The Local Authority is responsible for:

• The timely completion of statutory assessment procedures for children who have special educational needs (SEN)
• Where appropriate the issue of a Statement of SEN or a Note in Lieu of a Statement
• The annual review of a Statement of SEN
• Strategic planning and joint working with parents, schools, Children and Young People's Services and the Health Authority to meet the needs of children with SEN, wherever possible in mainstream schools

The special educational needs of the great majority of children should be met effectively within the mainstream school or setting through Early Years Action, Early Years Action Plus, School Action or School Action Plus without the local authority needing to make a statutory assessment. In a very small number of cases the Local Authority will need to make a statutory assessment of special educational needs and then consider whether or not to issue a Statement.

Statutory assessment involves consideration by the Local Authority working co-operatively with parents, the child’s school, the Educational Psychology Service, the School Medical Officer and Children and Young People's Services, as to whether a statutory assessment of the child’s needs is necessary.

Routes for referral:

• A request for an assessment by the child’s school or setting
• A request for an assessment from a parent / or person with parental responsibility Statutory Assessment Request - On-line Form
• A referral by another agency

It is helpful to the Local Authority if the school, parent or other agency can set out clearly the reason for the request and provide information as to the provision the child has already received.

• County Special Education Team Structure (35KB - pdf help)
• County Special Education Team Caseloads and Staff (15KB - pdf help)