Involvement of the child

3:120. The LEA will wish to establish the views of children and young people themselves on their special educational needs and the way in which they might be met.  The LEA may consider providing a pupil report form for the purpose.  Pupils who are able to do so could submit their views themselves on such a form.  Others may need the help of a parent, teacher, educational psychologist, social worker or other confidant, such as the Named Person.  In other cases the adults closest to the child have a responsibility to establish to the best of their ability the wishes and feelings of the child, for example by interpreting the child's behaviour in different settings as a measure of the child's preferences.  However they are ascertained, the wishes and feelings of the child have a separate identity and, even though they may overlap or coincide with the views of others, the LEA may wish to have the child's views set out separately from those of the parents and professionals.

Any other advice

3:121. The LEA should follow up the parents' suggestions of other agencies or individuals who might be called upon for advice (see 3:11).  In addition, the LEA should approach any other body whom they consider could helpfully contribute to the accurate and timely assessment of the child in question.  In particular, advice from the Service Children's Education Authority (SCEA) must be sought where the child's parent is a serving member of the armed forces.