Resources allocation panel
The resource allocation panel is a meeting where decisions in relation to statutory education, health and care (EHC) assessments and EHC plans are agreed including recommendations from integrated assessment meetings (IAM).
This meeting is attended by:
- The Education Health and Care Inclusion Officer
- Representatives from schools/settings, special educational needs support services, parent groups
- Education Health and Care commissioners
This panel decides whether an EHC plan is required to make the provision necessary to enable the child or young person achieve the outcomes that have been identified for them and where this is the case, the level and types of funding including personal budget, and placement.
Where are plan is not agreed at the panel
The Education Health and Care Inclusion Officer, in liaison with the independent supporter (where involved) should arrange a family meeting with the parents/carers or young person to explain the local authority’s decision. This should be done within 16 weeks of the original request.
The decision should be given in writing to the parents, carers or young person along with a summary of the outcomes of the statutory EHC assessment, such the child or young person’s views, interests and aspirations, their special educational, health and care needs, outcomes and special educational and health and care provision. Information should also be provided about mediation, SEND Tribunal appeals process and complaints procedures.
The EHC Inclusion Officer will liaise with the child or young person’s school or setting to arrange a special educational needs planning and review meeting in order to further explore options for support. This meeting is attended by the independent supporter where involved.
If an independent supporter appointed to support the family is not a member of SENDIASS, this would usually conclude their involvement with the parents, carers or young person. Where the independent supporter was a SENDIASS Officer, this person can continue in their role if requested by the parents, carers or young person.
Process to agree a final EHC plan
Following the resource allocation panel decision, the Education Health and Care Inclusion Officer will send the parents, carers or young person a proposed draft EHC plan (with no named placement at this stage) informing them that they have a 15 day period within which they can give their views and make any representations on the content of the plan and to express any preference they have for placement. The Education Health and Care Inclusion Officer should advise the parents, carers or young person where they can find information about relevant schools and colleges and offer to meet with them where they request this in liaison with any involved independent supporter.
The Education Health and Care Inclusion Officer will consult schools and/or colleges in line with the type of provision that was agreed at resources allocation panel and parental, carer or young person’s preference.
Following discussion with parents, carers and the young person and the resolution of any issues in relation to the content of the plan and agreement from the school or college as to placement, the Education Health and Care Inclusion Officer will issue a final EHC plan with a named school, college or setting and a Implementation Meeting will be arranged. The final EHC plan should be completed within 20 weeks of the date when the request for a statutory assessment was first received.
Where is has not been possible to resolve a disagreement with parents, carers or the young person about the content of the plan and/or placement, the Education Health and Care Inclusion Officer will provide the parent, carer or the young person with details as to where they can access information about mediation, SEND Tribunal appeals process and complaints procedures.