ancillary orders as it considers necessary or appropriate.

Placing requests

22 Placing requests

Schedule 2 makes provision about placing requests in relation to children and young persons having additional support needs.

Miscellaneous

23 Other agencies etc. to help in exercise of functions under this Act

(1) Where it appears to an education authority that an appropriate agency could, by doing certain things, help in the exercise of any of the education authority’s functions under this Act, the authority may, specifying what those things are, request the help of that agency.

(2) For the purposes of this Act, each of the following is, in relation to any education authority, an appropriate agency, namely—

(a) any other local authority,

(b) any Health Board, and

(c) any person, or a person of any description, specified for the purposes of this subsection in an order made by the Scottish Ministers.

(3) An appropriate agency must comply with a request made to it under subsection (1) unless it considers that the request—

(a) is incompatible with its own statutory or other duties, or

(b) unduly prejudices the discharge of any of its functions.

(4) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations provide that, where an appropriate agency is under a duty by virtue of subsection (3) to comply with a request made to it under subsection (1), the agency must, subject to such exceptions as may be provided in the regulations, comply with the request within such period as is specified in the regulations.

(5) Where it appears to an education authority that, by doing certain things in the exercise of any of their other functions (whether relating to education or not), they could help the exercise by them of their functions under this Act, the authority must do those things unless they consider that to do so would—

(a) be incompatible with any of their statutory or other duties, or

(b) unduly prejudice the discharge by them of any of their functions.

24 Power to prescribe standards etc. for special schools

(1) The Scottish Ministers may make regulations prescribing standards and requirements relating to the conduct of special schools.

(2) Subsection (1) is without prejudice to section 2 (power to prescribe standards etc. for education authorities) of the 1980 Act.

25 Attendance at establishments outwith the United Kingdom

(1) An education authority may make such arrangements as they consider appropriate to enable a child or young person having additional support needs to attend an establishment (whether or not a school) outwith the United Kingdom if that establishment makes provision wholly or mainly for persons having such needs.

(2) Such arrangements may, in particular, include paying, whether wholly or partly—

(a) the fees payable, and any travelling, maintenance and other expenses, in respect of the child or young person’s attendance at the establishment,

(b) where in the opinion of the authority it would be to the advantage of the child or young person if—

(i) one or both of the parents of the child or young person, or

(ii) some other person,

were present with the child or young person at the establishment during the period of the child or young person’s attendance at the establishment, any travelling, maintenance or other expenses of the parent, parents or other person (as the case may be) so present.

(3) This section is without prejudice to sections 49 (power to assist persons to take advantage of educational facilities) and 50 (education of pupils in exceptional circumstances) of the 1980 Act.

26 Publication of information by education authority

(1) Every education authority must—

(a) publish information with respect to the matters specified in subsection (2),