What is Assessment?
Assessment is an on-going process for all children. It is important to keep looking carefully at each child’s progress and to make sure that what they are doing is at the right level.
People who are working with your child will want to work with you to make sure that they make the best possible progress. They will watch your child at work and at play, talk to him or her and to you to find out what she/he finds difficult or easy. They will also carry out tests at various stages to find out how they are doing compared with children of about the same age.
If you child may have special educational needs, it is important to identify them early. In this way, help can be given as soon as possible.
What is statutory assessment?
Statutory assessment is a very detailed look at a child’s difficulties, strengths and needs to decide whether the child requires more or different educational help and, if so, what kind of help, how much and where this could be provided. This may lead to a Statement of Special Educational Needs.
A statutory assessment can be requested:
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by your child’s school or setting;
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by you as the child’s parent/carer;
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by referral from another agency, such as Health or Social Services.
In all cases the Local Education Authority (LEA ) will write to you to let you know that they are considering whether or not it is necessary to go ahead with statutory assessment, and to give you the opportunity to say why you think your child should or should not be assessed. They have 6 weeks to decide to go ahead or not. If they decide not to go ahead and you disagree, you have the right to make an appeal to an independent Special Educational Needs Tribunal.
Who will be involved?
When they make a statutory assessment the LEA will ask for:
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parental advice – from you the parent/carer;
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educational advice – from your child’s school or setting;
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medical advice – from the local health authority;
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psychological advice – from the educational psychologist;
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social services advice – from the local social services department, if they are involved;
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advice from any other agency involved with your child;
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the views of your child about their needs and aspirations.