Explanatory note

These Regulations prescribe the circumstances in which a local education authority (LEA) may, pursuant to the power conferred by section 518(1)(a) of the Education Act 1996 (as substituted by section 129 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998), pay expenses to enable a child to take part in any school activity.

The power applies in respect of a child who is not over compulsory school age and is attending a community, foundation, voluntary or special school, and may be exercised only for the purpose of enabling him to take advantage of any available educational facilities.

These Regulations provide that an LEA may make a payment of such expenses where they are satisfied that this should be done for the purpose of preventing or relieving financial hardship. The amount of the payment must be related to the means of the child’s parents. (See regulation 2.)

Provision is also made (in regulation 3) for the revocation, with savings, of regulation 4(a) of the Scholarships and Other Benefits Regulations 1977.