Frequently Asked Questions

Statutory Assessment

What is a Statutory Assessment?

Statutory Assessment is a multi-agency assessment, where all the people who are involved with your child will be asked to write a detailed report about your child’s difficulties and the help that they may need to overcome these within a school setting. You and your child will also be given the opportunity to submit views.

Who might need a Statutory Assessment?

For most children with Special Educational Needs, extra help is available in school. However, for a few children with the most severe, complex and long term needs, who are not making adequate progress, a request may be made to the Local Authority (LA) for a Statutory Assessment.

Who can ask for a Statutory Assessment?

A request for a Statutory Assessment can be made to the LA in writing by: Parents/Carers, School or Early Years Setting. It is helpful if schools/settings and parents should work closely together when putting forward a request.

What happens when a request is made?

The LA will ask the school/setting for information about your child’s needs and the extra help they are providing. You will also be consulted and can provide information.

A Panel at the LA will support the LA Officer to decide, within 6 weeks of receiving the request, whether a Statutory Assessment is appropriate. They will inform you promptly of their decision.

What are the possible outcomes of a request?

The LA may decide EITHER:
 Your child’s needs can be met by the school/setting, within their existing budget and agreed responsibilities, so the request will be refused. You have a right of appeal against this decision, ORA Statutory Assessment is needed and the LA will go ahead with collecting information and reports.

Who will be asked for a report?
Parents/CarersSchool or SettingEducational PsychologistSchool DoctorSocial ServicesAnyone else who is working with your child

What should go in my report?

The LA will send you a form to fill in; you know your child better than anyone else and it is very important that you pass on the information you have.

You can ask the Parent Partnership Service to help you with this.

You can include reports from anyone you feel has relevant information including private reports.

How long will the Assessment take?

The LA have 10 weeks to gather information and decide whether or not to issue a Statement.

What happens next?

At the end of the Assessment the LA will either issue a Proposed Statement or a Note in Lieu. You will be told about their decision and what this means for your child.