Statutory Assessment
A statutory assessment (sometimes called a formal assessment) is a detailed multi-professional examination to find out exactly what a child's special educational needs are and the help required to meet his/her needs.
Parents/carers, schools and early years settings can make a request to the LEA for a statutory assessment if the child has demonstrated sufficient cause for concern. Health Services and Social Services Departments may also draw children to the LEA's attention particularly if a child is under 5 and has complex needs.
Before the LEA decides to make an assessment they will ask the child's school for specific information about his/her special educational needs and any action that has been taken to deal with those needs.
This would consist of:-
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The school's assessment of the child's educational needs
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The child's academic attainment and rate of progress
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Any input from other professionals such as educational psychologists, specialist teachers
When they have received this advice the LEA will look at the evidence and decide whether to proceed to a statutory assessment. This decision is based on the critical question, is there convincing evidence that, despite the school having taken relevant and purposeful action to meet the child's learning difficulties, those difficulties remain?
If the LEA decides not to make a statutory assessment they will write to the parents and the school explaining the reasons and setting out the provision they consider would meet the child's needs. The parents can appeal to the Special Educational Needs Tribunal if they are unhappy with this decision.
If a statutory assessment is necessary the LEA will ask for reports from :-
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Parents
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School
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A medical officer and any other health authority staff that are involved such as speech therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapist, health visitor
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An educational psychologist
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Social Services
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And any other advice that is considered appropriate
They must also seek the child's views when they can be expressed.
Statutory assessment will not always lead to a statement. The information gathered may identify ways in which the school can meet the child's needs without it being necessary for any additional provision to be determined by the LEA. In this case LEA may decide to issue a 'Note in Lieu' which would set out what has been learnt from the assessment.