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Education Act 1996

Type Public General Act

Publication 1996-07-24

Last updated 2026-08-18

State In force

Department Statute Law Database

Source legislation.gov.uk

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(f) a school that is included in the register of independent schools in Wales (kept under section 158 of the Education Act 2002), or

(g) a school within the meaning of section 135 (1) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980.

(8) Before the end of the period of 15 days beginning with the day on which the local authority registers a child under this section, the local authority—

(a) must consider where the child lives, and

(b) may request the child’s parent to allow the local authority to visit the child inside any of the homes in which the child lives.

(9) If a request under subsection (8)(b) is refused by the person to whom it is made, the local authority must consider that to be a relevant factor in determining whether to serve a preliminary notice under section 436H.

(10) Before the end of the period of 15 days beginning with the day on which the local authority includes in the register the information mentioned in section 436C(1)(g) in respect of a child, the local authority must consider the settings where the child is being educated that the local authority knows about.

Content and maintenance of registers

436C

(1) A register under section 436B must contain the following information in respect of a child registered in it—

(a) the child’s name, date of birth and home address, and if the child has lived at their current address for less than 12 months, their previous address;

(b) any additional address if the child lives at more than one address;

(d) the name of each parent who is providing education to that child;

(e) an estimate of the overall total amount of time that the child spends receiving education from parents of the child;

(f) an estimate of the overall total amount of time that the child spends receiving education from persons other than parents of the child;

(g) if a particular provider other than the child’s parent is providing education to the child for more than the prescribed amount of time—

(i) the name and address of the provider;

(ii) a description of the type of provider that it is;

(iii) the postal address of each place where that education is provided (where different from the address in sub-paragraph (i)) or the website or email address of the provider if that education is provided virtually;

(iv) an estimate of the total amount of time that the child spends receiving that education and an estimate of the amount of time the child spends receiving that education without any parent of the child being actively involved in the tuition or supervision of the child.

(2) To the extent that the local authority has the information or can reasonably obtain it, a register under section 436B must also contain such information about, or in connection with, the following matters in respect of a child registered in it as may be prescribed—

(a) the child’s protected characteristics (within the meaning of the Equality Act 2010);

(b) in the case of a child who is in the area of a local authority in England, whether the child has any special educational needs, including whether the local authority maintains an EHC plan for the child;

(c) in the case of a child who is in the area of a local authority in Wales, whether the child has any additional learning needs, including whether an individual development plan is maintained for the child;

(d) any enquiries being made or that have been made by a local authority under section 47 of the Children Act 1989 (local authority’s duty to investigate) and any actions that are being taken or have been taken by the authority or any other local authority following, or in connection with, enquiries under that section;

(e) whether the child is or has ever been a child in need for the purposes of Part 3 of the Children Act 1989 (see section 17(10) of that Act) and, if so, any actions that a local authority is taking or has taken in relation to the child under that Part and any services that a local authority is providing or has provided to the child in the exercise of functions conferred on the authority by section 17 of that Act;

(f) whether the child has ever been assessed as having needs for care and support for the purposes of Part 4 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (anaw 4) (see section 32 (1) of that Act) and, if so, any actions that a local authority is taking or has taken in relation to the child under that Part (or Part 4 or 5 of the Children Act 1989) and any services that a local authority is providing or has provided to the child in the exercise of functions conferred on the authority by or under that Part (or Part 4 or 5 of the Children Act 1989);

(g) whether the child is or has ever been looked after by a local authority in England (within the meaning of section 22 of the Children Act 1989) or in Wales (within the meaning of section 74 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014);

(h) the reasons why the child meets condition C in section 436B, including any information provided by a parent of the child as to those reasons or, in a case where a parent has not provided that information, the fact that they have not done so;

(i) whether, under arrangements made under section 436A, the child has been identified as a child who is of compulsory school age but who is not a registered pupil at a school and is not receiving suitable education otherwise than at a school;

(j) the school or institution or the type of school or institution (if any) that the child attends or has attended in the past;

(k) whether support is being provided in relation to the child under section 436G and, if so, the nature of the support being provided;

(l) any actions that have been taken by a local authority in relation to the child under sections 436I to 436Q (school attendance orders);

(m) whether—

(i) in the case of a child in England, the child is a young carer within the meaning of section 17ZA(3) of the Children Act 1989, as qualified by section 17ZB(3) of that Act, or

(ii) in the case of a child in Wales, the child is a carer (within the meaning of “child” and “carer” given by section 3 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014);

(n) whether the local authority exercised any of its functions under section 436B(8), (9) or (10), 436H(8) or (9), or 436I(3) in relation to the child and the outcomes of any consideration of home and education settings or home visits conducted under those provisions;

(o) any other information about the child’s characteristics, circumstances, needs or interactions with a local authority or educational institutions that the Secretary of State considers, or the Welsh Ministers consider (as the case may be), should be included in the register for the purposes of promoting or safeguarding the education or welfare of children.

(3) A register under section 436B may also contain any other information the local authority considers appropriate.

(4) Regulations may, in relation to a register under section 436B, make provision about—

(a) how a local authority must maintain the register, including provision relating to—

(i) how the register is to be kept up-to-date;

(ii) the making of changes to the register;

(b) the form of the register;

(d) registration forms;

(e) how amounts of time and estimates of amounts of time are to be calculated and recorded for the purposes of subsection (1)(e), (f) and (g)(iv);

(f) publicising the register and duties of persons in relation to the register.

(5) No information from a register under section 436B may be published, or made accessible to the public, in a form—

(a) which includes the name or address of a child who is eligible to be registered under that section or of a parent of such a child, or

(b) from which the identity of such a child or parent can be deduced, whether from the information itself or from that information taken together with any other published information.

