Miscellaneous functions
Section 63 - Duty to keep additional learning provision under review
141.Section 63 places a duty on local authorities to keep under review the arrangements that they and the governing bodies of maintained schools in their area make for children and young people with ALN. This includes considering the extent to which the arrangements are sufficient to meet the ALN of the children and young people for whom they are responsible. As part of their considerations, local authorities must have regard to the ALP that may reasonably be arranged by other bodies (such as health bodies). It also requires local authorities to consider the sufficiency of ALP in Welsh and the size and capability of the workforce available. If a local authority considers that the arrangements are not sufficient in any way, it must take all reasonable steps to remedy the matter. Local authorities must consult any persons that they consider appropriate in order to inform the consideration and review, and at times which they consider appropriate.
Section 64 - Duty of health bodies to notify parents etc.
142.This section relates to situations in which a health body in Wales or England of a type listed in subsection (2) is exercising any of its functions in relation to a child who is under compulsory school age and for whom a local authority in Wales is responsible. If the health body forms the opinion that the child has (or probably has) ALN, the health body must bring its opinion to the attention of the local authority in Wales responsible for the child (or if the child is looked after, the authority that looks after the child), if the health body is satisfied that doing so would be in the best interests of the child.
143.Before doing so, the health body must inform the child’s parent of its opinion and its duty to inform the appropriate local authority. This safeguard is to ensure that the parent has an opportunity to discuss the opinion with an officer of the health body, before the health body brings its opinion to the attention of the appropriate local authority and the discussion may also help inform the health body’s assessment of the best interests of the child.
144.This section also places a duty on the health body to inform the parent about any voluntary organisations which it considers are likely to be able to provide the parent with advice or assistance in connection with any ALN that the child may have.
Section 65 - Duties to provide information and other help
145.Section 65 provides that when local authorities request information or other help from certain persons in order to exercise their functions under Part 2, those requests are complied with, except in the circumstances set out in subsection (2). The persons who are subject to this duty are listed in sub-section (4) and are all public bodies or other persons exercising public functions.
146.Such a person can decline to comply with the request for help or information if they consider that it is incompatible with their own duties or would have an adverse effect on the exercise of their functions (subsection (2)). However, if the person does not comply with such a request for help or information, they must provide their reasons for refusing the request to the local authority in writing (subsection (3)).
147.Subsection (5) allows for regulations to set out a period within which the person must comply with a request, and for exceptions to apply to the requirement to comply within this period.
Section 66 - Right of local authority to access premises of schools and other institutions
148.Section 66 ensures that a local authority that maintains an IDP for a child or young person has a right to access any place at the premises of the school or other institution in Wales or England where education or training is provided for that child or young person. This right of access only applies where it is necessary for the local authority to exercise its functions under this Part, and it must be at a reasonable time.
149.The institutions that a local authority has a right to access are listed in subsection (3).
Section 67 - Provision of goods or services in relation to additional learning provision
150.Section 67 gives the Welsh Ministers powers to make for regulations to provide for local authorities to supply goods and services to persons providing ALP or exercising functions under this Part. This may include regulations about terms and conditions for the supply of such goods and services.
