The National Trial appeals (which ran from 3 April 2018 - 31 August 2021) are now called 'Extended appeals'.

 

Why the new powers?

The extended Tribunal powers enable parents and young people to have a single route of appeal about the education, health and social care elements of an EHC plan. 

 

The Regulations enable the Tribunal to make a recommendation about health and social care needs or provision as part of an appeal by the parent or young person relating to:

• a decision by the LA not to issue an EHC plan
• a decision by the LA not to carry out a re-assessment for a child/young person who
• has an EHC plan
• a decision by the LA not to amend an EHC plan following a review or re- assessment
• a decision by the LA to cease to maintain an EHC plan
• the description of the child/young person’s special educational needs in an EHC
• plan
• the special educational provision specified in an EHC plan
• the school or other educational institution named in an EHC plan

 

Where health and social care needs and/or provision are not included in the plan, the Tribunal has the power to recommend they be specified in the plan.

 

Where health and social care needs and/or provision are included in the plan, the Tribunal has the power to recommend that the need or provision be amended.

 

The Tribunal will not make decisions relation to conflicting clinical diagnosis from medical professionals concerning health needs or health provision.

  

When parents or young people appeal about a refusal to issue an EHC plan, or about the educational needs, provision and educational placement in an EHC plan, the tribunal will also be able to make non - binding recommendations about the health and social care parts of the EHC plan at the same time.

 

For example:

If the tribunal order a local authority to issue an EHC plan, they can also recommend that health or social care needs are included in the EHC plan when it is drawn up.

If a health or social care need or provision is not included in an existing EHC plan, the tribunal can recommend that it should be included.

If health or social care provision is already included in an EHC plan, the tribunal can recommend that the needs or provision is amended.

 

What this means for parents and young people

Following the tribunal decision, health or social care commissioners will have to respond in detail to the local authority and parents/young people, setting out the steps they are going to take, or giving reasons why they have decided not to follow the tribunal recommendations. They will also have to respond to the evaluators of the trial.

When the results of the two year trial have been evaluated, a decision will be made as to whether the new tribunal process should continue.

 

 

Health and Social Care