6:14. District health authorities and social services authorities are required by section 166(1) of the Act to respond to the head teacher's request for written advice, unless the exceptions in section 166(2) and (3) apply.  Other people from whom the head teacher requests written advice under Regulation 15(3) should also respond, although they are not under a statutory duty to do so.  Head teachers must seek advice in accordance with Regulation 15(4).  They are not required to seek advice on every one of those points from all the persons they ask for advice.  Instead, head teachers can ask for specific advice from specific persons, or can ask for advice generally

6:15. The evidence received, and comments on that evidence, together with an account of the review meeting, form the basis of the review report.  Parents should be encouraged to contribute their views to the annual review process, to attend the review meeting, and to contribute to discussions about any proposals for new targets for the child's progress.  Wherever possible, pupils should also be actively involved in the review process, including all or part of the review meeting, and should be encouraged to give their views of their progress during the previous year; discuss any difficulties encountered; and share their hopes and aspirations for the future.

6:16. Both parents and pupils may welcome assistance and advice in preparing their submissions and the LEA and school should be prepared to give assistance.  Practical assistance with writing a report - such as recording and agreeing a discussion with an officer of the authority or a member of the school staff - may be helpful.  Where parents or pupils seek independent support or guidance, referral to a relevant voluntary organisation may be helpful.  Head teachers should tell parents and pupils that they may bring a friend, adviser, relative or their Named Person to the review meeting.

6:17. Where the parent or pupil wishes to discuss any aspect of the review process with the child's school or LEA, they should be encouraged to do so.  Every effort should be made to inform parents of both their rights and their responsibilities and to encourage them to attend the review meeting.  Where a parent does not respond to invitations to contribute in writing to the review, or to attend a review meeting, that information should be recorded in the review report with any reasons given.