Title and interpretation

1.—(1) The title of this Order is the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 (Commencement No. 7) Order 2021.

(2) In this Order—

“ the 1996 Act” (“ Deddf 1996”) means the Education Act 1996( 2);

“ the 2014 Act” (“ Deddf 2014”) means the Children and Families Act 2014( 3);

“ the Act” (“yDdeddf”) means the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018;

“ compulsory school age” (“ oedran ysgol gorfodol”) has the same meaning as in section 8( 4) of the 1996 Act;

“ EHC plan” (“ cynllun AIG”) has the same meaning as in section 37(2) of the 2014 Act;

“ EHC needs assessment” (“ asesiad o anghenion AIG”) has the same meaning as in section 36(2) of the 2014 Act;

“ in the area of a local authority in England” (“ yn ardal awdurdod lleol yn Lloegr”) has the same meaning as in section 579(3A) of the 1996 Act;

“ in the area of a local authority in Wales” (“ yn ardal awdurdod lleol yng Nghymru”) has the same meaning as in section 579(3B) of the 1996 Act;

“ learning difficulty” (“ anhawster dysgu”) has the same meaning as in—

“ local authority” (“ awdurdod lleol”) has the same meaning as in section 579 of the 1996 Act;

“ mainstream school” (“ ysgol brif ffrwd”) has the same meaning as in section 83(2) of the 2014 Act;

“ maintained school” (“ ysgol a gynhelir”) means any community, foundation or voluntary school or any community special school not established in a hospital within the meaning of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998( 5);

“ proprietor” (“ perchennog”) has the same meaning as in section 579 of the 1996 Act;

“ registered pupil” (“ disgybl cofrestredig”) has the same meaning as in section 434 of the 1996 Act;

“ school year” (“ blwyddyn ysgol”) has the same meaning as in section 579( 6)of the 1996 Act;

“ special educational provision” (“ darpariaeth addysgol arbennig”) has the same meaning as in—

“ year 11” (“blwyddyn 11”)means a year group in which the majority of children will, in the school year, attain the age of 16;

“ year group” (“grŵpblwyddyn”) means a group of children at a school the majority of whom will, in a particular school year, attain the same age;

“ Tribunal” (“ Tribiwnlys”) means the Education Tribunal for Wales( 7);

“ Tribunal Rules” (“ Rheolau’r Tribiwnlys”) means Special Educational Needs Tribunal for Wales Regulations 2012( 8).

(3) For the purposes of this Order an appeal is finally determined if—

(a) a decision is made by a tribunal or court on the appeal, and

(b) if a request may be made to review the decision or it may be further appealed, and the period (or each of the periods) for doing so expires without a review being requested or further appeal being brought.

(4) This Order does not apply to a person in relation to whom provisions of the Act were commenced by the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 (Commencement No. 2) Order 2021( 9).

Meaning of identified special educational needs

2.  A child “C” has “ identified special educational needs” for the purposes of this Order if C has a learning difficulty identified by a proprietor or a local authority which calls for special educational provision to be made for C.

Provisions coming into force on 1 January 2022

3.  The following provisions of the Act come into force on 1 January 2022 except in relation to a person who falls into any of the paragraphs in article 4 on 1 January 2022—

(a) sections 2 to 4;

(b) sections 6 to 14;

(c) sections 17 to 36;

(d) section 38;

(e) sections 40 to 44;

(f) sections 47 to 49;

(g) section 50(1) for the purposes of the provisions in paragraph (h);

(h) section 50(4) to (5);

(i) sections 51 to 53;

(j) section 55;

(k) section 59;

(l) sections 63 to 66;

(m) sections 68 to 69;

(n) section 96 for the purposes of the provisions in paragraph (o);

(o) in the Schedule—

(i) paragraph 1;

(ii) paragraph 4(1) for the purposes of the provisions in sub-paragraphs (iii) to (x);

(iii) paragraph 4(2) to 4(8);

(iv) paragraph 4(9);

(v) paragraph 4(10);

(vi) paragraph 4(13) to 4(18);

(vii) paragraph 4(19)(b);

(viii) paragraph 4(20) and 4(21);

(ix) paragraph 4(23) to 4(29);

(x) paragraph 4(32)(a)(i) and (ii) and paragraph 4(32)(b);

(xi) paragraph 7;

(xii) paragraph 8;

(xiii) paragraph 11(a);

(xiv) paragraph 12(a);

(xv) paragraph 14(1) for the purposes of the provisions in sub-paragraph (xvi);

(xvi) paragraph 14(2) and (3);

(xvii) paragraph 19(1) for the purpose of the provision in sub-paragraph (xviii);

(xviii) paragraph 19(5)(e)(ii);

(xix) paragraph 21(1) for the purposes of the provisions in sub-paragraph (xx);

(xx) paragraph 21(2)(a)(i) and (2)(b)(ii);

(xxi) paragraph 22;

(xxii) paragraph 23(1) for the purpose of the provision in sub-paragraph (xxiii);

(xxiii) paragraph 23(4);

(xxiv) paragraph 24(1) for the purposes of the provisions in sub-paragraph (xxv);

(xxv) paragraph 24(3) and (6)(a).

