of the objectives in the statement, the child's progress will be halted or reversed if the special educational provision specified in the statement or modified provision which justified the maintenance of a statement were not made.

Further statutory assessments

6:38. Under section 172 of the Act, the parents of a child with a statement may request a new assessment of that child under section 167 of the Act.  The LEA must comply with such a request, so long as:

_ no such assessment has been made within the previous six months, and

_ the LEA conclude that it is necessary to make a further assessment.

6:39. The LEA must follow the procedures set out at paragraphs 3:17-3:21.  The LEA should consider all such requests carefully.  In particular they should consider whether there have  been significant changes in the circumstances of the child.  If the request for a further assessment originates from an annual review, much of the necessary information on which to base their decision will already be available to the LEA.

6:40. If the LEA conclude that a further assessment is not necessary, they must write to the parents, telling them of the decision and of their right to appeal to the Tribunal.  The LEA should always given parents full reasons for their decision and should also write to the child's school.  The LEA may wish to arrange a meeting between the parents and the school.

6:41. If the LEA decide that a further assessment is necessary, the procedures and time limits set out in Part 3 of this Code apply.  Thereafter, if the LEA decide that they must amend the statement for the child, the procedures set out in paragraphs 6:34 and 6:35 apply.  The resultant statement will supersede the previous statement.

Annual reviews from age 14-19

6:42. Some pupils with statements of special educational needs will remain in school after the age of 16.  LEAs remain responsible for such pupils until they are 19.  Others with statements will, however, leave school at 16, moving, for example, to a college within the further education sector or to social services provision.  But, whatever the intended future destination of the young person, the annual review has an additional significance as he or she approaches the age of 16.

6:43. The first annual review after the young person's 14th birthday should involve the agencies who will play a major role during the post-school years.  The transfer of relevant information should ensure that young people receive any necessary specialist help or support during their continuing education and vocational or occupational training after leaving school.  For young people with disabilities, the role of social services departments will be of particular importance and local authorities have specific duties relating to other legislation which are set  out below.