General information only, not legal advice. For your situation, contact IPSEA or SENDIASS.
Each row below links to the public source recorded for it. Snapshot generated 2026-07-13.
A Local Offer that meets the statutory scope
England only. Chapter 4 addresses what the Local Offer is, how it is prepared, published, commented on and reviewed. The Contents list what it must include: educational, health and care provision (p.68); training and apprenticeships (p.73); transport (p.73); support to prepare for adulthood (p.74); information about how to seek an EHC needs assessment (p.76); and information, advice and support (p.77).
Absolute duty: lack of budget is not lawful.
Source: Statutory guidance per the SEND Code of Practice (Jan 2015); see 'Relevant legislation' at chapter 4 (p.59) for the underpinning statute. (assets-publishing-service-gov-uk-media-5a7dcb85ed915d2ac884d995-send-code-of-practice-january-2015-pdf)
Impartial information, advice and support
England only. Chapter 2 addresses who information, advice and support is for (children, parents, young people — p.32), what needs to be provided (p.33), additional support (p.35) and support for parents in HM Armed Forces (p.36).
Absolute duty: lack of budget is not lawful.
Source: Statutory guidance per the SEND Code of Practice (Jan 2015); see 'Relevant legislation' at chapter 2 (p.30) for the underpinning statute. (assets-publishing-service-gov-uk-media-5a7dcb85ed915d2ac884d995-send-code-of-practice-january-2015-pdf)
An EHC needs assessment and, where the local authority decides one is necessary, an EHC plan covering ages 0 to 25
England only. Chapter 9 covers the EHC plan lifecycle for 0 to 25 year olds: requesting an assessment (p.143), timescales (p.151), advice and information (p.155), deciding whether to issue (p.157), writing the plan (p.160) and content (p.161) including outcomes (p.162), Personal Budgets, transfer between local authorities (p.192) and clinical commissioning groups (p.193), maintenance of educational / social care / health provision, review (p.194), re-assessment (p.200), amendment (p.201), cessation (p.202) and disclosure (p.205).
Absolute duty: lack of budget is not lawful.
Source: Statutory guidance per the SEND Code of Practice (Jan 2015); see 'Relevant legislation' at chapter 9 (p.141) for the underpinning statute. (assets-publishing-service-gov-uk-media-5a7dcb85ed915d2ac884d995-send-code-of-practice-january-2015-pdf)
Disagreement resolution arrangements and access to mediation
England only. Chapter 11 covers early resolution of disagreements, disagreement resolution services (p.248), contracting disagreement resolution services (p.250), mediation (p.251), routes to mediation (p.252), mediation on matters which can be appealed to the Tribunal (p.252), mediation advice before mediation (p.253), and the exception to the requirement to contact a mediation adviser (p.254).
Absolute duty: lack of budget is not lawful.
Source: Statutory guidance per the SEND Code of Practice (Jan 2015); see 'Relevant legislation' at chapter 11 (p.244) for the underpinning statute. (assets-publishing-service-gov-uk-media-5a7dcb85ed915d2ac884d995-send-code-of-practice-january-2015-pdf)
Access to the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability) for appealable matters
England only. The Code identifies the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability) as the appeal body (p.13 and p.221) and, via chapter 11, sets the conditions around contacting a mediation adviser before bringing an appeal, with named exceptions (p.254).
Absolute duty: lack of budget is not lawful.
Source: Statutory guidance per the SEND Code of Practice (Jan 2015); the First-tier Tribunal is named at p.13 and p.221. (assets-publishing-service-gov-uk-media-5a7dcb85ed915d2ac884d995-send-code-of-practice-january-2015-pdf)
The specific special educational provision named in the EHC plan
England only. If a local authority maintains an EHC plan for your child or young person, it must secure the exact special educational provision specified in the plan — not something similar. This duty only falls away if the parent or young person has already made suitable alternative arrangements themselves (s.42(5)).
Absolute duty: lack of budget is not lawful.
Source: Children and Families Act 2014, s.42(2) (www-legislation-gov-uk-ukpga-2014-6-section-42)
The specific health care provision named in the EHC plan
England only. If the EHC plan specifies health care provision, the responsible commissioning body (the NHS body under a duty to arrange that type of care) must arrange it. This duty only falls away if the parent or young person has already made suitable alternative arrangements themselves (s.42(5)).
Absolute duty: lack of budget is not lawful.
Source: Children and Families Act 2014, s.42(3) (www-legislation-gov-uk-ukpga-2014-6-section-42)