The opening of an RoN placed a legal obligation on the local authority to meet the needs of the child or young person as defined in the record.

Additional support, staffing, resources and places at special schools were largely dependent on the needs and targets set out in the student's RoN.

These may include those who are being bullied, are particularly gifted, have experienced a bereavement, or are not attending school regularly, as well as those who have behavioural or learning difficulties, mental health problems, or specific disabilities such as deafness or blindness."

The Act places a duty on education authorities to establish procedures for identifying and meeting the additional support needs of children and young people.

In situations where there is disagreement, education authorities will be under a duty to provide mediation services and they will be required to have arrangements in place for resolving disputes.