(6) In subsection (1)(g), “prescribed amount of time” means an amount of time prescribed—

(a) by reference to a number of hours in, or a proportion of, a week or other period;

(b) by reference to a proportion of the time a child spends receiving education;

Provision of information to local authorities: parents

436D

(1) A parent of a child who is eligible to be registered by a local authority under section 436B must—

(a) inform the local authority that the child is eligible for registration, and

(b) provide the authority with any of the information referred to in section 436C(1) that the parent has.

(2) A parent of a child who is registered by a local authority under section 436B must—

(a) provide the authority, on request, with any of the information referred to in section 436C(1) that the parent has,

(b) inform the authority of a change, of which the parent is aware, to any of the information required to be included in the register under section 436C(1)(a) to (d),

(c) inform the authority, on request, if there have been any changes, of which the parent is aware, to any of the information mentioned in section 436C(1)(e), (f) or (g) since the information was last provided to the authority, and provide the authority with information about those changes, or confirm that there have been no changes, and

(d) inform the authority if the child ceases to be eligible to be registered by that authority under section 436B as a result of no longer meeting Condition A (see subsection (3) of that section) or Condition C (see subsection (5) of that section).

(3) A local authority—

(a) must make a request mentioned in subsection (2)(c) in relation to each child registered by the local authority under section 436B at least once a year, but

(b) may not make such a request more frequently than once every three months.

(4) A person must comply with a duty under subsection (1) or (2) before the end of the relevant period.

(5) In subsection (4) “relevant period” means—

(a) in the case of the duty in subsection (1)(a) or (b), the period of 15 days beginning with the date on which the child becomes eligible for registration by the local authority;

(b) in the case of the duty in subsection (2)(a), such period of not less than 15 days as the local authority specify in the request;

(c) in the case of the duty in subsection (2)(b), the period of 15 days beginning with the date on which the parent becomes aware of the change;

(d) in the case of the duty in subsection (2)(c), such period of not less than 15 days as the local authority specify in the request;

(e) in the case of the duty in subsection (2)(d), the period of 15 days beginning with the date on which the child ceases to be eligible to be registered by the local authority under section 436B.

(6) The duties in subsections (1) and (2) do not apply where the child is receiving full-time education by the following means—

(a) arrangements made by the local authority under section 19 (in England) or section 19A (in Wales);

(b) arrangements made by the proprietor of a relevant school at which the child is a registered pupil;

(c) where the local authority is a local authority in England, arrangements made by the local authority under section 61 of the Children and Families Act 2014 (special educational provision otherwise than in schools, post-16 institutions etc);

(d) where the local authority is a local authority in Wales, arrangements made by the local authority under section 53 of the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 (anaw 2) (additional learning provision otherwise than in schools);

(e) any combination of the arrangements mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (d);

(f) any one or more of the arrangements mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (d) and attendance at a relevant school.

(7) In this section “relevant school” has the same meaning as in section 436B.

Provision of information to local authorities: education providers

436E

(1) This section applies where a local authority reasonably believes that—

(a) a person is providing out-of-school education to a child for more than the prescribed amount of time without any parent of the child being actively involved in the tuition or supervision of the child, and

(b) the child is, or is eligible to be, registered by the authority under section 436B.

(2) In this section—

(a) “out-of-school education” means any programme or course of education, or any other kind of structured education, that is provided otherwise than as part of the education provided by a relevant school (within the meaning of section 436B);

(b) “prescribed amount of time” means an amount of time prescribed—

(i) by reference to a number of hours in, or a proportion of, a week or other period;

(ii) by reference to a proportion of the time a child spends receiving education;

(iii) in any other way.

(3) The authority may by notice require the person—

(a) to confirm whether or not the person is providing out-of-school education as mentioned in subsection (1)(a) to any child living in England or Wales (whether or not that child lives in the authority’s area) or has provided such education at any time during the period of three months ending with the date of the notice, and

(b) to provide the authority with the following information in relation to any child living in England or Wales (whether or not that child lives in the authority’s area) to whom they are providing such education, or to whom they have provided such education during that three month period—

(i) the child’s name, date of birth and home address,

(ii) the total amount of time that they provide such education to the child, and

(iii) the amount of time that they provide such education to the child without any parent of the child being actively involved in the tuition or supervision of the child.

(4) A notice under subsection (3) is served if it is sent to or left at the place where the out-of-school education is provided (as well as in the circumstances referred to in section 572(1)).

(5) Before the end of the specified period, the person on whom a notice under subsection (3) is served must comply with the requirement in the notice.

(6) The “specified period” is the period, specified in the notice that—

(a) is at least 15 days, and

(b) begins with the day on which the notice is served.

(7) Regulations may provide for exceptions to the duty in subsection (5).

(8) Where a local authority is satisfied that a person on whom a notice under subsection (3) is served has—

(a) failed to comply with their duty under subsection (5), or

(b) provided incorrect information in response to the notice,

the authority may require the person to pay a monetary penalty to the authority in accordance with Schedule 31A.

(9) The amount of the monetary penalty is to be the prescribed amount.

(10) Subsection (8) does not apply in relation to a notice under subsection (3) that is served during the period of three months beginning with the day on which section 38 of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 comes into force.

Use of information in the register

436F

(1) A local authority must, if the Secretary of State so directs in relation to a local authority in England, or the Welsh Ministers so direct in relation to a local authority in Wales, provide the Secretary of State or the Welsh Ministers (as the case may be) with information of a prescribed description from their register under section 436B (whether that is information relating to an individual child or aggregated information).

