Statutory Assessment is a detailed examination of your child's special educational needs. It will aim to find out exactly what your childÕs special educational needs are and all the special help they may need. Such an Assessment involves you, the school, the Health Authority and the Educational Psychology Service. Leicestershire Social Services Department also have to be contacted for any relevant information, they will not become involved unless the child is known to them. Statutory Assessment can, when necessary, lead to a Statement being drawn up.

When a child is referred to the LEA for Statutory Assessment by the school, the school will submit a considerable amount of evidence and information about your child's special educational needs (e.g. I.E.P.'s, reports from outside agencies, review meeting summaries). From this information, for Statutory Assessment to be necessary, the LEA has to be satisfied that your child's special educational needs:-

i )   are significant and complex

ii)   have not responded to relevant and purposeful measures put into place by the school and supporting outside agencies

iii)   may call for support that cannot usually be provided by a mainstream school from its own resources

In making its decision, the LEA is guided by the National Code of Practice for the Identification and Assessment of SEN, as well as the LEA's own agreed criteria for undertaking Statutory Assessment. Your school has copies of these if you wish to see them.

If you feel that your child needs a Statutory Assessment, then you can write to

The Service Manager
Special Education Needs Service
Education Department
County Hall
Glenfield
Leicester LE3 8RF

asking for a Statutory Assessment and giving your reasons why you feel it necessary. Your request will be looked into, the school will be contacted for information and a decision is usually made within six weeks. If an assessment demonstrates that a Statement of Special Educational Needs is necessary it will first be issued in proposed form for you to comment on.

A Statement of Special Educational Needs is a legal document which may be drawn up by the LEA after Statutory Assessment. It would set out your child's special educational needs, the arrangements for meeting those needs (Provision), the type and name of a school as well as any non-educational needs and provision.