Commentary on Sections Identifying children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities Section 23: Duty of health bodies to bring certain children to local authority’s attention
174.The section replicates section 332 of the Education Act 1996 and extends it to disabled children. Where a clinical commissioning group (CCG), NHS Trust or NHS Foundation Trust, in carrying out their functions in relation to a child under compulsory school age, are of the opinion that the child has or probably has special educational needs or a disability they must tell the child’s parents and give them the chance to discuss this with an officer of the group or trust. They must then tell the appropriate local authority. They must also tell the parent if they think a particular voluntary organisation is likely to be able to give them advice or assistance in respect of their child’s special educational needs or disability. This section helps to ensure that young children who may need special educational provision or information and support in relation to a disability are brought to the local authority’s attention early on.