Process for considering section 19 requests
Request for section 19 received
If EHC plan, sent to SEND team, who will address, respond and facilitate.
If no EHC plan, sent to PRT, acknowledgement sent to requester by PRT panel clerk
Process step 1 - request considered at section 19 panel meeting:
- PRT panel clerk sets up meeting
- PRT team manager, quality and effectiveness team manager, education welfare and engagement (EWE) CME lead. Involving caseworkers as needed or where involved
- consider correct route of support. Outcome letter sent to requester
Process step 2 - lead:
- illness - PRT
- exclusion - PRT
- otherwise - PRT, or EWE team if return to school pathway
Process step 3 - outcomes:
- agreed - proceed to process step 4
- request not agreed at this time - proceed to process step 5
- multi-agency meeting - proceed to process step 4 or 5, or take no further action
- request not agreed - no further action
Process step 4 - agreed
- alternative provision to be arranged by the lead team
Process step 5 - request not agreed at this time
- receiving, or can be supported to receive, suitable education at their education setting
- three-month check-ins, supplemented by multi-agency working as appropriate or needed
Timescales
There are no statutory timescales for considering a request, however, as the child is out of school, it is important to prioritise consideration and make an informed decision as soon as possible.
We aim to acknowledge receipt of the request within 5 working days.
Requests are considered at a Section 19 Panel meeting. Section 19 Panel meetings are arranged fortnightly throughout term time. Requests are considered at the next available fortnightly Panel.
We aim to communicate the outcome decision of the Section 19 Panel meeting within 5 working days of the Panel. This may not always be possible, and we aim to communicate regularly with the requester to keep them informed of progress towards a decision and outcomes.