Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

I move amendment No. 6:

In page 7, subsection (2), line 36, after "concerned" to insert ", unless he or she is of the opinion that measures open to him or her are unlikely to meet the educational needs of the child, in which case the principal shall request the Council to prepare an education plan under section 7 in respect of the child".

The way in which the Bill is worded at present means that if a principal knows that he or she cannot take measures that would address the educational needs of a student, he or she must implement the provisions set out in subsection (3) even though he or she may not have the ability to take such measures. The amendment seeks to allow for the principal to decide that he or she is not able to take such measures and can require the council to prepare an educational plan under section 7 in respect of the child. This would save time in addressing the needs of the child because the process under subsection (3) might be futile if the principal knows he or she cannot deal with the problem. It allows for an alternative whereby, the principal can require the council to prepare an educational plan.