What to look for in a statement of special education needs

When assessing whether a Statement is appropriate and sufficiently adequate for an individual child, it should be remembered that the contents of the Statement gives the child a direct right to receive the provision that is set out in that Statement.

This means that each and every need that the child has must be specified in the Statement. If it is not, then the need may not be recognised by the Local Education Authority and will not be able to be enforced in law. It is therefore important that each and every need of the individual child is included in the Statement.

Therefore Part 2 should thoroughly include all of a child's special educational needs.

Part 3 of the Statement should address each and every special educational need that is listed in Part 2. Part 3 should be specific. For example, if a child is to have three hours speech and language therapy each week, the Statement should state who is going to be giving the speech and language therapy, when the speech and language therapy will be delivered, where it will be delivered. If speech and language therapy is given by a learning support assistant, the Statement should include details of when the support assistant will have direct access to the speech and language therapist for training and feedback etc.

It is helpful when considering a child's provision to ask the questions WHO will be giving the provision?, WHAT the provision will be?, WHEN it will be? and WHERE it will be?.