(2) The Secretary of State or the Welsh Ministers may provide information received under subsection (1) to a prescribed person if the Secretary of State considers or the Welsh Ministers consider (as the case may be) it appropriate to do so for the purposes of promoting or safeguarding the education or welfare of—

(a) the child to whom the information relates, or

(b) any other person under the age of 18.

(3) A local authority may provide information from their register under section 436B which relates to a child, to a person mentioned in subsection (4) if the authority considers it appropriate to do so for the purposes of promoting or safeguarding the education or welfare of—

(a) the child, or

(b) any other person under the age of 18.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (3), the persons are—

(a) a person listed in section 11 (1) or 28 (1) of the Children Act 2004 (arrangements to safeguard and promote welfare);

(b) Ofsted, meaning—

(i) the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills, and

(ii) His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills;

(d) the Welsh Ministers.

(5) Where a local authority becomes aware that a child registered in their register under section 436B will move, or has moved, to the area of another local authority, the local authority—

(a) must provide the other local authority with any information relating to the child which is contained in the register under or by virtue of section 436C(1) or (2), and

(b) may provide the other local authority with any other information relating to the child which is contained in the register under or by virtue of section 436C(3).

(6) Where a local authority in Scotland or Northern Ireland makes a request for information from a register under section 436B held by a local authority in England or Wales, the local authority receiving the request may provide the information if that authority considers it appropriate to do so for the purposes of promoting or safeguarding the education or welfare of—

(a) the child to whom the information relates,

(b) any other person under the age of 18.

(7) A local authority in Scotland means a council constituted under section 2 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994.

(8) A local authority in Northern Ireland means a Health and Social Care Trust or the Education Authority established under the Education Act (Northern Ireland) 2014.

Support

436G

(1) If a parent of a child registered by a local authority under section 436B so requests, the local authority must provide support to the parent by securing the provision of advice and information relating to the education of the child.

(2) The advice and information to be provided is whatever the local authority considers fit having regard to the parent’s request and may include—

(a) advice about the education of the child,

(b) information about sources of assistance for the education of the child, and

(3) A local authority in England must offer parents of children registered by the authority under section 436B the opportunity to attend a forum to discuss the operation of sections 436B to 436P.

(4) The offer must be made twice per year and if it is accepted by at least one person to whom it is made, the local authority must arrange for the forum to take place.

(5) The duties in subsections (1), (3) and (4) do not apply in relation to a child where—

(a) the child is a registered pupil at a relevant school (within the meaning of section 436B),

(b) the local authority is required to make arrangements for the education of the child under section 19 or 19A of this Act,

(c) the local authority is required to secure special educational provision for the child under section 42 (2) of the Children and Families Act 2014, or

(d) the local authority is required to secure additional learning provision or other provision for the child under section 14 (10) or 19 (7) of the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018.

School attendance orders

Preliminary notice for school attendance order

436H

(1) A local authority must serve a preliminary notice on a child’s parent in relation to a child for whom the authority is responsible if it appears to the authority that—

(a) the child is of compulsory school age, and

(b) either condition A or condition B is met.

(2) A local authority may serve a preliminary notice on a child’s parent if it appears to the authority that either condition C or condition D is met.

(3) A “preliminary notice” means a notice requiring the child’s parent on whom the notice is served to satisfy the local authority that—

(a) the child is receiving suitable education, where condition A, C or D is relied on to serve the notice;

(b) the child is receiving education that is in their best interests, where condition B is relied on to serve the notice.

(4) Condition A is that the child is not receiving suitable education, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise.

(5) Condition B is that—

(a) the local authority or another local authority is—

(i) conducting enquiries in respect of the child under section 47 of the Children Act 1989 (duty to investigate), or

(ii) taking action under section 47 (8) of that Act to safeguard or promote the child’s welfare, in a case where the enquiries mentioned in sub-paragraph (i) have led the local authority to conclude that the child is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm (within the meaning of section 31 (9) and (10) of that Act), or has taken such action during the period of five years ending with the date on which a preliminary notice is to be served under subsection (1),

(b) the child is not regularly attending school, and

(6) Condition C is that—

(a) the child is eligible to be registered by the local authority under section 436B,

(b) the authority has asked the child’s parent for information under section 436D(1), and

(c) the child’s parent has not provided that information before the end of the relevant period (as defined in section 436D(5)(a)), or has provided incorrect information.

(7) Condition D is that the child’s parent is under a duty to provide information to the local authority under section 436D(2)(a), (b) or (c) in relation to the child and—

(a) has not provided the information before the end of the relevant period (as defined in section 436D(5)), or

(b) has provided incorrect information.

(8) For the purpose of determining whether a preliminary notice must or may be served under this section in respect of a child, the local authority—

(a) must consider the settings where the child is being educated that the local authority knows about and where the child lives, and

(b) may request the child’s parent on whom the preliminary notice would be served to allow the local authority to visit the child inside any of the homes in which the child lives.

(9) If a request under subsection (8)(b) is refused by the person to whom it is made, the local authority must consider that to be a relevant factor in determining whether to serve a preliminary notice.

(10) A preliminary notice must—

(a) state which of conditions A to D are relied on to serve the notice,

(b) be served without delay, and in any event before the end of the period of five days beginning with the day on which it appears to the local authority that the requirements of subsection (1) or (2) are met, and

(c) specify the period within which the person must respond to the notice, which must be not less than 15 days beginning with the day on which the notice is served.

