Early Notification is a form completed by a health care professional to alert the local authority to a potential child (aged 0-5) with SEND needs.
How do health professionals make a Early notification of SEND?
An Early Notification form is completed by a health care professional to alert the local authority (LA) to a potential child with SEND needs that is under statutory school-age (under 5).
Health professionals must notify the local authority if they identify a child who:
- is under compulsory school age (0 to 5-years-old)
- they think the child has or probably has a special educational need (SEN) or disability in line with Section 23 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
Who can complete the form?
This form can be completed by one of the following health professionals:
- Paediatricians/Designated Clinical or Medical Officers
- Health Visitors
- Speech and Language Therapists
- Physiotherapists
- Occupational Therapists
- Children’s Community Nursing Team
- School nursing team
- Audiologist / Ophthalmologist
- GP’s
Why does the council need to be notified of the child's needs?
The local authority has specialist teams and services available to support children and young people with SEND. By notifying the local authority early to a child or young person that may have SEND it ensures that the child and their family have access to the right support at the right time, so that their needs can be met.
The Local Authority also use the information to make long-term plans for the types of services that may be needed for your child in the future.
Last updated: 17/11/2025