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Version Superseded: 01/09/2014
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Education Act 1996, Section 312 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 14 August 2024. 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.
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(1)A child has “special educational needs” for the purposes of this Act if he has a learning difficulty which calls for special educational provision to be made for him.
(2)Subject to [F1subsections (3) and (3A)] a child has a “learning difficulty” for the purposes of this Act if—
(a)he has a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of children of his age,
(b)he has a disability which either prevents or hinders him from making use of educational facilities of a kind generally provided for children of his age in schools within the area of the [F2local authority] , or
(c)he is under [F3compulsory school age] and is, or would be if special educational provision were not made for him, likely to fall within paragraph (a) or (b) when of F4. . . that age.
(3)A child is not to be taken as having a learning difficulty solely because the language (or form of the language) in which he is, or will be, taught is different from a language (or form of a language) which has at any time been spoken in his home.
[F5(3A)Subsection (2) does not apply—
(a)for the purposes of sections 15ZA, 15A, 15B and 507B, or
(b)for the purposes of sections 18A and 562H (except for the purpose of determining, for the purposes of those sections, whether a child has special educational needs).]
(4)In this Act “special educational provision” means—
(a)in relation to a child who has attained the age of two, educational provision which is additional to, or otherwise different from, the educational provision made generally for children of his age in schools maintained by the [F2local authority] (other than special schools) F6. . ., and
(b)in relation to a child under that age, educational provision of any kind.
(5)In this Part—
“child” includes any person who has not attained the age of 19 and is a registered pupil at a school;
[F7“maintained school” means any community, foundation or voluntary school or any community or foundation special school not established in a hospital.]
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 312(2) substituted (1.9.2010) by Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (c. 22), s. 269(4), Sch. 2 para. 6(2); S.I. 2010/303, art. 6, Sch. 5
F2Words 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))
F3Words in s. 312(2)(c) substituted (1.8.1998) by 1997 c. 44, s. 57(1), Sch. 7 para. 23(a); S.I. 1998/386, art. 2, Sch. 1 Pt. III
F4Words in s. 312(2)(c) repealed (1.8.1998) by 1997 c. 44, s. 57(1)(4), Sch. 7 para. 23(b), Sch. 8; S.I. 1998/386, art. 2, Sch. 1 Pt. III
F5S. 312(3A) inserted (1.9.2010) by Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (c. 22), s. 269(4), Sch. 2 para. 6(3); S.I. 2010/303, art. 6, Sch. 5
F6Words in s. 312(4)(a) repealed (1.9.1999) by 1998 c. 31, s. 140(1)(3), Sch. 30 para. 71(a), Sch. 31 (with ss. 138(9), 144(6)); S.I. 1999/2323, art. 2(1), Sch. 1
F7Words in s. 312(5) substituted (1.9.1999) by 1998 c. 31, s. 140(1), Sch. 30 para. 71(b) (with ss. 138(9), 144(6)); S.I. 1999/2323, art. 2(1), Sch. 1
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