Lambeth admits illegal statements

Lambeth acknowledge acting illegally by not quantifying provision in statements ... and promise that statements which were illegally written in the past are being amended.

In a letter to IPSEA dated 13 January 2005, the DfES has reported on their investigation into IPSEA's complaint (made by the charity last February) that the London borough of Lambeth was acting illegally in refusing to quantify special educational provision in statements of special educational needs.

In their letter to IPSEA, the DfES report:

"We subsequently met the Authority in October to discuss your concerns and a number of other issues. The Authority acknowledged that it had been acting illegally in not quantifying provision in some statements. Officers confirmed that the practice had ceased and statements which had been issued incorrectly were being amended."

IPSEA is seeking to alert all parents in Lambeth whose children have statements to check Part 3 and if the provision is not quantified, to contact the LEA for the statement to be amended.

Lambeth parents whose children have statements should check Part 3 and if the provision is not quantified, request the LEA to amend the statement.