What is a statutory assessment?
A statutory assessment is a detailed investigation of a child’s special educational needs and the special help they need. In a small number of cases, despite the school doing every thing it can, a child does not make as much progress as expected. We may need to start a detailed assessment to decide if we need to make a Statement of Special Educational Needs. It is called a statutory assessment because the procedures are set out in the 1996 Education Act. Some children with very significant needs may have a statutory assessment before they start school. For very young children, this assessment could be started when a doctor provides information. When schools ask for a statutory assessment, we will make sure that we have consulted parents or carers. The schools must also provide information about the provision they have been making and why a statutory assessment would benefit the pupil. If we decide to make the assessment, the team will get advice from: • Parents or carers, who may send
This is a multidisciplinary assessement conducted by the Local Authority (LA) to gain information about a child’s special educational needs and to determine the provision needed to meet those needs. A statutory assessment is usually needed when a child has severe and complex needs that cannot be met by the SEN funding and resources normally available to schools and early years settings. The statutory assessment is governed by regulations that specify how and when the assessment is carried out. The LA must seek information from the child’s school or early years setting, an educational psychologist, parents. medical/health services and social care services. It must do this within a specified timescale. At the end of the assessment period the LA must decide whether or not to write a Statement of SEN. In most cases this is what happens and the Statement will set out the child’s special educational needs and the provision needed to meet them. Occasionally however, the statutory assessment s
Statutory assessment is a very detailed assessment under the 1996 Education Act. Milton Keynes Council will gather information to find out what special educational needs your child may have and what special help they may need. Information is gathered from: – You, the child’s parent/carer; – Your child’s school/setting; – An Educational Psychologist; – A doctor (Community Paediatrician); – Social Services; – Any other person who is already helping your child, e.g. speech therapist/social worker. Written reports (advice) are sent back to the council which, together with your written contribution, gives a full picture of your child’s strengths and weaknesses. This assessment will identify your child’s needs and any special help they may receive. At the end of it the LA will decide whether or not to issue a Statement of Special Educational Need for your child. Statutory assessment is only appropriate for a very small number of children.
A statutory assessment is a process for collecting information, which will enable the Local Authority (LA) to gain a clear picture of your child’s special educational needs. It is not a common process, as in most circumstances additional support can be provided within the school or pre-school at School Action/Early Years Action or School Action Plus/Early Years Action Plus. For more information about the continuum of assessment in the earlier stages, see the Stages of Assessment. An assessment will only be made if it is agreed that a child has complex, long-term and significant needs, and has not made appropriate progress at School Action/ Early Years Action or School Action Plus/ Early Years Action Plus. Who can request a statutory assessment? Most requests for a statutory assessment are made by schools and Early Years settings. In some situations health or social care staff may make the request, particularly for children who are not at school. Parents will always be contacted, to agr
