• Home Page
• -
• Education and Learning
• -
• Schools and colleges
• -
• Parent partnership service
• -
• Note in Lieu

Access Tools

After a statutory assessment, the local authority may decide that your child's needs can be met without a statement of SEN. The Education Officer may then draw up what is called a note in lieu of a statement of SEN.

What is it?

• A note in lieu describes the child's needs and makes recommendations about the way he or she can best be helped in school
• A note in lieu uses the information gathered during the assessment to suggest a package of help and support for your child and his or her school
• Occasionally a note in lieu may be used because a child attends an independent school.
• Knowsley local authority will only name and independent school on a statement if a school maintained by the LA cannot meet the child's needs.
• In terms of the Code of Practice of SEN, your child is at School Action Plus.

What happens if I disagree with the decision?

You should raise your concerns with the edcuation officer who is dealing with your child's case. They will be happy to discuss your concerns. In most cases, the problem can be resolved quickly.

The Parent Partnership Service can help you to put your views to the local authority and give you advice about their response. We operate independently of the local authority and provide accurate, objective information on the range of options available to parents.

An additional service parents can use is the Greater Merseyside SEN Mediation Service. This is an informal way of preventing and resolving disagreements between parents and the local authority or school. The service can be accessed throught the Parent Partnership Service.

If the local authority has decided not to issue a statement after carrying out a statutory assessment, you can appeal to the SEN and Disability Tribunal (SENDIST). This is an independent body that hears appeals agains local authority decisions on statutory assessment and statements or on claims of disability discrimination.

How do I accept the note in lieu?

You don't need to do anything. If the local authority does not hear from you it will assume that you want your child to receive the help outlined in the note in lieu. Copies will then be sent to your child's school and the support services after a two week period. (You can contact the local authority if you want it to send copies to your child's school straight away).

If your child does not receive the help detailed within the note in lieu, you should contact your child's school immediately. If you are unhappy with their response, or the problem does not lie with the school, contact the local education office.

What happens if my child changes school?

If you stay in the Knowsley boundary the note in lieu will remain valid. You just need to let the new school know that your child has a note in lieu.

If you move outside Knowsley, you will need to contact the new local authority because it will have its own arrangements for offering help to pupils with special educational needs.