Routes for referral

3:5.   A child will be brought to the LEA's attention as possibly requiring an assessment through:

·   referral by the child's school or another agency

·   a formal request for an assessment from a parent, or
·   a formal request from a GM school directed to admit a pupil under section 13 of the Act.

It is important that all requests for assessment are considered as quickly as possible, regardless of the source of the referral.

Referral by the child's school or other agency

3:6.   In some cases, schools will conclude, after they have taken action to meet the learning difficulties of a child, that the child's needs remain so substantial that they cannot be met effectively within the resources normally available to the school.  Schools may therefore draw the child to the attention of the local education authority with a view to an assessment under the 1993 Act.  In a very small minority of cases schools may consider that a statutory assessment is necessary, even though no action has been taken at stages 1, 2 and 3 - see paragraphs 3:24 and 3:25 below.  Children may also be drawn to the LEA's attention by the health services and social services departments.  This is particularly likely with children under five who are not yet attending school - see Part 5.

3:7.   LEAs have a duty to identify among those children in their area with special educational needs for whom they are responsible, those for whom they must make statements.  To help fulfil this duty, LEAs should gather information from maintained schools about registered pupils who live in the LEA's area and who have special educational needs at stage 3.

3:8.   When making a referral for a statutory assessment, the school should state clearly the reasons for the referral and submit the following material:

·   information, including:

-   the recorded views at parents and, where appropriate, children on the earlier stages of assessment and any action and support to date

-   evidence of health checks, for example relevant information on medical advice to the school

-   when appropriate, evidence relating to social services involvement

·   written individual education plans at stages 2 and 3 indicating the approaches adopted, the monitoring arrangements followed and the educational outcomes

·    reviews of each individual education plan indicating decisions made as a result
·   evidence at the involvement and views of professionals with relevant specialist
    knowledge and expertise outside the normal competence of the school.

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