2:52   No doctor or other health service worker should disclose medical information without first obtaining the consent of the parents and, where he or she has sufficient understanding, the child.  Exceptionally, children under age 16, who are judged to be competent by their doctors, may give consent independently of their parents.  When they first form an opinion that a child has special educational needs, doctors may find it convenient to alert parents and children to the possibility that they will be asked to give information to schools and the LEA.  Doctors may then seek the consent of parents and children to the disclosure of necessary medical information to the school or LEA if they judge this would be helpful to the child.

Social services and education welfare service involvement

2:53.   Schools should be aware of the full range of local services provided by the education welfare service and by social services departments.  SSDs have duties under section 17 of the Children Act 1989 to provide a range of services for children regarded as being 'in need' (see Glossary).  While a child with special educational needs will not necessarily be 'in need' as defined in the Children Act, that Act allows an integrated approach to the educational, health and welfare needs of children with special educational needs who are 'in need'.  It also requires schools to cooperate with social services departments if a child is 'in need' (section 27 of the Children Act) or at risk of significant harm, for example, abuse (section 47 of the Children Act), although this would not automatically mean that the child had special educational needs.

2:54.   Social services departments should designate an officer or officers who are responsible for working with schools and LEAs on behalf of children with special educational needs and to whom schools and LEAs should refer for advice.  If the designated officer has early information about a child, the social services department will be able to react quickly, and within the statutory time limits, to any later request from the LEA for advice in the making of a statutory assessment.  Social services departments should ensure that all schools in the area know the name of, and how to contact, a designated social services officer who has responsibilities for special educational needs.

2:55.   If a child is being looked after by the local authority - that is where the child is in residential care or a foster family placement or using a respite care facility - the local authority social services department will maintain a child care plan which will include information on the educational arrangements made for the child including any special needs he or she may have, and which will involve parents and the child in forward planning.  Children living away from home may have had disrupted school lives because of frequent moves.  They may also have experienced trauma as a result of family breakdown or ill-health and the disruption of moving from a known area and trusted professionals, for example in a local school.

2:56.  Such children, and those who have experienced homelessness with frequent moves between short-term accommodation, will need careful observation and support.  Schools should make every effort to ensure that any difficulties are promptly identified and if possible dealt with in the school, and should acknowledge the emotional consequences for