for other children there or would involve the inefficient use of the LEA's resources, the LEA are not obliged to comply with the parents' preference and may name either another special school or a mainstream school, whichever would better meet the three conditions.

4:45. The LEA should inform parents that all maintained schools must publish information on their policies on special educational needs.  The LEA should encourage parents both to visit schools and to see the policies and any other relevant documentation to assist them in stating their preference.  Discussions with other parents may be helpful.  Parent/teacher associations, local voluntary organisations and parent partnership schemes may be able to offer additional information, practical advice and counselling if required.  In some circumstances, and if parents request such help, an officer of the LEA may wish to visit particular schools with parents to ensure that their questions and concerns are dealt with effectively and promptly and to make certain that they fully understand the range of provision that the schools can offer.

4:46. When LEAs send parents a copy of the proposed statement, they must tell the parents that they have the right to make representations to the LEA in favour of a school outside the maintained sector and that, if they wish to make such representations, they should do so within I 5 days of receiving the proposed statement.  If the LEA do not agree to the parents' representations, they should inform the parents of their decision before naming any school in the final statement.  Parents will then have the opportunity to express a preference for a maintained school under paragraph 3 of Schedule 10 if they wish to do so.

4:47. When LEAs send parents a copy of the proposed statement, they must also send parents a list of all LEA-maintained and grant-maintained schools within the area of the LEA which cater for children of the appropriate age.  They may also send parents a list of all such schools in neighbouring areas.  LEAs must inform parents of the names of all independent schools approved under section 189 of the Act and of all non-maintained special schools.  The Department for Education and the Welsh Office Education Department will make comprehensive lists of such schools available to LEAs on a regular basis.

4:48. If the parents make representations in favour of a non-maintained special school or an independent school, an officer of the LEA should discuss with them why they believe that school should be named.  If naming the school in question would provide the child with residential education, the LEA should discuss with the parents why they feel such provision is necessary to meet the child's special educational needs and, if appropriate, may choose to involve the social services department in discussing the child's wider needs with the family.  If parents have not visited the school and wish to do so, an officer of the LEA should help arrange such a visit.

4:49. In some instances the parents may not have understood that a school within the LEA could provide a similar programme.  Where parents are unsure about a choice of school or are unhappy about the choice of a school within the LEA, it may be particularly helpful to ensure that they can talk both to an officer of the LEA and to a parent adviser or counsellor from a local parent partnership scheme or from a voluntary organisation.  Taking parents' concerns seriously may ensure that there is mutual understanding and respect and may help to avoid conflict.  In some instances, parents may value a number of meetings to review the options