This page is for health professionals use

Pre-school Children with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) Early Identification and Notification Form (Section 23)

Integrated Care Boards (ICB), NHS Trusts and NHS Foundation Trusts MUST inform the appropriate Local Authority (LA) if they identify a child under compulsory school age as having or probably having a disability or special educational need (Section 23 of the Children and Families Act 2014)

Purpose of this form
To advise the LA of a preschool child who is likely to have a Special Educational Need and/or Disability (SEND). Providing this information will support the planning of services and future commissioning countywide.

Information Sharing and Data Protection
This form may be reviewed for quality assurance purposes, identifying information will always be removed from reports, the service that the child and family receive will not be affected by this process.

ICBs, providers of health services and Suffolk County Council use the information on this form to consider the needs for the children that have or are likely to have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. This may prompt further discussions with agencies to ensure services are planned and available to meet the needs of the child.

These organisations may also share relevant information with the Department for Education (DfE) and Central or Local Government agencies and public bodies involved in the implementation of the new legislation as required to meet statutory obligations.

Privacy notice – Suffolk County Council

If you have any queries about this process please email: [email protected] – please do not include any children’s details in your email.

PLEASE NOTE: The Section 23 notification is now an online form – the word version of the this form is no longer used – Updated 09 January 2024

Section 23 Notification form for health professionals only

Click this link to go to > Parent/carer Section 23 information and leaflet (you can copy this link to the Suffolk InfoLink page to share with parents/carers, please do not refer them to this professional referrers page).