3:42.   The exceptions to the six week time limit within which the health services and social services departments must provide information are:


a.   Where are exceptional personal circumstances affecting the child or his or her (for example, family bereavement) during the process of assessment

b.   Where the parents or the child are absent from the area of the authority for a continuous period of not less than four weeks

c.   where the child fails to keep an appointment for an examination or test

d.   where the health services or social services departments have had no relevant knowledge of the child prior to receiving a copy of the LEA's proposal to make a statutory assessment, issued under section 167(l) or section 174(2), or the notice that the child's parents have requested an assessment, issued under regulation 5(3).

(Regulation 11(8))


3:43.   The exceptions to the eight week time limit for the making of a statement are:

a.   where there are exceptional personal circumstances affecting the child or his or her parents (for example, family bereavement) during the making of a statement

b.   where the parents or the child are absent from the area of the authority for a continuous period of not less than four weeks

c.   where the parents, having received a proposed statement, want to make representations about the content of the statement after the 15 day period allowed for

d.   where the parents seek more than one meeting under paragraph 4 of schedule 10

e.   where the LEA have sent a written request to the Secretary of State seeking his consent under section 189(5)(b) to the child being educated at an independent school which is not approved by him and such consent has not been received by the LEA within two weeks of the date on which the request was sent.

(Regulation 14(4))


3:44.   LEAs should always strive to ensure that any delay arising from the exceptions is kept to a minimum.  As soon as the conditions which have led to an exception no longer apply, the LEA should endeavour to complete the process as quickly as possible.  Any remaining components of the process must, of course, be completed within their prescribed periods, regardless of whether exceptions have delayed earlier components.  For example, even if the making of an
assessment is delayed, the LEA must still notify parents of the outcome within two weeks of making their decision and, if a statement is to be made, must complete the final statement within eight weeks, unless further exceptions apply.

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