Section 438 Choice of school: child without EHC plan or statement of special educational needs , or an individual development plan which names a school.F9F10
England and Wales
This section applies where a F1local authority are required by virtue of section 437(3) to serve a school attendance order in respect of a child, other than a child for whom they maintain F2an EHC plan (in the case of a local authority in England) or F3a statement under section 324 a child for whom an individual development plan is maintained in which a particular school is named F4(in the case of a local authority in Wales).
Before serving the order, the authority shall serve on the parent a notice in writing—
informing him of their intention to serve the order,
specifying the school which the authority intend to name in the order and, if they think fit, one or more other schools which they regard as suitable alternatives, and
stating the effect of subsections (3) to (6).
If the notice specifies one or more alternative schools and the parent selects one of them within the period of 15 days beginning with the day on which the notice is served, the school selected by him shall be named in the order.
If—
within the period mentioned in subsection (3) the parent applies for the child to be admitted to a school maintained by a local authority and, where that authority are not the authority by whom the notice was served, notifies the latter authority of the application, and
the child is offered a place at the school as a result of the application,
that school shall be named in the order.
If—
within the period mentioned in subsection (3), the parent applies to the local authority by whom the notice was served for education to be provided at a school which is not a school maintained by a local authority, and
the child is offered a place at the school under arrangements made by the authority under which the fees payable in respect of the education provided at the school are to be paid by them under section 517,
the child is offered a place at the school and the authority are required by virtue of regulations under section 18(3) to pay the fees payable in respect of the education provided for him at the school,]
that school shall be named in the order.
If, within the period mentioned in subsection (3)—
the parent—
applies for the child to be admitted to a school which is not maintained by a local authority F7..., and in respect of which no application is made under subsection (5), and
notifies the local authority by whom the notice was served of the application,
the child is offered a place at the school as a result of the application, and
the school is suitable to his age, ability and aptitude and F8to any special educational needs he may have —
(in the case of a local authority in England) any special educational needs the child may have, or
(in the case of a local authority in Wales) any additional learning needs the child may have,
that school shall be named in the order.
Annotations
Textual amendments
- F1
Words in Act substituted (5.5.2010) by The Local Education Authorities and Children’s Services Authorities (Integration of Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/1158), Sch. 2 para. 7(2) (with Sch. 2 para. 7(4)(5))
- F2
Words in s. 438(1) inserted (1.9.2014) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), s. 139(6), Sch. 3 para. 39(2)(a); S.I. 2014/889, art. 7(a) (with savings and transitional provisions in S.I. 2014/2270 (as amended (1.4.2015) by S.I. 2015/505)
- F3
Words in s. 438(1) substituted (1.9.2021 for specified purposes, 1.1.2022 for specified purposes, 1.9.2022 for specified purposes, 1.9.2025 for specified purposes) by Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 (anaw 2), s. 100(3), Sch. 1 para. 4(14)(a); S.I. 2021/373, arts. 3, 4, 6, 7 (as amended by S.I. 2021/938, art. 2); S.I. 2021/1243, art. 3 (with arts. 4-23) (as amended by S.I. 2021/1428, art. 2); S.I. 2021/1244, art. 3 (with arts. 4-21) (as amended by S.I. 2021/1428, art. 3); S.I. 2021/1245, arts. 3, 4 (with art. 1(4)); S.I. 2022/891, art. 3 (with arts. 4-25); S.I. 2022/892, arts. 2, 3 (with arts. 4-18); S.I. 2022/893, arts. 2, 4; S.I. 2022/894, art. 3; S.I. 2022/895, arts. 3, 4; S.I. 2022/896, art. 3 (with arts. 1(7), 4-22); S.I. 2022/897, art. 3 (with arts. 1(8), 4-21); S.I. 2022/898, arts. 2, 3
- F4
Words in s. 438(1) inserted (1.9.2014) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), s. 139(6), Sch. 3 para. 39(2)(b); S.I. 2014/889, art. 7(a) (with savings and transitional provisions in S.I. 2014/2270 (as amended (1.4.2015) by S.I. 2015/505)
- F5
S. 438(4)(a) substituted (1.9.1999) by 1998 c. 31, s. 140(1), Sch. 30 para. 114(a) (with ss. 138(9), 144(6)); S.I. 1999/2323, art. 2(1), Sch. 1.
- F6
S. 438(5) substituted (1.9.1999 except in relation to the substitution of s. 438(5)(b) and otherwise prosp.) by 1998 c. 31, ss. 140(1), 145(3), Sch. 30 para. 114(b) (with ss. 138(9), 144(6)); S.I. 1999/2323, art. 2(1), Sch. 1
- F7
Words in s. 438(6)(a)(i) repealed (1.9.1999) by 1998 c. 31, s. 140(1)(3), Sch. 30 para. 114(c), Sch.31 (with ss. 138(9), 144(6)); S.I. 1999/2323, art. 2(1), Sch. 1
- F8
S. 438(6)(c)(i)(ii) substituted for words (1.9.2021 for specified purposes, 1.1.2022 for specified purposes, 1.9.2022 for specified purposes, 1.9.2025 for specified purposes) by Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 (anaw 2), s. 100(3), Sch. 1 para. 4(14)(b); S.I. 2021/373, arts. 3, 4, 6, 7 (as amended by S.I. 2021/938, art. 2); S.I. 2021/1243, art. 3 (with arts. 4-23) (as amended by S.I. 2021/1428, art. 2); S.I. 2021/1244, art. 3 (with arts. 4-21) (as amended by S.I. 2021/1428, art. 3); S.I. 2021/1245, arts. 3, 4 (with art. 1(4)); S.I. 2022/891, art. 3 (with arts. 4-25); S.I. 2022/892, arts. 2, 3 (with arts. 4-18); S.I. 2022/893, arts. 2, 4; S.I. 2022/894, art. 3; S.I. 2022/895, arts. 3, 4; S.I. 2022/896, art. 3 (with arts. 1(7), 4-22); S.I. 2022/897, art. 3 (with arts. 1(8), 4-21); S.I. 2022/898, arts. 2, 3
- F9
Words in s. 438 title inserted (1.9.2014) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), s. 139(6), Sch. 3 para. 39(3); S.I. 2014/889, art. 7(a) (with savings and transitional provisions in S.I. 2014/2270 (as amended (1.4.2015) by S.I. 2015/505)
- F10
Words in s. 438 heading substituted (1.9.2021 for specified purposes, 1.1.2022 for specified purposes, 1.9.2022 for specified purposes, 1.9.2025 for specified purposes) by Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 (anaw 2), s. 100(3), Sch. 1 para. 4(14)(c); S.I. 2021/373, arts. 3, 4, 6, 7 (as amended by S.I. 2021/938, art. 2); S.I. 2021/1243, art. 3 (with arts. 4-23) (as amended by S.I. 2021/1428, art. 2); S.I. 2021/1244, art. 3 (with arts. 4-21) (as amended by S.I. 2021/1428, art. 3); S.I. 2021/1245, arts. 3, 4 (with art. 1(4)); S.I. 2022/891, art. 3 (with arts. 4-25); S.I. 2022/892, arts. 2, 3 (with arts. 4-18); S.I. 2022/893, arts. 2, 4; S.I. 2022/894, art. 3; S.I. 2022/895, arts. 3, 4; S.I. 2022/896, art. 3 (with arts. 1(7), 4-22); S.I. 2022/897, art. 3 (with arts. 1(8), 4-21); S.I. 2022/898, arts. 2, 3