4.  A person—

(a) who is in year 11;

(b) who is not at a school and will attain the age of 16 during the 2021-2022 school year;

(c) who is over compulsory school age;

(d) who has identified special educational needs;

(e) in relation to whom a local authority has served a notice under section 323 of the 1996 Act and the assessment has not commenced and no notice has been given under section 323(6) of the 1996 Act;

(f) in relation to whom a request has been made under section 329 or 329A of the 1996 Act for an assessment under section 323 of the 1996 Act and the local authority has not determined whether to assess;

(g) in relation to whom a request has been made under section 329 or 329A of the 1996 Act for an assessment under section 323 of the 1996 Act and the local authority determines not to comply with the request and—

(i) the time within which an appeal under section 329(2) or 329A(8) of the 1996 Act has to be brought under Part B of the Tribunal Rules has not ended;

(ii) an appeal to the Tribunal under section 329(2) or 329A(8) of the 1996 Act in relation to that determination has been brought but not finally determined; or

(iii) an appeal to the Tribunal under section 329(2) or 329A(8) of the 1996 Act in relation to that determination was finally determined and the local authority was ordered to arrange an assessment, and that assessment has not commenced;

(h) in relation to whom a local authority is undertaking an assessment of educational needs under section 323 of the 1996 Act;

(i) in relation to whom a local authority proposes not to make a statement following an assessment and—

(i) the time within which an appeal under section 325(2) of the 1996 Act has to be brought under Part B of the Tribunal Rules has not ended;

(ii) an appeal to the Tribunal under section 325(2) of the 1996 Act in relation to that decision has been brought but not finally determined;

(iii) an appeal to the Tribunal under section 325(2) of the 1996 Act in relation to that decision was brought and finally determined and the local authority was ordered to—

(aa) make and maintain a statement and the making of the statement has not commenced; or

(bb) reconsider its decision and that reconsideration has not commenced;

(j) in relation to whom the local authority has determined to cease to maintain a statement under paragraph 11(1) of Schedule 27 to the 1996 Act and—

(i) the time within which an appeal under paragraph 11(2)(b) of that Schedule has to be brought under Part B of the Tribunal Rules has not ended; or

(ii) an appeal to the Tribunal under paragraph 11(2)(b) of that Schedule has been brought in relation to that decision but not finally determined;

(k) in relation to whom an assessment under section 331 of the 1996 Act is ongoing;

(l) who is not over compulsory school age but in relation to whom an assessment under section 140 of the Learning and Skills Act 2000( 10)—

(i) is ongoing; or

(ii) has resulted in a report of the person’s educational and training needs and the provision required to meet them;

(m) in relation to whom a request to a local authority has been made to secure an EHC needs assessment under section 36(1) of the 2014 Act and the local authority has not determined that request under section 36(3);

(n) in relation to whom a local authority has determined under section 36 not to secure an EHC assessment and—

(i) the period for pursuing mediation in relation to that determination under section 52 of the 2014 Act has not ended;

(ii) mediation under section 55 of the 2014 Act is ongoing in relation to that determination;

(iii) a mediation certificate has been issued under section 55(4) of the 2014 Act in relation to that determination and the period for submitting an appeal to the First-tier Tribunal under section 51 of the 2014 Act has not ended;

(iv) an appeal to the First-tier Tribunal under section 51(2)(a) of the 2014 Act in relation to that determination has been brought but not finally determined;

(v) an appeal to the First-tier Tribunal under section 51(2)(a) of the 2014 Act in relation to that determination has been brought and fully determined and the local authority was ordered to arrange an assessment or re-assessment, and that assessment or re-assessment has not commenced;

(o) in relation to whom a local authority has served a notice under section 36(7) of the 2014 Act that it is considering securing an EHC needs assessment and —

(i) the assessment has not commenced,

(ii) the assessment is ongoing, or

(iii) no notice has been served under section 36(9) of the 2014 Act;

(p) in relation to whom a local authority has determined under section 36(9) of the 2014 Act that it is not necessary for special educational provision to be made in accordance with an EHC plan and—

(i) the period for pursuing mediation in relation to that determination under section 52 of the 2014 Act has not ended;

(ii) mediation under section 55 of the 2014 Act is ongoing in relation to that determination;

(iii) a mediation certificate has been issued under section 55(4) of the 2014 Act in relation to that determination and the period for submitting an appeal to the First-tier Tribunal under section 51 of the 2014 Act has not ended;

(iv) an appeal to the First-tier Tribunal under section 51(2)(b) of the 2014 Act in relation to that determination has been brought but not finally determined;

(v) an appeal to the First-tier Tribunal under section 51(2)(b) of the 2014 Act in relation to that determination has been brought and finally determined and the local authority was ordered to—

(aa) make and maintain an EHC plan and the making of the EHC plan has not commenced; or

(bb) reconsider its decision and that reconsideration has not commenced;

(q) in relation to whom a local authority has determined under section 45 of the 2014 Act that it is no longer necessary for an EHC plan to be maintained and—

(i) the period for pursuing mediation in relation to that determination under section 52 of the 2014 Act has not ended;

(ii) mediation under section 55 of the 2014 Act is ongoing in relation to that determination;

(iii) a mediation certificate has been issued under section 55(4) of the 2014 Act in relation to that determination and the period for submitting an appeal to the First-tier Tribunal under section 51 of the 2014 Act has not ended;

(iv) an appeal to the First-tier Tribunal under section 51(2)(f) of the 2014 Act in relation to that determination has been brought but not finally determined.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order brings into force provisions of the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 (“ the Act”).

The Act establishes a statutory framework for supporting children and young people with additional learning needs. This replaces the legislation surrounding special educational needs and the assessment of children and young people with learning difficulties.

The provisions listed in article 3 come into force on 1 January 2022 in relation to certain persons. The Order does this by excepting from that commencement persons who fall into a category set out in article 4 on 1 January 2022. The categories excepted include those over compulsory school age and those engaged with the current statutory framework. This includes those who have identified special educational needs (see article 2).

NOTE AS TO EARLIER COMMENCEMENT ORDER

The following provisions of the Act have been brought into force by Commencement Order made before the date of this Order( 11):