School attendance orders

436I

(1) A local authority must serve an order under this section on a child’s parent if—

(a) the authority has served a preliminary notice on the child’s parent under section 436H ,

(b) the child’s parent fails to satisfy the local authority, within the period specified in the notice, that—

(i) the child is receiving suitable education, in a case where condition A, C or D is cited in the notice,

(ii) it is in the best interests of the child to receive education otherwise than by regular attendance at school, in a case where condition B is cited in the notice, and

(2) But a local authority must not serve an order under this section on a child’s parent if—

(a) either—

(i) condition B was the only condition cited in the preliminary notice served under section 436H in relation to the child, or

(ii) condition B and another condition were cited in that preliminary notice, but the child’s parent has satisfied the local authority that the child is receiving suitable education,

(b) the local authority is no longer conducting enquiries or taking action in respect of the child as mentioned in section 436H(5)(a), and

(c) the local authority is not aware of any other enquiries being made under section 47 of the Children Act 1989 or of any other action being taken under section 47 (8) of that Act, or which has been taken during the period of five years ending with the date that the order would be made, in respect of the child.

(3) For the purpose of determining whether an order must be served under this section in respect of a child, the local authority—

(a) must consider the settings where the child is being educated that the local authority knows about and where the child lives,

(b) must consider how the child is being educated and what the child is learning, so far as is relevant in the particular case, and

(c) may request the child’s parent on whom the preliminary notice has been served under section 436H to allow the local authority to visit the child inside any of the homes in which the child lives.

(4) If a request under subsection (3)(c) is refused by the person to whom it is made, the local authority must consider that to be a relevant factor in deciding whether the child’s parent has failed to satisfy the local authority as mentioned in subsection (1)(b)(i) or (ii).

(5) An order under this section (a “school attendance order”) is an order requiring the person on whom it is served to cause the child to become a registered pupil at a school named in the order.

(6) A school attendance order under this section—

(a) must be served without delay, and in any event before the end of the period of five days beginning with the day on which the authority determines which school is to be named in the order, and

(b) must be in the prescribed form.

(7) A school attendance order under this section continues in force (subject to any amendment made by the local authority) for so long as the child is of compulsory school age, unless—

(a) it is revoked by the authority, or

(b) a direction is made in respect of it under section 436Q(6) or 447(5).

(8) Where a maintained school is named in a school attendance order under this section—

(a) the local authority must without delay, and in any event before the end of the period of five days referred to in subsection (6)(a) inform the governing body and the head teacher, and

(b) the governing body and the local authority must admit the child to the school.

(9) Where an Academy school or alternative provision Academy is named in a school attendance order under this section—

(a) the local authority must without delay, and in any event before the end of the period of five days referred to in subsection (6)(a) inform the proprietor and the principal, and

(b) the proprietor must admit the child to the school.

(10) Subsections (8) and (9) do not affect any power to exclude from a school a pupil who is already a registered pupil there.

School attendance order for child with EHC plan (England)

436J

(1) Subsections (2) and (3) apply where a local authority in England is required to serve a school attendance order under section 436I in respect of a child for whom the authority maintains an EHC plan.

(2) Where the EHC plan specifies the name of a school, that school must be named in the order.

(3) Where the EHC plan does not specify the name of a school—

(a) the authority must amend the plan so that it specifies the name of a school, and

(b) that school must then be named in the order.

(4) An amendment to an EHC plan required to be made under subsection (3)(a) is to be treated as if it were an amendment made following a review under section 44 of the Children and Families Act 2014, and that section and regulations made under it apply accordingly.

(5) Where—

(a) a school attendance order is in force in respect of a child for whom the local authority maintain an EHC plan, and

(b) the name of the school specified in the plan is changed,

the local authority must amend the order accordingly.

(6) Where a school attendance order is in force in respect of a child who subsequently becomes a child for whom the local authority maintain an EHC plan which specifies the name of a school, the local authority must ensure that school is named in the order.

School attendance order for child with individual development plan (Wales)

436K

(1) Where a local authority in Wales is required to serve a school attendance order under section 436I in respect of a child for whom an individual development plan is maintained in which a particular school is named, that school must be named in the order.

(2) Where—

(a) a school attendance order is in force in respect of a child for whom an individual development plan is maintained in which a particular school is named, and

(b) the name of the school specified in the plan is changed,

the local authority must amend the order accordingly.

(3) Where a school attendance order is in force in respect of a child who subsequently becomes a child for whom an individual development plan is maintained in which a particular school is named, the local authority must ensure that school is named in the order.

School nomination notice for school attendance order

436L

(1) Before a local authority serves a school attendance order under section 436I on a person in respect of a child, other than a child for whom the authority maintains an EHC plan or a child for whom an individual development plan is maintained in which a particular school is named, the authority must serve a notice on the person under this section (a “school nomination notice”).

(2) A school nomination notice is a notice in writing—

(a) informing the person of the local authority’s intention to serve the order,

(b) specifying the school which the authority intends to name in the order and, if the authority considers it fit, one or more other schools which it regards as suitable alternatives, and

For periods within which the school nomination notice must be served, see section 436N(6) and (7).

(3) If the school nomination notice specifies one or more alternative schools and the person selects one of them before the end of the period of 15 days beginning with the day on which the notice is served, the school selected by the person must be named in the order.

(4) If—

(a) within the period mentioned in subsection (3) the person—

(i) applies for the child to be admitted to a school which is an Academy school or alternative provision Academy and notifies the local authority which served the notice of the application, or

(ii) applies for the child to be admitted to a school maintained by a local authority and, where that authority is not the local authority which served the notice, notifies the latter authority of the application, and

(b) the child is offered a place at the school as a result of the application,

that school must be named in the school attendance order.

