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<p>The government does not have any plans to conduct such an inquiry.</p><p> </p><p>The
government has made fundamental changes to the way the special educational needs and
disabilities (SEND) support system works for families. The system is now more person-centred
with significant direction given to local authorities, and other bodies, to engage
effectively with families.</p><p> </p><p>Local authorities should respond appropriately
to any SEND Tribunal appeal. In doing so, they will inevitably incur costs. When families
make appeals, the local authority will need to judge how to respond to them and in
doing so, must put the interests of the child or young person first.</p><p> </p><p>The
government are investing £20 million until March 2020 to improve the quality of local
information, advice and support services available to families, and to provide guidance
and training to local authorities to help improve the quality of education, health
and care (EHC) plans.</p><p> </p><p>Parents have the right to ask that an independent
school, approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act (2014) and published
in a list available to all parents and young people, be named on their EHC plan.</p><p>
</p><p>The local authority must, after consultation with the school, name the requested
school unless specific criteria apply. These conditions are that the school would
be unsuitable for the young person’s needs, incompatible with the efficient education
of others or an inefficient use of the local authority’s resources.</p><p> </p><p>Parents
may also make representations for a place at an independent school that is not on
the Section 41 list and the local authority must consider their request. While not
under the same conditional duty to name the provider, the local authority must have
regard to the general principle that children should be educated in accordance with
their parents’ wishes if this is compatible with the provision of efficient instruction
and does not cause unreasonable public expenditure.</p>
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