The assessment stage

All children with special educational needs should be identified and assessed as early as possible.

The Local Education Authority is required by law to carry out a statutory assessment if it considers that a child has or probably has special educational needs which require special provision.

The law also enables the parent to ask for an assessment. Once such a request is made by a parent, the Local Education Authority must comply with the request unless an assessment has been made within six weeks.

Alternatively, if the LEA consider it is not necessary to assess the child they must notify the parent of the decision. If the Local Authority make a decision to assess a child, the parent must be notified of this.

Depending on the child's individual need, the child will be assessed by an Educational Psychologist, possibly a Speech and Language Therapist and an Occupational Therapist. Medical advice is also sought. This advice will be considered and once the assessment is concluded, the Local Education Authority must decide in light of the evidence that it has whether a Statement of Special Educational Needs should be maintained.