Referrals

In order to undergo an assessment for special educational needs, the child must be referred by a parent, a school or other professional. The parents must give consent for the referral. The referral must include supporting evidence and will be considered by a panel of officers. The panel may seek further evidence, may state that there is no case to carry out an assessment or may agree to carry out an assessment.

The assessment process

An assessment consists of collecting evidence from all relevant partners, carrying out assessment activities with the child and producing a report with recommendations for provision to meet any identified needs. Normally, this assessment process must be completed within 18 weeks, although there are exceptions to this when evidence is sought from health or social care specialists. We have published guidance on the criteria that would normally have to be met to be classed as having special educational needs.

The assessment panel

To ensure that children and young people get prompt service, a Special Educational Needs Assessment Panel (SENAP) meets once a week in term time to consider and make decisions about children who have undergone an assessment.

Their recommendation would be to either:

• make a statement of special educational needs,
• issue a note in lieu of a statement which makes recommendations for support for the child,
• take no further action.

Parents can accept the recommendations or reject them. This panel also considers appeals against decisions it has made on these matters.

Parental support

Parents are supported through the assessment process by a team of specialist Parent Partnership officers.

Disputes

In the rare instances where appeals at this level are not resolved, parents have the right of appeal to the SEN and Disability Tribunal, which is independent of the Authority. For more information see the SEN and Disability Tribunal website.