Statutory assessment request decision
The majority of children and young people with special educational needs will have their needs met within local mainstream provision within schools or settings.
The Local Authority must conduct an assessment and prepare a plan where the special educational provision required to meet the child or young person’s needs cannot reasonably be provided from within the resources normally available to mainstream schools and settings.
In considering whether a statutory assessment is necessary, the Local Authority will pay particular attention to the criteria.
Additionally, the Local Authority should consider whether remaining in education or training would help the child or young person to progress, building on what they have learned before and helping them to make a successful transition to adult life.
Where the request has been agreed
For those requests for a statutory assessment which have been agreed, the Education Health and Care Inclusion Officer or the Independent Supporter (where involved), contacts the parents, carers or young person to organise an Introductory Meeting.
At the same time, the Education Health and Care Inclusion Officer requests advice about the child or young person’s education, health and care needs (to be submitted within a six week period) from the following:
- Parents, carers or young person
- The child or young person’s school, college or setting
- A qualified teacher of the hearing and/or visually impaired where the child or young person has a visual and/or hearing impairment
- Health care professionals
- An educational psychologist
- Social care professionals
- Any other professionals that the parents/carers or young person would wish the Local Authority to approach
- And any other advice and information that the Local Authority considers relevant
Where the request has not been agreed
For requests which have not been agreed for a statutory assessment one of the professionals from the local authority who is currently working with child or young person will arrange to meet with the parents/carers or young person to:
- Explain the Local Authority’s decision in not agreeing to a statutory assessment
- Explain support available through the Local Offer
- Provide information about mediation and the SEND tribunal appeals process, disagreement resolution and complaints procedures.
The Education Health and Care Inclusion Officer then liaises with the child or young person’s school, college or setting to arrange a special educational needs planning and review meeting in order to further explore options for support.
Where there is new and additional information that was not part of the original request for a statutory assessment, then this needs to be sent to the Special Education Service for further consideration. The decision to not agree to a request for a statutory assessment has to be made within six weeks of the original request.