Education Act 1996, Section 438 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 05 March 2025. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
(1)This section applies where a [F3local authority] are required by virtue of section 437(3) to serve a school attendance order in respect of a child, other than a child for whom they maintain [F4an EHC plan (in the case of a local authority in England) or] [F5a statement under section 324] [F5a child for whom an individual development plan is maintained in which a particular school is named] [F6(in the case of a local authority in Wales)].
(2)Before serving the order, the authority shall serve on the parent a notice in writing—
(a)informing him of their intention to serve the order,
(b)specifying the school which the authority intend to name in the order and, if they think fit, one or more other schools which they regard as suitable alternatives, and
(c)stating the effect of subsections (3) to (6).
(3)If the notice specifies one or more alternative schools and the parent selects one of them within the period of 15 days beginning with the day on which the notice is served, the school selected by him shall be named in the order.
(4)If—
[F7(a)within the period mentioned in subsection (3) the parent applies for the child to be admitted to a school maintained by a [F3local authority] and, where that authority are not the authority by whom the notice was served, notifies the latter authority of the application, and]
(b)the child is offered a place at the school as a result of the application,
that school shall be named in the order.
[F8(5)If—
(a)within the period mentioned in subsection (3), the parent applies to the [F3local authority] by whom the notice was served for education to be provided at a school which is not a school maintained by a [F3local authority], and
(b)the child is offered a place at the school and the authority are required by virtue of regulations under section 18(3) to pay the fees payable in respect of the education provided for him at the school,
that school shall be named in the order.]
(6)If, within the period mentioned in subsection (3)—
(a)the parent—
(i)applies for the child to be admitted to a school which is not maintained by a [F3local authority] F9. . . , and in respect of which no application is made under subsection (5), and
(ii)notifies the [F3local authority] by whom the notice was served of the application,
(b)the child is offered a place at the school as a result of the application, and
(c)the school is suitable to his age, ability and aptitude and [F10to any special educational needs he may have] [F10—
(i)(in the case of a local authority in England) any special educational needs the child may have, or
(ii)(in the case of a local authority in Wales) any additional learning needs the child may have],
that school shall be named in the order.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 438 title inserted (1.9.2014) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), s. 139(6), Sch. 3 para. 39(3); S.I. 2014/889, art. 7(a) (with savings and transitional provisions in S.I. 2014/2270 (as amended (1.4.2015) by S.I. 2015/505)
F2Words in s. 438 heading substituted (1.9.2021 for specified purposes, 1.1.2022 for specified purposes, 1.9.2022 for specified purposes) by Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 (anaw 2), s. 100(3), Sch. 1 para. 4(14)(c); S.I. 2021/373, arts. 3, 4, 6, 7 (as amended by S.I. 2021/938, art. 2); S.I. 2021/1243, art. 3 (with arts. 4-23) (as amended by S.I. 2021/1428, art. 2); S.I. 2021/1244, art. 3 (with arts. 4-21) (as amended by S.I. 2021/1428, art. 3); S.I. 2021/1245, arts. 3, 4 (with art. 1(4)); S.I. 2022/891, art. 3 (with arts. 4-25); S.I. 2022/892, arts. 2, 3 (with arts. 4-18); S.I. 2022/893, art. 4; S.I. 2022/894, art. 3; S.I. 2022/895, arts. 3, 4; S.I. 2022/896, art. 3 (with arts. 1(7), 4-22); S.I. 2022/897, art. 3 (with arts. 1(8), 4-21); S.I. 2022/898, arts. 2, 3
F3Words in Act substituted (5.5.2010) by The Local Education Authorities and Children’s Services Authorities (Integration of Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/1158), Sch. 2 para. 7(2) (with Sch. 2 para. 7(4)(5))
F4Words in s. 438(1) inserted (1.9.2014) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), s. 139(6), Sch. 3 para. 39(2)(a); S.I. 2014/889, art. 7(a) (with savings and transitional provisions in S.I. 2014/2270 (as amended (1.4.2015) by S.I. 2015/505)
F5Words in s. 438(1) substituted (1.9.2021 for specified purposes, 1.1.2022 for specified purposes, 1.9.2022 for specified purposes) by Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 (anaw 2), s. 100(3), Sch. 1 para. 4(14)(a); S.I. 2021/373, arts. 3, 4, 6, 7 (as amended by S.I. 2021/938, art. 2); S.I. 2021/1243, art. 3 (with arts. 4-23) (as amended by S.I. 2021/1428, art. 2); S.I. 2021/1244, art. 3 (with arts. 4-21) (as amended by S.I. 2021/1428, art. 3); S.I. 2021/1245, arts. 3, 4 (with art. 1(4)); S.I. 2022/891, art. 3 (with arts. 4-25); S.I. 2022/892, arts. 2, 3 (with arts. 4-18); S.I. 2022/893, art. 4; S.I. 2022/894, art. 3; S.I. 2022/895, arts. 3, 4; S.I. 2022/896, art. 3 (with arts. 1(7), 4-22); S.I. 2022/897, art. 3 (with arts. 1(8), 4-21); S.I. 2022/898, arts. 2, 3
F6Words in s. 438(1) inserted (1.9.2014) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), s. 139(6), Sch. 3 para. 39(2)(b); S.I. 2014/889, art. 7(a) (with savings and transitional provisions in S.I. 2014/2270 (as amended (1.4.2015) by S.I. 2015/505)
F7S. 438(4)(a) substituted (1.9.1999) by 1998 c. 31, s. 140(1), Sch. 30 para. 114(a) (with ss. 138(9), 144(6)); S.I. 1999/2323, art. 2(1), Sch. 1.
F8S. 438(5) substituted (1.9.1999 for certain purposes, otherwise prosp.) by 1998 c. 31, ss. 140(1), 145(3), Sch. 30 para. 114(b) (with ss. 138(9), 144(6)); S.I. 1999/2323, art. 2(1), Sch. 1
F9Words in s. 438(6)(a)(i) repealed (1.9.1999) by 1998 c. 31, s. 140(1)(3), Sch. 30 para. 114(c), Sch.31 (with ss. 138(9), 144(6)); S.I. 1999/2323, art. 2(1), Sch. 1
F10S. 438(6)(c)(i)(ii) substituted for words (1.9.2021 for specified purposes, 1.1.2022 for specified purposes, 1.9.2022 for specified purposes) by Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 (anaw 2), s. 100(3), Sch. 1 para. 4(14)(b); S.I. 2021/373, arts. 3, 4, 6, 7 (as amended by S.I. 2021/938, art. 2); S.I. 2021/1243, art. 3 (with arts. 4-23) (as amended by S.I. 2021/1428, art. 2); S.I. 2021/1244, art. 3 (with arts. 4-21) (as amended by S.I. 2021/1428, art. 3); S.I. 2021/1245, arts. 3, 4 (with art. 1(4)); S.I. 2022/891, art. 3 (with arts. 4-25); S.I. 2022/892, arts. 2, 3 (with arts. 4-18); S.I. 2022/893, art. 4; S.I. 2022/894, art. 3; S.I. 2022/895, arts. 3, 4; S.I. 2022/896, art. 3 (with arts. 1(7), 4-22); S.I. 2022/897, art. 3 (with arts. 1(8), 4-21); S.I. 2022/898, arts. 2, 3
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