CIN - child in need

[Kikileigh]

So I received some paperwork from my child's primary school when he left. He was recently diagnosed with adhd and learning disabilities so it contained all the information about that.

On top of the paperwork it is highlighted CIN which I know means child in need. Why would this be? The school never mentioned this to me at the many meetings we had about his educational development. Should I be worried that they have safeguarding concerns?

It is used to describe a child who needs a level of support to achieve a reasonable level of health or development.

Does this seem to describe your child? You mention recent diagnoses so I'm guessing so.

On our our system it’s just a tick box. It’s probably just an error. I’d check with them though so they can amend.

Child in need is just that, it's about support needed, it's not only used for safeguarding concerns

Under Section 17 Children Act 1989, a child will be considered in need if:

• they are unlikely to achieve or maintain or to have the opportunity to achieve or maintain a reasonable standard of health or development without provision of services from the Local Authority;
• their health or development is likely to be significantly impaired, or further impaired, without the provision of services from the Local Authority;
• they have a disability.

It does NOT mean that there are any safeguarding concerns.

Unfortunately the legislation in England and Wales, at the moment, does not differentiate and uses the term CIN for all. It's a major annoyance to me as the parent of a disabled child.

This. The legislation makes no distinction. Which is a problem when some in society view CIN with negative connotations and judge.

This booklet from Contact explains it further and also states: “Social services departments have a general duty under Section 17 (10) of the Children Act 1989 to safeguard and promote the interests of ‘children in need,’ and to promote their upbringing by their families. The law recognises disabled children as being in need.”