(5) If—

(a) within the period mentioned in subsection (3) the person 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, an Academy school or alternative provision Academy, and

(b) 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,

that school must be named in the school attendance order.

(6) If, within the period mentioned in subsection (3)—

(a) the person—

(i) applies for the child to be admitted to a school which is not maintained by a local authority, an Academy school or an alternative provision Academy and in respect of which no application is made under subsection (5), and

(ii) notifies the local authority by whom the notice was served of the application,

(b) the child is offered a place at the school as a result of the application, and

(c) the school is suitable to the child’s age, ability and aptitude and to any special educational needs the child may have,

that school must be named in the school attendance order.

School nomination notice: restrictions

436M

(1) A local authority may not specify a school in a school nomination notice if the child is permanently excluded from it.

(2) A local authority may not specify a maintained school or Academy school in a school nomination notice if the admission of the child would, because of the need to take measures to avoid failing to comply with any duty applicable to the school in relation to class sizes, prejudice the provision of efficient education or the efficient use of resources.

(3) A local authority may not specify a maintained school or Academy school in a school nomination notice if, were the child concerned admitted to the school in accordance with a school attendance order resulting from the notice, the number of pupils at the school in the child’s age group would exceed the relevant number.

(4) The relevant number is—

(a) in the case of a maintained school, the number determined in accordance with section 88C or 89 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 as the number of pupils in the child’s age group which it is intended to admit to the school in the school year in which the child would be admitted, or

(b) in the case of an Academy school, the number determined in accordance with the Academy arrangements relating to the school or any enactment as the number of such pupils.

(5) Subsection (3) does not prevent a local authority from specifying a maintained school where the authority is responsible for determining the arrangements for the admission of pupils to the school.

(6) Subsection (3) also does not prevent a local authority from specifying a maintained school or Academy school if—

(a) in the opinion of the authority the school is a reasonable distance from the home of the child, and

(b) there is no maintained school or Academy school in their area which—

(i) the authority could specify (apart from subsection (3)), and

(ii) is in the opinion of the authority a reasonable distance from the home of the child.

School nomination notice: procedure

436N

(1) Before deciding to specify a maintained school, Academy school or alternative provision Academy in a school nomination notice a local authority must consult—

(a) in the case of a maintained school—

(i) the governing body, and

(ii) if another local authority is responsible for determining the arrangements for the admission of pupils to the school, that authority, or

(b) in the case of an Academy school or alternative provision Academy, the proprietor.

(2) Where a local authority decides to specify a maintained school, Academy school or alternative provision Academy in a school nomination notice the authority must, before serving the notice, serve notice in writing of their decision on—

(a) in the case of a maintained school—

(i) the governing body,

(ii) the head teacher, and

(iii) if another local authority is responsible for determining the arrangements for the admission of pupils to the school, that authority, or

(b) in the case of an Academy school or alternative provision Academy—

(i) the proprietor, and

(ii) the principal.

(3) A notice under subsection (2) must be served without delay, and in any event before the end of the period of 15 days beginning with the expiry of the period specified in the notice under section 436H.

(4) A person on whom a notice is served under subsection (2)(a)(i) or (iii) or (b)(i) may apply to the Secretary of State in relation to a school in England, or to the Welsh Ministers in relation to a school in Wales, for a direction under this section and, if they do so, must inform the local authority which served the notice.

(5) An application under subsection (4) must be made—

(a) if the notice is served on a school day, before the end of the period of 10 school days beginning with the day on which the notice is served, or

(b) if the notice is served on a day that is not a school day, before the end of the period of 10 school days beginning with the first school day following the day on which the notice is served.

(6) If the local authority which served a notice under subsection (2) is not informed of an application under subsection (4) within the period specified in subsection (5), the authority must serve the school nomination notice without delay, and in any event before the end of the period of five days beginning with the day after the day on which the period specified in subsection (5) ended.

(7) Where the Secretary of State gives a direction under this section in relation to a school in England or the Welsh Ministers give a direction under this section in relation to a school in Wales—

(a) the school or schools to be specified in the school nomination notice are to be determined in accordance with the direction, and

(b) the school nomination notice must be served without delay, and in any event before the end of the period of five days beginning with the day after that on which the direction is given.

(8) If a local authority in England serves a notice under subsection (2) specifying a school in Wales and an application for a direction is made to the Welsh Ministers under subsection (4) in relation to that notice, the direction under this section may only—

(a) confirm that a school specified in the notice under subsection (2) should be specified in the school nomination notice, or

(b) refer the question of which school or schools should be specified in the school nomination notice back to the local authority to determine.

(9) If a local authority in Wales serves a notice under subsection (2) specifying a school in England, and an application for a direction is made to the Secretary of State under subsection (4) in relation to that notice, the direction under this section may only—

(a) confirm that a school specified in the notice under subsection (2) should be specified in the school nomination notice, or

(b) refer the question of which school or schools should be specified in the school nomination notice back to the local authority to determine.

Amendment of school attendance order

436O

(1) This section applies where a school attendance order under section 436I is in force in respect of a child, other than a child for whom the local authority maintains an EHC plan or a child for whom an individual development plan is maintained in which a particular school is named.

(2) If at any time—

(a) the person on whom the order is served applies for the child to be admitted—

(i) to a school maintained by a local authority, an Academy school or an alternative provision Academy, and

(ii) which is different from the school named in the order,

(b) the child is offered a place at the school as a result of the application, and

(c) the person requests the authority that served the order to amend the order by substituting that school for the one currently named,

the authority must comply with the request.

