Explain
Coronavirus changes to EHC law in 2020 (expired)
Temporary rules from 1 May 2020 until they expired on 25 September 2020 let councils and others take longer than some EHC time limits. This applied where the reason was coronavirus, as long as they acted as soon as reasonably practicable. Separately, from 1 May to 31 July 2020, the duty to secure the provision in a plan was changed to a duty to use "reasonable endeavours". Both have ended. They do not apply today, but they can matter when looking back at dates in 2020.
- Type of rule
- Expired law
- Rule id
coronavirus_changes_2020- Rules version
- england-2026.10
- Law as at
- 30 September 2026
Sources
- Special Educational Needs and Disability (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020Law (Act or Regulations), to verifyStill open: the exact last day of effect; Plenda shows 25 September 2020.
- Coronavirus Act 2020, Sch 17 para 5Law (Act or Regulations)
- Department for Education, Changes to the law on education, health and care needs assessments and plans due to coronavirus (withdrawn)Official guidance
Related
- Time limits for assessments and plans (6, 16 and 20 weeks)
- Exceptions to the time limits
- The council's duty to secure the provision (section 42)
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