Amount of provision recommended by professionals as part of the statutory assessment process

Dear A Oleo

Thank you for your request for information under the Freedom Of Information Act 2000, of which we acknowledge receipt.

Your request has been passed to the appropriate officer to provide a response as soon as possible, and in any event within 20 working days, as required by the Act.

Kind regards

Data Management Officer
Tel: 01609 533219
Email: [North Yorkshire County Council request email]

________________________________________
From: A Oleo [[FOI #98061 email]]
Sent: 28 December 2011 07:57
To: Data Management Officer
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Amount of provision recommended by professionals as part of the statutory assessment process

Dear North Yorkshire County Council,

According to paragraph 7:79 of the Special Educational Needs Code
of Practice, when a local authority requests advice from
professionals for statutory assessment:

LEAs should make clear that the Regulations require that the advice
must relate to the educational, medical, psychological, or other
features that appear relevant to a child’s current and future
educational needs. The advice must also set out how those features
could affect the child’s educational needs and the provision that
is considered appropriate in the light of those features. Those
giving advice may comment on the amount of provision they consider
appropriate. Thus LEAs should not have blanket policies that
prevent those giving advice from commenting on the amount of
provision they consider a child requires.

Does North Yorkshire have a policy that prevents professionals
giving advice for statutory assessment from commenting on the
amount of provision they consider a child requires?

If so, why?

If not, are professionals allowed to use any form of words they see
fit, or must they follow particular wording or banding?

If professionals must use certain wording, please explain how that
is compatible with paragraph 7:79.

If professionals can only state a view using a banding system,
please explain how that is compatible with paragraph 7:79.

Please specify for:

a paediatricians
b speech and language therapists
c clinical psychologists
d educational psyschologists,
e teachers
f specialist teachers
g any other professionals

Yours faithfully,

A Oleo

show quoted sections

Dear A Oleo

Thank you for your recent request for information. Please see below our response:

North Yorkshire LA does not have a policy that prevents professionals giving advice for statutory assessment from commenting on the amount of provision they consider a child requires.

All listed professionals are allowed to use any form of words they see fit and do not have to follow particular wording or banding.

Yours sincerely

Julie Hutson
CYPS Business Suport Manger
Finance and Resources Support
County Hall
Northallerton
DL7 8AE

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