(3) If at any time—

(a) the person on whom the order is served applies to the authority for the child to be admitted—

(i) to a school not maintained by a local authority, an Academy school or an alternative provision Academy, and

(ii) which is different from the school named in the order,

(b) 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 the authority under section 517, and

the authority must comply with the request.

(4) If at any time—

(a) the person on whom the order is served applies for the child to be admitted—

(i) to a school not maintained by a local authority, an Academy school or an alternative provision Academy,

(ii) which is different from the school named in the order, and

(iii) in respect of which no application is made under subsection (3),

(b) the child is offered a place at the school as a result of the application,

(c) the school is suitable to the child’s age, ability and aptitude and to any special educational needs the child may have, and

(d) the person requests the authority to amend the order by substituting that school for the one currently named,

the authority must comply with the request.

Revocation of school attendance order

436P

(1) This section applies where a school attendance order made by a local authority under section 436I is in force in respect of a child.

(2) The local authority must revoke the order if—

(a) the order was served following a preliminary notice under section 436H in which the only condition cited was condition B,

(b) the local authority is no longer conducting enquiries or taking action in respect of the child as mentioned in section 436H(5)(a), and

(c) the local authority is not aware of any other enquiries being made under section 47 of the Children Act 1989 or of any other action being taken under section 47 (8) of that Act, or which has been taken during the period of five years ending with the date that the order was made, in respect of the child.

(3) The person on whom the order is served may at any time request the local authority to revoke the order on the ground that arrangements have been made—

(a) for the child to receive suitable education otherwise than at a school, where the order was served—

(i) as a result of the person failing to satisfy the local authority that the child is receiving suitable education, or

(ii) as a result of the person failing to satisfy the local authority both that the child is receiving suitable education and that it is in the best interests of the child to receive education otherwise than by regular attendance at school, where subsection (2)(b) and (c) applies;

(b) for the child to receive education, otherwise than at a school, that is in their best interests, where the order was served as a result of the person failing to satisfy the local authority that it is in the best interests of the child to receive education otherwise than by regular attendance at school.

(4) The authority must comply with a request under subsection (3), unless the authority is of the opinion that the arrangements mentioned in subsection (3)(a) or (b), or both, as the case may be, have not been made for the child.

(5) If a person is aggrieved by a refusal of a local authority in England to comply with a request under subsection (3)—

(a) the person may refer the question to the Secretary of State, and

(b) the Secretary of State must give such direction determining the question as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.

(6) If a person is aggrieved by a refusal of a local authority in Wales to comply with a request under subsection (3)—

(a) the person may refer the question to the Welsh Ministers, and

(b) the Welsh Ministers must give such direction determining the question as the Welsh Ministers consider appropriate.

(7) Where the child is one for whom the local authority maintains an EHC plan—

(a) if the name of a school or other institution is specified in the EHC plan, subsection (3) does not apply;

(b) if the name of a school or other institution is not specified in the EHC plan, a direction under subsection (5)(b) may require the authority to make such amendments in the plan as the Secretary of State considers necessary or expedient in consequence of the determination.

(8) Where the child is one for whom the local authority maintains an individual development plan—

(a) if the name of a school or other institution is specified in the plan, subsection (3) does not apply;

(b) if the name of a school or other institution is not specified in the plan, a direction under subsection (6)(b) may require the authority to make such amendments in the plan as the Welsh Ministers consider necessary or expedient in consequence of the determination.

Offence of failure to comply with school attendance order

436Q

(1) If a person on whom a school attendance order under section 436I is served fails to comply with the requirements of the order, the person is guilty of an offence.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if—

(a) the person proves that arrangements have been made for the child to receive suitable education otherwise than at a school, where the order was served as a result of the person failing to satisfy the local authority that the child is receiving suitable education,

(b) the person proves that arrangements have been made for the child to receive education, otherwise than at a school, that is in their best interests, where the order was served as a result of the person failing to satisfy the local authority that it is in the best interests of the child to receive education otherwise than by regular attendance at school,

(c) section 436H(5)(a) is no longer met in respect of the child, where the order was served following a preliminary notice under section 436H which cited only condition B, or

(d) both—

(i) the person proves that arrangements have been made for the child to receive suitable education otherwise than at a school, and

(ii) section 436H(5)(a) is no longer met in respect of the child,

where the order was served following a preliminary notice under section 436H which cited condition B and another condition.

(3) The reference in subsection (1) to failure to comply with the requirements of a school attendance order includes causing a child to cease to be registered at the school named in the school attendance order.

(4) Subsection (3) does not apply in circumstances where—

(a) the school has, pursuant to section 436J, 436K or 436O, ceased to be the school named in the school attendance order, or

(b) the school attendance order has been revoked pursuant to section 436P.

(5) A person who—

(a) fails to comply with the requirements of a school attendance order under section 436I by not causing a child to become a registered pupil at the school named in the order, and

(b) is convicted of an offence under this section in respect of the failure,

may be found guilty of an offence under this section again if the failure continues.

(6) If, in proceedings for an offence under this section, the person is acquitted, the court may direct that the school attendance order ceases to be in force.

(7) A direction under subsection (6) does not affect the duty of the local authority to take further action under section 436I if at any time the authority is of the opinion that, having regard to any change of circumstances, it is expedient to do so.

(8) A person who commits an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding the maximum term for summary offences or a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale (or both).

(9) In subsection (8), “the maximum term for summary offences” means—

(a) if the offence is committed before the time when section 281 (5) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 comes into force, six months;

(b) if the offence is committed after that time, 51 weeks.

