Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

Tuesday 20th July 2021 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Vicky Ford)]

On 20 July, the Department for Education confirmed it will be continuing the extended powers given to the SEND tribunal to hear appeals and make non-binding recommendations about health and social care aspects of education, health and care (EHC) plans, provided those appeals also include education elements.

These extended powers are currently being tested under a national trial, which began in April 2018. The trial will end on 31 August 2021 and the powers will continue.

Our ambition is for every child, no matter what challenges they face, to have access to a world-class education that sets them up for life. It will enable the tribunal to continue to take a more holistic view of the needs of the child across education, health and care while the cross-Government SEND review completes its important work.

Full details of this announcement have been published on the Department for Education section on the gov.uk website here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/extended-powers-send-tribunal-national-trial.

[HCWS212]