Statutory assessment: the final statement
When we (the local education authority) carry out a statutory assessment of your child, we must issue either a statement or a ‘note-in-lieu’.
The ‘note-in-lieu’
This will:
- describe your child’s special educational needs;
- explain why we have decided not to make a statement; and
- recommend the help your child needs. This may include:
- teaching strategies (for example, work in small groups);
- programmes for particular skills (for example, handwriting); and
- guidance from specialist staff (for example, a speech and language therapist).
The statement
The statement is made up of six parts.
Part 1: Introduction: this gives the child’s name and address, and other information.
Part 2: Special educational needs: this describes your child at the time of writing the statement. It should not mention problems that happened in the past unless they still affect your child. Part 2 must be positive and say what your child can do. For example, “He enjoys turning the pages of a book and will point to pictures on request”, rather than just saying he cannot read. This helps the school to plan and build on your child’s achievements.
Part 3: Objectives: these are long-term targets for your child to work towards.
Provision: this should set out:
- teaching strategies (for example, work in small groups);
- programmes for particular skills; and
- guidance from specialist staff (for example, a speech and language therapist).
Monitoring: this says how we will make sure that everything in the statement is correct and being delivered in the school. This includes the annual review (see the leaflet on the annual review).
Part 4: Placement: this names the school your child will go to. This will be left blank on the proposed (draft) statement.
Part 5: Non-educational needs: any other difficulties your child may have outside school, related to health, social services or other areas.
Part 6: Non-educational provision: help from other agencies (for example, health for needs set out in part 5).