Requesting a Statutory Assessment:
Requests for a Statutory Assessment can be made by the parent, a school or other educational setting, or an agency such as the Health Authority or Social Services.
Where a school makes the request, then the parents must be informed by the LEA and asked to submit any evidence that they feel is appropriate. You will be sent a parental consent form to sign and return to the LEA, indicating whether or not you agree with an assessment being carried out. You have 29 days to return your advices, but the sooner you return them, the sooner the LEA can proceed.
If you do not return the form within 29 days the LEA will assume you want the assessment to go ahead.
When a request is made, the LEA must notify the Educational Psychology Service, Social Services and Health Authority to inform them that, if a Statutory Assessment is to be carried out, a request will be made for evidence.
If a child has significant difficulties, it may be appropriate for a child to have an immediate referral for Statutory Assessment.
The Parent Partnership Service will be made known to parents, so that advice and information can be accessed.
Within six weeks of the request, the LEA must make a decision on whether or not to carry out a Statutory Assessment.
If a decision is made not to carry out the assessment, then parents and school must be given reasons, in writing, as well as stating the provision that is considered appropriate. This is known as a Note in Lieu.
Parents have a right to appeal to the Special Educational Needs Tribunal (SENT) against a decision not to make an assessment.
If the LEA agrees to carry out a statutory assessment, then advice will need to be obtained from a range of education and other service providers.