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Record Ref : FOI 11968
Date Received : 13/02/2026
Date Completed : 18/03/2026
Organisation : Every Child Matters
Application Type : Company
Category : Special Educational Needs
Question
This request relates to the governance and operation of SEND/ALN decision-making panels within your authority.
Please provide:
1. Copies of the current and any previous Terms of Reference (or equivalent governance documents) for all SEND/ALN-related panels, including but not limited to:
Request to Assess panels
Placement panels
Resource / Funding panels
High Cost panels
Any multi-agency SEND/ALN panels
2. Where no Terms of Reference are held, please confirm:
What formal governance documents regulate the panel’s operation
The specific section(s) of your Scheme of Delegation relied upon
Whether quorum rules exist and where they are recorded
Whether voting procedures exist and where they are recorded
3. Please provide:
The template used to record panel decisions
The template used for decision letters following panel discussion
Any written “criteria”, “threshold guidance” or “decision-making framework” used by panels
4. Please confirm:
Whether cost of provision is considered by panels prior to determining suitability of provision
Whether parents or young people attend panel meetings
Whether minutes are formally approved and retained
Answer
Please provide:
1. Copies of the current and any previous Terms of Reference (or equivalent governance documents) for all SEND/ALN-related panels
Please see attached - FOI 11968 Q1
2. Where no Terms of Reference are held, please confirm N/A
3. Please provide:
o The template used to record panel decisions – Please see attached - FOI 11968 Q3a
o The template used for decision letters following panel discussion – Please see attached - FOI 11968 Q3b
o Any written “criteria”, “threshold guidance” or “decision-making framework” used by panels – The ALN Code is our decision-making framework, which is true for all the statutory decisions
4. Please confirm:
o Whether cost of provision is considered by panels prior to determining suitability of provision - No, cost of provision isn’t considered by panel prior to determining suitability of [a type of] provision. As an LA we have to ensure efficient use of Council resources but that does not influence the decision on the type of provision considered appropriate but will be considered when determining one provider vs another.
o Whether parents or young people attend panel meetings - No
o Whether minutes are formally approved and retained - Yes, minutes are formally approved and retained