PART 3Children and young people in England with special educational needs or disabilities

Appeals, mediation and dispute resolution

54Mediation: educational and social care issues etc

(1)

This section applies where—

(a)

the parent or young person informs the local authority under section 52 that he or she wishes to pursue mediation, and

(b)

the mediation issues do not include health care provision specified in the plan or the fact that no health care provision, or no health care provision of a particular kind, is specified in the plan.

(2)

The local authority must—

(a)

arrange for mediation between it and the parent or young person,

(b)

ensure that the mediation is conducted by an independent person, and

(c)

participate in the mediation.

(3)

For the purposes of this section, a person is not independent if he or she is employed by a local authority in England.