Time Limits for Making Assessments and Statements

3:27.   It is in the interests of all concerned that statutory assessments and statements are made in a timely manner.  It is also important that each part of the process is conducted with all reasonable speed so that, should the LEA decide, having proposed to make an assessment, that they need not make that assessment, or having assessed the child, that they need not issue a proposed statement, the parents are informed as quickly as possible and appropriate alternative arrangements are made.

3:28   The Regulations therefore set the following time limits in which the various parts of the process of making statutory assessments and statements must normally be conducted:


Where an LEA serve a notice on the child's parent informing him or her that they propose to make an assessment under section 167, or receive a request for such an assessment by the parent, the LEA shall within six weeks of the date of service of the notice, or of receipt of the request, give notice to the parent of their decision whether or not to make an assessment.

(Regulation 11(1), (2) and (3))


Where under section 167(4) an LEA have given notice to the parent of their decision to make an assessment they shall complete that assessment within ten weeks of the date on which such notice was given.

(Regulation 11(5))


Where an LEA have made an assessment of the child's educational needs under section 167 they shall within two weeks of the date on which the assessment is completed either serve a copy of a proposed statement on the parent or give notice of their decision not to make a statement.

(Regulation 14(1))


Where an LEA have served a copy of a proposed statement on the parent they shall within eight weeks of the date on which the proposed statement is served serve a copy of the completed statement.

(Regulation 14(2))

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