The Note in Lieu of Statement is a document that is issued to parents and the school when, following a Statutory Assessment, the LEA decides not to issue a Statement of special educational needs.

• If the LEA decides not to issue a Statement this can cause disappointment to parents, and may appear to be a denial of resources for their child.
  
  

• The information about the child, that has been collected for the Statutory Assessment, should be used by the LEA to explain to parents why the decision to refuse a Statement has been made.
  
  
• This is done in the form of a Note in Lieu of Statement. It includes the reasons for the decision and the evidence used to support the decision.
  
  
• Reports from the professionals that have been collected for the Statutory Assessment can be used to assist your child at school, even if the special educational provision continues under School Action Plus.
  
  
• Although this document does not have the legal standing of a Statement, it is useful to pupils, parents and the school as it can be used to assist the review of an Individual Education Plan.