Commentary on Sections of the Act Part 2 – Additional Learning Needs Local authority arrangements Section 68 - Arrangements for the avoidance and resolution of disagreements
151.Section 68 requires local authorities to make arrangements for both avoiding and resolving the following
152.This requirement includes providing access to help from an independent person to resolve a disagreement. Under section 9 local authorities must take reasonable steps to make the arrangements known to various people, including children and their parents, young people and governing bodies in their area. Local authorities must also promote their use (section 68(4)). The code may impose further requirements on local authorities in respect of the arrangements under section 4(5). Local authorities are also under a duty to inform children, their parents and young people that these arrangements do not affect their rights to appeal to the Tribunal (subsection (5)). Subsection (8) provides that local authorities’ arrangements under this section will also apply to children they look after, but are not in their area.