For section 463 of the Education Act 1996 (c. 56) (meaning of “independent school”) there is substituted—
(1)In this Act “independent school” means any school at which full-time education is provided for—
(a)five or more pupils of compulsory school age, or
(b)at least one pupil of that age for whom a statement is maintained under section 324, or who is looked after by a local authority (within the meaning of section 22 of the Children Act 1989),
and which is not a school maintained by a local education authority or a special school not so maintained.
(2)For the purposes of subsection (1)(a) and (b) it is immaterial if full-time education is also provided at the school for pupils under or over compulsory school age.”
In section 327 of the Education Act 1996 (c. 56) (local education authority to have access to certain schools to monitor provision made for child with special educational needs), in subsection (1)(b) (schools to which section applies), at the end there is inserted “or at an independent school”.
In section 347 of the Education Act 1996 (approval of independent schools as suitable to provide special education), in subsection (5)(b) (no child to be placed at an unapproved school unless the Secretary of State consents), after “Secretary of State” there is inserted “is satisfied that there is a place available for the child at the school and”.