What is a statutory assessment ?
This is a multidisciplinary assessement conducted by the Local Authority (LA) to gain information about a child's special educational needs and to determine the provision needed to meet those needs. A statutory assessment is usually needed when a child has severe and complex needs that cannot be met by the SEN funding and resources normally available to schools and early years settings. The statutory assessment is governed by regulations that specify how and when the assessment is carried out. The LA must seek information from the child's school or early years setting, an educational psychologist, parents. medical/health services and social care services. It must do this within a specified timescale. At the end of the assessment period the LA must decide whether or not to write a Statement of SEN. In most cases this is what happens and the Statement will set out the child's special educational needs and the provision needed to meet them. Occasionally however, the statutory assessment shows that a child's needs can be met from resources that are already available and therefore a Note in Lieu will be written instead. This still sets out the child's needs and the provision needed but does not have the same legal status as a Statement. For more information, click on the link below and see our 'Statutory Assessment leaflet - Information for Parents'.
Statutory Assessment Leaflet