The United Kingdom's Code of Practice on the Identification and Assessment of Special Educational Needs is presented, along with an introduction explaining the code of practice, which gives guidance to local education authorities (LEAs) and school governing bodies on responsibilities toward children with special educational needs. Contents cover principles and procedures, school-based stages of assessment and provision, criteria for a statutory assessment and how it is conducted, content of a statement of special educational needs, assessments and statements for children under age 5, and the annual review of statements. The code recommends use of a staged approach by schools and LEAs to help match special educational provision to children's needs. As guidance, the code sets out a five-stage model which involves: identification of special educational needs, coordination of the child's educational provisions by the school's coordinator, support from outside specialists, preparation of a multidisciplinary assessment, and consideration of the need for a statement of special educational needs. Appendices include: information on transitional arrangements, a glossary, an index, and the text of the Education (Special Educational Needs) Regulations 1994. (SW)