PART IICHILDREN WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS

Identification and assessment of children with special educational needs

Assessment of educational needs15

1

Where F3the Authority is of the opinion that a child for whom it is responsible falls, or probably falls, within paragraph (2), it shall serve a notice on the child's parent informing him—

a

that F3the AuthorityF1 is considering whether to make an assessment of the child's educational needs,

b

of the procedure to be followed in making the assessment,

c

of the name of the officer of F3the Authority from whom further information may be obtained, and

d

of the parent's right to make representations, and submit written evidence, to F3the Authority within such period (which shall not be less than twenty-nine days beginning with the date on which the notice is served) as may be specified in the notice.

2

A child falls within this paragraph if—

a

he has special educational needs, and

b

it is necessary for F3the Authority to determine the special educational provision which any learning difficulty he may have calls for.

3

Where—

a

F3the Authority has served a notice under paragraph (1) and the period specified in the notice in accordance with paragraph (1)(d) has expired, and

b

F3the Authority remains of the opinion, after taking into account any representations made and any evidence submitted to it in response to the notice, that the child falls, or probably falls, within paragraph (2),

F3the Authority shall make an assessment of his educational needs.

4

Where F3the Authority decides to make an assessment under this Article, it shall give notice in writing to the child's parent of that decision and of F2the Authority's reasons for making it.

5

Schedule 1 (which makes provision in relation to the making of assessments under this Article) shall have effect.

6

Where, at any time after serving a notice under paragraph (1), F3the Authority decides not to assess the educational needs of the child concerned it shall give notice in writing to the child's parent of F2the Authority's decision and the reasons for making it.