Why wait for WRITTEN diagnosis before starting Statementing?

[Toppy]

Hi - me again. Can anyone tell me why the Child Dev't team who diagnosed my son with autism three weeks ago 'strongly advised' me to wait until we had received the written report in the post before initiating the Statementing process

All other advice is start now. Just wondered what the benefit of waiting is.
I do not get the impression at all that the Health team are trying to delay the process which is what has been suggested to me. They did not exactly sing the praises of the Education team !

Seeing as you don't need the report to request the statutory assessment and, as that can take a few weeks, I can't understand the benefit of waiting. The sooner you get appropriate educational provision the better in my book.

There is a risk that they will turn down the assessment on the basis of inadequate evidence - but they have 6 weeks to get the report so should be plenty of time. They might think that if you apply without evidence they will just dismiss you and they might look at it more carefully with the report. But it should not matter. Not sure why you are still waiting for the report 3 weeks later anyway! I would put the request in before Xmas as the LA will then shut down for 2 weeks so if you wait it might be 6 weeks from start of Jan. Also hassle the health people to get the report out to you.