The start of a two-year national trial extending the powers of the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability) began on 3 April. Parents and young people will have new rights to request recommendations about the health and social care needs and provision to be specified in a child's education, health and care (EHC) plan that do not relate to education, and the tribunal will be able to make non-binding recommendations. Prior to April, appeals could only be made to the tribunal over the special educational needs and provision sections and the placement section of EHC plans.
The trial applies to all SEND appeals apart from those that are only about carrying out an EHC needs assessment. It will enable parents to raise all their concerns about an EHC plan in one place, and will allow the tribunal to take a more holistic view of children and young people's needs, with a more person-centred approach to decision making. It is also hoped that it will encourage joint working between education, health and social care commissioners.
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