In particular:

i.  if the SSD do not know the child and the family, and if they have no reason to suppose from   
evidence provided by the school or the LEA that they should seek further information, they should say so and need provide no further written advice.  But social services departments may combine assessment of children 'in need' under Schedule 17 of the Children Act with statutory assessment under the 1993 Act.  Therefore, given their general responsibilities for children 'in need' and their families and their duty to keep a register of children with disabilities, the social services department may wish to arrange a meeting with the child and his or her family to check whether:

- there are services they should provide for the child or family

- the family consider that the child should be registered as disabled (registration being wholly  voluntary) and

- there is any further information the family should be given.

The results of any such meeting should be passed to the LEA as part of the social services department's advice for the statutory assessment
                                                 
ii.  if the child is receiving social services provision such as day care or is living in a residential         or foster home, the SSD should make available to the LEA any relevant observations, information and reports arising from such placements

iii.  if the child is 'looked after' by a local authority and therefore has a child care plan, the SSD should give the LEA full details of that care plan

iv.  if the child is in the care of a local authority and the local authority has parental responsibility, the SSD should ensure that any relevant information is provided and that social services staff attend assessments and medical examinations as appropriate

v.  If the child is, or may become, subject to child protection procedures, the SSD should give                     
     appropriate advice.

3:118. Social services departments should give LEAs information on services generally available for families of children 'in need'  (as required under Schedule 1 of the Children Act) and should make available to the LEA any relevant information on planning processes or data collection (such as the register of Children with Disabilities or the Community Care Plan).

3:119. Even if the child is not currently known to social services, the LEA should inform the designated officer of the social services department if it seems likely that the child should be educated at a residential school.  The social services department will wish to ensure that a parental request for residential education is not made on the basis of lack of support and practical help in their local community and that proper arrangements are made to ensure family contact if the child is placed outside the authority in question.