District health authorities and social services departments, when requested by the LEA to provide advice for the purpose of making a statutory assessment, must provide that advice within six weeks of the date of the request, except in prescribed circumstances.

(Section 166(4) and Regulation 11(6))

3:98. The LEA will now proceed to seek parental, educational, medical, psychological and social services advice.  The LEA must always give to those from whom advice is sought copies of any representations made by or evidence provided by the child's parents under section 167(1)(d).  The advice must not be influenced by consideration of the name of the school at which the child might eventually be placed.  Placement will be determined by the LEA at a later stage and in the light of any preference stated by or representations made by the parents.  But discussions between advisers and parents about the child's needs and the advisers' written advice may include consideration of various options, including the scope for mainstream education for the child and the type of school in which the child's needs might best be met, for example mainstream, special or residential.  But such discussions and advice should not commit the LEA, nor pre-empt the parents' statement of a preference, any representations they might make or the LEA's eventual decision.

3:99. The LEA should also ascertain as far as possible what views the child has of his or her special needs and how these might best be addressed.  All requests for advice should be accompanied by notification of the date by which the advice must be submitted.


Parental advice

3:100. Parents must be asked to give any advice they consider to be relevant.  Parents may welcome guidance on how to contribute effectively to their child's assessment.  The following guidelines, already used successfully by many parents, may be helpful, although some adjustment may be necessary according to the age of the child concerned, especially if under five:

Guidelines for parents' contributions to their child's statutory assessment

Introduction

These guidelines are to help you with your contribution to the assessment.  You do not have to use them if you do not want to.  You may change the order, leave buts out or add things you may feel to be important.  We should find it helpful, however, if you used the headings we have suggested.  Your written contribution may be as short or as long as you wish.