References to “Academy school” and “Academy arrangements”

436R

(1) In sections 436I and 436L to 436O, a reference to an Academy school includes a reference to a city technology college and a city college for the technology of the arts.

(2) The reference in section 436M to Academy arrangements includes a reference to an agreement under section 482.

References to “regulations” and “prescribed”

436S

(1) In sections 436B(6), 436C(4) and 436E(7) “regulations” means—

(a) regulations made by the Secretary of State in relation to England, and

(b) regulations made by the Welsh Ministers in relation to Wales.

(2) In sections 436C, 436E, 436F, 436I and paragraph 5 of Schedule 31A “prescribed” means—

(a) prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State in relation to England, and

(b) prescribed by regulations made by the Welsh Ministers in relation to Wales.

Children not in school and school attendance orders: processing of information

Processing of information

436T

(1) This section applies to section 434A, sections 436B to 436Q and Schedule 31A, and provisions of regulations made under any of those provisions.

(2) A disclosure of information authorised or required under any provision to which this section applies does not breach—

(a) any obligation of confidence owed by the person making the disclosure, or

(b) any other restriction on the disclosure of information (however imposed).

School attendance orders

School attendance orders.

437

(1) If it appears to a local authority that a child of compulsory school age in their area is not receiving suitable education, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise, they shall serve a notice in writing on the parent requiring him to satisfy them within the period specified in the notice that the child is receiving such education.

(2) That period shall not be less than 15 days beginning with the day on which the notice is served.

(3) If—

(a) a parent on whom a notice has been served under subsection (1) fails to satisfy the local authority, within the period specified in the notice, that the child is receiving suitable education, and

(b) in the opinion of the authority it is expedient that the child should attend school,

the authority shall serve on the parent an order (referred to in this Act as a “school attendance order”), in such form as may be prescribed, requiring him to cause the child to become a registered pupil at a school named in the order.

(4) A school attendance order shall (subject to any amendment made by the local authority) continue in force for so long as the child is of compulsory school age, unless—

(a) it is revoked by the authority, or

(b) a direction is made in respect of it under section 443(2) or 447(5).

(5) Where a maintained . . . school is named in a school attendance order, the local authority shall inform the governing body and the head teacher.

(6) Where a maintained . . . school is named in a school attendance order, the governing body (and, in the case of a maintained school, the local authority) shall admit the child to the school.

(7) Subsection (6) does not affect any power to exclude from a school a pupil who is already a registered pupil there.

(8) In this Chapter—

“maintained school” means any community, foundation or voluntary school or any community or foundation special school not established in a hospital; and

Choice of school: child without EHC plan or statement of special educational needs , or an individual development plan which names a school.

438

(1) This section applies where a local 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 an EHC plan (in the case of a local authority in England) or a statement under section 324 a child for whom an individual development plan is maintained in which a particular school is named (in the case of a local authority in Wales).

(2) Before serving the order, the authority shall serve on the parent a notice in writing—

(a) informing him of their intention to serve the order,

(b) 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

(3) 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.

(4) If—

(a) 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

(b) the child is offered a place at the school as a result of the application,

that school shall be named in the order.

(5) If—

(a) 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

(b) 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,

(b) 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.

(6) If, within the period mentioned in subsection (3)—

(a) the parent—

(i) applies for the child to be admitted to a school which is not maintained by a local authority ..., and in respect of which no application is made under subsection (5), and

(ii) notifies the local authority by whom the notice was served of the application,

(b) the child is offered a place at the school as a result of the application, and

(i) (in the case of a local authority in England) any special educational needs the child may have, or

(ii) (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.

Specification of schools in notices under section 438(2).

439

(1) Subject to subsection (3), a local authority shall not, if it appears to them that subsection (2) applies in relation to any school, specify the school in a notice under section 438(2) unless they are responsible for determining the arrangements for the admission of pupils to the school.

(2) This subsection applies where, if the child concerned were admitted to the school in accordance with a school attendance order resulting from the notice, the number of pupils at the school in the child’s age group would exceed the number determined in accordance with section 89 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 (determination of admission numbers)) as the number of pupils in that age group which it is intended to admit to the school in the school year in which he would be admitted.

(3) Subsection (1) does not prevent a local authority specifying in a notice under section 438(2) any maintained . . . school if—

(a) there is no maintained . . . school in their area which—

(i) the authority are not (apart from this subsection) prevented by subsection (1) from specifying, and

(ii) is, in the opinion of the authority, a reasonable distance from the home of the child concerned, and

(b) in the opinion of the authority, the school in question is a reasonable distance from the home of the child concerned.

(4) A local authority shall not specify in a notice under section 438(2) a school from which the child concerned is permanently excluded.

(4A) A local authority shall not specify a school in a notice under section 438(2) if the admission of the child concerned would result in prejudice of the kind referred to in section 86(3)(a) of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 (parental preferences) by reason of measures required to be taken as mentioned in subsection (4) of that section.

(5) Before deciding to specify a particular maintained . . . school in a notice under section 438(2) a local authority shall consult—

(a) the governing body, and

(b) if another local authority are responsible for determining the arrangements for the admission of pupils to the school, that authority.

(6) Where a local authority decide to specify a particular maintained . . .school in a notice under section 438(2) they shall, before serving the notice, serve notice in writing of their decision on—

(a) the governing body and head teacher of the school, and

(b) if another local authority are responsible for determining the arrangements for the admission of pupils to the school, that authority.

(7) A governing body or local authority on whom notice is served under subsection (6) may, within the period of 15 days beginning with the day on which the notice was received, apply to the Secretary of State for a direction under this section and, if they do so, shall inform the local authority which served the notice.

