If the local authority (LA) agrees to the assessment, it must gather a range of information and professional advice during the process. 

This includes details surrounding:

  • The child or young person’s needs
  • The support required to meet those needs
  • The outcomes the child or young person should be working towards

SEND Regulation 7 states, the LA must speak with parents and carers, listening carefully to their views, wishes and feelings. They also must consider any information parents provide so that they and their child or young person, can be fully involved in decisions throughout the process.

Regulation 6(1) of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014 requires the LA to obtain information and advice from a range of different sources.

This includes:

  • Parent/carers 
  • The child or young person’s place of learning, such as the headteacher or SENCo 
  • Health professionals, to provide relevant medical advice
  • An educational psychologist
  • Social care services, if they are involved or where relevant 
  • Any other professional or individual the LA considers appropriate 
  • If the young person is in Year 9 or above: professionals who may have been or are involved on preparation for adulthood and independent living 
  • Anyone else the parent/carer or young person, believe the LA should reasonably seek advice from e.g. Occupational Therapist, Speech and Language Therapist, CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services).

Further considerations include if the child or young person has a hearing or visual impairment, the LA must get educational advice from a properly trained specialist. Other considerations include if a parent is serving in the armed forces, they must also seek relevant educational information from the Ministry of Defence.

It is important to note that the LA is required to gain all this advice as a minimum. 

If a parent/carer or young person requests for additional advice to be gathered and the LA refuses (because they do not consider the request to be reasonable), they may wish to raise this as a concern to the LA , and include any evidence as to why this advice is relevant and required. 

The SEND Code of Practice (2015) states:

“The evidence and advice submitted by those providing it should be clear, accessible and specific. They should provide advice about outcomes relevant for the child or young person’s age and phase of education and strategies for their achievement…They may comment on the amount of provision they consider a child or young person requires and local authorities should not have blanket policies which prevent them from doing so. (9.51)”

Advice and information requested by the LA must be provided within six weeks of the date the request is made.