main content Statutory Assessment of Special Educational Needs

Provision for children with special educational needs (SEN) is a matter for everyone in all educational settings. Usually many professionals will have been involved and very focused strategies will have been implemented before Statutory Assessment is considered. Statutory Assessment is only undertaken when the local authority believes a child has needs that will lead to the LA having to arrange special educational provision.

Eligibility

The Special Needs Assessment team can undertake statutory assessment of school children aged four years to nineteen years who live in the London Borough of Bromley.

Details

• The special educational needs of the great majority of children should be met effectively within mainstream schools without the need for the local authority to make a statutory assessment.
• Statutory assessment is only undertaken when the local authority believes a child probably has needs that will lead to the LA having to arrange the educational provision itself. Special educational provision means educational provision which is additional to, or otherwise different from, the educational provision made generally for children of their age in schools maintained by the LA, other than special schools in the area.
• The assessment is a detailed investigation to find out exactly what the child's special educational needs are and what special help they may require. It is only necessary if the school cannot provide all the help the child needs.
• LA requests written advice from various professionals and parents are asked to contribute their views.
• Statutory assessment may lead to a statement but this is not always the case. The information gathered during an assessment may indicate ways in which the school can meet the child’s needs without the need for any special educational provision to be determined by the LA through a statement. There are time limits for every stage of the assessment process.
• Before the LA issues a final statement, parents are sent a proposed statement and asked for their views.
• The special educational needs team arranges assessments, produces statements and arranges special educational provision, including additional support in mainstream schools, admission to special units in mainstream schools and admissions to special schools.

Next Steps

• Please discuss your child’s needs with his/her teacher who will contact the Children's Education Services Department if it is felt that these needs cannot be met within the school.
• Following discussions with the school, if you would like to request an assessment, you can complete a 'Parental Request for a Statutory Assessment of Special Educational Needs' form and return to the address below.
• For pre-school children, please contact the Head of Pre-School Services (SEN).

Contact Details

Address:
Special Educational Needs, Children and Young People Services, London Borough of Bromley, Civic Centre, Bromley BR1 3UH

Telephone:  020 8313 4739 or 4022
Fax:  020 8313 4145
e-mail:  sen@bromley.gov.uk

Address for Pre-School Services (SEN): Phoenix Pre-School Services, 40 Masons Hill, Bromley, BR2 9JG

Telephone:  020 8466 8811
Fax:  020 8466 8855
e-mail:  phoenix.general@phoenixsch.org.uk