(8) Where the Secretary of State gives a direction under this section, the school or schools to be specified in the notice under section 438(2) shall be determined in accordance with the direction.

Amendment of order at request of parent: child without EHC plan or statement of special educational needs , or an individual development plan which names a school.

440

(1) This section applies where a school attendance order is in force in respect of a child, other than a child for whom the local authority maintain an EHC plan (in the case of a local authority in England) or a statement under section 324 a child for whom an individual development plan is maintained in which a particular school is named (in the case of a local authority in Wales).

(2) If at any time—

(a) the parent applies for the child to be admitted to a school maintained by a local authority . . . which is different from the school named in the order,

(b) the child is offered a place at the school as a result of the application, and

(c) the parent requests the local authority by whom the order was served to amend it by substituting that school for the one currently named,

the authority shall comply with the request.

(3) If at any time—

(a) the parent applies to the authority for education to be provided for the child at a school which is not a school maintained by a local authority and which is different from the school named in the order,

(b) 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, and

the authority shall comply with the request.

(4) If at any time—

(a) the parent applies for the child to be admitted to a school which is not maintained by a local authority . . . , which is different from the school named in the order and in respect of which no application is made under subsection (3),

(b) as a result of the application, the child is offered a place at the school, being a school which is suitable to his age, ability and aptitude and to any special educational needs he may have —

(i) (in the case of a local authority in England) any special educational needs the child may have, or

(ii) (in the case of a local authority in Wales) any additional learning needs the child may have, and

the authority shall comply with the request.

Choice of school: child with EHC plan or statement of special educational needs.

441

(1) Subsections (2) and (3) apply where a local authority in England are required by virtue of section 437(3) to serve a school attendance order in respect of a child for whom they maintain an EHC plan (in the case of a local authority in England) or a statement under section 324 (in the case of a local authority in Wales).

(2) Where the EHC plan or statement specifies the name of a school, that school shall be named in the order.

(3) Where the EHC plan or statement does not specify the name of a school—

(a) the authority shall, . . . , amend the EHC plan or statement so that it specifies the name of a school, and

(b) that school shall then be named in the order.

(3A) An amendment to a statement required to be made under subsection (3)(a) shall be treated for the purposes of Schedule 27 as if it were an amendment proposed following a periodic review (within the meaning of that Schedule).

(3B) An amendment to an EHC plan required to be made under subsection (3)(a) shall be treated as if it were an amendment made following a review under section 44 of the Children and Families Act 2014, and that section and regulations made under it apply accordingly.

(4) Where—

(a) a school attendance order is in force in respect of a child for whom the local authority maintain an EHC plan or a statement under section 324, and

(b) the name of the school specified in the plan or statement is changed,

the local authority shall amend the order accordingly.

Choice of school: child with individual development plan which names a school

441A

(1) Where a local authority in Wales are required by virtue of section 437(3) to serve a school attendance order in respect of a child for whom an individual development plan is maintained in which a particular school is named, that school must be named in the order.

(2) Where—

(a) a school attendance order is in force in respect of a child for whom an individual development plan is maintained in which a particular school is named, and

(b) the name of the school specified in the plan is changed,

the local authority must amend the order accordingly.

(3) Where—

(a) a school attendance order is in force in respect of a child for whom no individual development plan is maintained in which a particular school is named, and

(b) an individual development plan in which a particular school is named begins to be maintained for the child,

the local authority must amend the order accordingly.

Revocation of order at request of parent.

442

(1) This section applies where a school attendance order is in force in respect of a child.

(2) If at any time the parent applies to the local authority requesting that the order be revoked on the ground that arrangements have been made for the child to receive suitable education otherwise than at school, the authority shall comply with the request, unless they are of the opinion that no satisfactory arrangements have been made for the education of the child otherwise than at school.

(3) If a parent is aggrieved by a refusal of the local authority to comply with a request under subsection (2), he may refer the question to the Secretary of State.

(4) Where a question is referred to the Secretary of State under subsection (3), he shall give such direction determining the question as he thinks fit.

(5) Where the child in question is one for whom the authority maintain an EHC plan (in the case of a local authority in England) or a statement under section 324 (in the case of a local authority in Wales)—

(a) subsections (2) to (4) do not apply if the name of a school or other institution is specified in the EHC plan or the statement, and

(b) in any other case a direction under subsection (4) may require the authority to make such amendments in the plan or the statement as the Secretary of State considers necessary or expedient in consequence of his determination.

(6) Where, in the case of a local authority in Wales, the child in question is one for whom an individual development plan is maintained by the authority or by another local authority—

(a) subsections (2) to (4) do not apply if a school or other institution is named in the individual development plan, and

(b) in any other case a direction under subsection (4) may require the authority maintaining the individual development plan to make such amendments to the plan as is considered necessary or expedient in consequence of the determination.

School attendance: offences and education supervision orders

Offence: failure to comply with school attendance order.

443

(1) If a parent on whom a school attendance order is served fails to comply with the requirements of the order, he is guilty of an offence, unless he proves that he is causing the child to receive suitable education otherwise than at school.

(2) If, in proceedings for an offence under this section, the parent is acquitted, the court may direct that the school attendance order shall cease to be in force.

(3) A direction under subsection (2) does not affect the duty of the local authority to take further action under section 437 if at any time the authority are of the opinion that, having regard to any change of circumstances, it is expedient to do so.

(4) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

Offence: failure to secure regular attendance at school of registered pupil.

444

(1) If a child of compulsory school age who is a registered pupil at a school fails to attend regularly at the school, his parent is guilty of an offence.

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