Assessments and statements

Only a few children with special educational needs require a detailed assessment by us. This is called a statutory assessment of special educational needs.

Assessment

  • A number of people will be asked to write a report on your child.
  • A named officer from the Local Education Authority will help you through the assessment. Parent Partnership (opens in a new window) can also help you as an independent supporter. Staff from your child's school will also be there to support you and offer guidance.
  • You will receive copies of all the reports when the assessment is complete.
  • We will then decide whether or not to write a document called a Statement of special educational needs.    

Statement

  • A Statement of special educational needs describes your child's needs and how they should be met. It also gives you the opportunity to express a preference for which maintained school your child should attend. The Parents Information Booklets (Primary and Secondary) give information about special educational needs in mainstream schools.
  • You have a right to disagree with what the Statement says, or with a decision not to make a Statement. You can appeal to the independent Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SENDIST (opens in a new window)) if you cannot reach agreement with us.
  • Once you have agreed to it, the Statement becomes a legal document and you are legally obliged to send your child to the school it names.

Review

  • A Statement has to be reviewed every year.
  • In Year 9, when your child becomes 14 years of age, the review will involve many people who can advise in preparing you and your child for further education and adult life. This review is called a Year 9 review and will produce a transition plan.
  • If circumstances have changed, then you or we can request that your child's needs are assessed again.
  • If we decide to make changes in the Statement of special educational needs, or say that a Statement is no longer required, we will tell you this in writing. If you disagree with us, and we cannot reach agreement, you can appeal to SENDIST (opens in a new window)

Related documents

The following document is in Portable Document Format (PDF). You can download the PDF software for free from the Adobe website (opens in a new window)

DirectGov