A statutory assessment is a detailed assessment to find out what special educational needs your child has and what extra help they may need. A statutory assessment may happen if a school or early education setting cannot provide all the help your child needs.
There are two stages to statutory assessment for special educational needs. When a request is made for a statutory assessment (1st stage) Wakefield Council has six weeks to gather information to help to decide whether or not to proceed to the 2nd stage (detailed assessments are conducted at the 2nd stage). Wakefield Council will consider your child’s progress in school, they will also listen to your views and that of your child’s school.
The majority of children will have their special educational needs met through school action or early school action or school action plus or early school action plus. If your child’s progress is still causing concern after the school has put in place extra support (and it is felt that additional help is needed by the school or early education setting). A request can be made to Wakefield Council to carry out a statuary assessment. The school or early education setting should speak with you before making the request.
A request for a statutory assessment to Wakefield Council can be made by:
The School makes a request
When a school makes a request for a statutory assessment to Wakefield Council, they will write to you and let you know within six weeks if they are going to carry out an assessment or not.
When Wakefield Council receives a request for a statutory assessment, they will write to you to ask whether you agree with the assessment (when it is a request from the school this is sought beforehand). They will also ask for your written views and any additional information that you would like to provide. You have 29 days after you have received the letter, to reply to Wakefield Council will your views and consent to the assessment.
Wakefield Council will also contact Educational Psychology Service, the Health Authority, and other professionals that may have been working with your child. This is to see if they have any information on your child that can help them decide whether to carry out a Statutory Assessment or not (if a school request this information should already be included – a summery of involvement is sought from the Educational Psychology Service)
Parents/Carers make a request
Parents are also able to request a statutory assessment. Before making a request, you should first discuss this with your child’s school or early education settling. You will need to consider whether every action has been taken by the early education settling or school to meet your child’s needs. You should but your request in writing to Wakefield Council including any evidence you have to support your request.
Wakefield Council will consider your request and always ask for further information, about your child’s difficulties from the school, including what support they have given your child. Wakefield Council will also write to the Educational Psychology Service, Health Service and social services to ask if they have any information that will help them to decide to carry out a Statutory Assessment or not.
Wakefield Council has six weeks from the receipt of the request to tell you whether they will carry out a statutory assessment or not.
If Wakefield Council agrees to carry out a statutory assessment, they will write to you informing you of their decision. You will also be asked for your view’s, this is separate from asking you if you feel your child should be assessed. You should also suggest any other people/professionals you know whose views could be helpful in the assessment of your child.
Wakefield Council will also ask for more detailed information about your child from:
You can also send Wakefield Council any private advice or opinions you have collected about your child. The council should take these into consideration as part of the assessment.
If Wakefield Council decides not to carry out a statutory assessment, they should write to you and your child’s school giving the reasons.
If you feel that more needs to be done to meet your child’s needs you should talk to your child’s school.
If you are not happy with Wakefield Council decision not to carry out a statutory assessment, you can appeal to Wakefield Council against this decision. You can write to them outlining why you do not agree with the decision, or you can ask for a meeting to discuss the decision in person. You also have the right to make a formal appeal to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SENDIST). You can appeal whether the school or you made the request for a statutory assessment.
As parents/carers it is essential you are involved in the process, because you know your child better then anyone else. You will be asked to provide in writing your views and any further relevant information regarding your child.
It may be useful to include reports from professionals that have recent knowledge of your child’s, this may include for example:
Wakefield Council may also ask your child what they think about their special educational needs. What your child thinks can play an important part in the assessment. If your child needs help to give their views, parents/carers, teachers or another professional can help.
During the statutory assessment process different professionals may meet with your child, you should be told in advance when professionals are to meet with your child. Any assessments usually take place in school.
During the statutory assessment information is collected from:
You should be sent copies of all the reports regarding your child when the statutory assessment has been completed.
After the assessment Wakefield Council may decide to write down all the information they have collected in a document called a Statement of Special Educational Needs (Statement). Wakefield Council will normally write to you and tell you whether they are going to write a statement within 12 weeks of beginning the assessment.
If Wakefield Council decides not to make a statement, they will write to you explaining the reasons for this. Wakefield Council may issue a Note in Lieu which outlines your child’s special educational needs, why the council has not issued a statement and any recommendations regarding how your child’s can be supported in school.