The Local Authority’s Responsibility
Section 15ZA of the Education Act 1996 inserted by the Apprenticeships, Skills and Children and Learning Act places a duty on the local authority to secure enough suitable education and training to meet the reasonable needs of young people aged 16-19 and of young people aged 19 but under 25 who have a learning difficulty assessment.
In deciding whether education or training is suitable to meet persons' reasonable needs, a local education authority must (in particular) have regard to:
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the persons' ages, abilities and aptitudes;
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any learning difficulties the persons may have;
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the quality of the education or training;
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the locations and times at which the education or training is provided.
The education and training needs for most young people, including for those who have additional needs, are able to be met through mainstream providers.
However, some young people who have a learning difficulty assessment may need to access specialist provision which may be delivered through a mainstream provider or through an Independent Specialist Provider [ISP]. In some cases, the local authority may decide that a residential placement is required.
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These documents describe the process that Gateshead Local Authority follows to assess the education, training and support needs of young people aged 16-25 who have a learning difficulty and/or disability and to identify where their education, training and support needs can be met. that Gateshead Local Authority follows to assess the education, training and support needs of young people aged 16-25 who have a learning difficulty and/or disability and to identify where their education, training and support needs can be met.
Learning Difficulty Assessments [Section 139a Assessments]
A learning difficulty assessment [Section 139a Assessment] must be conducted for any young person who has a statement of SEN and is expecting to leave school for their post 16 education. be conducted for any young person who has a statement of SEN and is expecting to leave school for their post 16 education.
A learning difficulty assessment may also be conducted in other situations where it is believed that it would be beneficial to the young person, for example, where a young person has needs that are equivalent to those requiring a statement but has not been formally assessed, where it is believed that a young person will experience significant difficulty in coping with transition to a new environment, or where a young person has experienced a major change of circumstance and need, for example, through illness or as a result of an accident. also be conducted in other situations where it is believed that it would be beneficial to the young person, for example, where a young person has needs that are equivalent to those requiring a statement but has not been formally assessed, where it is believed that a young person will experience significant difficulty in coping with transition to a new environment, or where a young person has experienced a major change of circumstance and need, for example, through illness or as a result of an accident.