Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004Assessment
The assessment must be started within a month of the principal forming the opinion that the child is still not benefiting from the school’s education programme and that this may be due to the child having special educational needs.
The assessment must be completed within 3 months of the principal forming this opinion.
The assessment is to be carried out in line with guidelines issued from time to time by the National Council for Special Education. If the principal feels that the arrangement of an assessment cannot reasonably be done by him/her, the principal must request the council to arrange the assessment.
If the council refuses to cause an assessment to be carried out, the parents of the child can appeal to the Appeals Board (see below). The Appeals Board may direct the council to arrange for an assessment to be carried out or dismiss the appeal. The Act does not provide for time limits regarding the making of this appeal.