Part VI Inspection of local education authorities and school inspections
Chapter I Inspection of local education authorities
F140 Inspector’s rights of entry etc.
1
This section applies where a local education authority are inspected under section 38.
2
The inspector, and any person assisting him, shall have at all reasonable times a right of entry to—
a
the premises of the local education authority,
b
the premises of any school maintained by the authority, and
c
any other premises at which relevant section 19 education is provided, other than premises which are or form part of a private dwelling house but are not a school.
3
The inspector, and any person assisting him, shall also have at all reasonable times a right to inspect and take copies of—
a
any records kept by, and any other documents containing information relating to, the local education authority or any school maintained by the authority, and
b
any records kept by a person who provides relevant section 19 education that relate to the provision of that education, and any other documents containing information that so relates;
which he considers relevant to the exercise of his functions.
4
Section 42 of the School Inspections Act 1996 (inspection of computer records) shall apply for the purposes of subsection (3) as it applies for the purposes of Part 1 of that Act.
5
Without prejudice to subsections (2) and (3), the local education authority and the governing body of any school maintained by the authority—
a
shall give the inspector and any person assisting him, all assistance in connection with the exercise of his functions which they are reasonably able to give, and
b
shall secure that all such assistance is also given by persons who work at the school.
6
It shall be an offence wilfully to obstruct the inspector or any person assisting him in the exercise of his functions in relation to the inspection.
7
A person guilty of an offence under subsection (6) shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.
8
In this section—
“document” and “records” each include information recorded in any form; and
“relevant section 19 education” means education provided to a child by virtue of arrangements made by the local education authority under section 19 of the Education Act 1996 (exceptional provision of education at schools or otherwise).