Professional referrals

Professionals: Section 19 education referrals

We have a legal duty to arrange suitable education for children of compulsory school age who, due to illness, exclusion or other reasons, cannot attend school. 

This education must be appropriate to the child's age, ability, aptitude, and any special educational needs (SEND).

Read the Section 19 Policy and appendices for more information and before you make a referral.

Referral documents for schools and professionals

If you need to make a Section 19 referral due to a permanent exclusion, medical need or other reason, please complete the relevant referral documents.

Permanent exclusion

Download and complete 'Appendix 2 - Permanent exclusion notification' and gather all supporting documentation. This may include:

  • permanent exclusion letter
  • attendance records
  • behaviour logs
  • SEN support plan (where applicable)

Submit your referral

Please submit the exclusion notification form and documentation to schoolexclusions@liverpool.gov.uk

Medical needs

We have a duty to provide Section 19 education where a pupil has an injury, diagnosed illness or is experiencing an acute episode of mental illness which prevents them from attending school beyond 15 days, and where steps have been taken to promote school attendance (as appropriate). 

The information you provide will be shared with all professionals working with the pupil, therefore you must get parental consent before submitting the form to us.

Download and complete 'Appendix 5 - Medical needs referral form' and ask the medical professional supporting this referral to complete Part B. Gather all supporting documentation. This may include:

  • attendance certificate
  • attendance support plan (documenting support, strategies and interventions school have put in place).
  • most recent academic/attainment report
  • most recent EHAT/CIN/CP plan

Submit your referral

Please submit the medical needs referral form and documentation to medicalneeds@liverpool.gov.uk 

Other reasons

If there are other reasons why you think a Section 19 education referral is needed, or the child is not on a school roll, download and complete 'Appendix 6 - Section 19 notification checklist'. You must get parental consent before submitting the form to us.

Gather all supporting documentation. This may include:

  • attendance certificate
  • attendance support plan (documenting support, strategies and interventions school have put in place).
  • most recent academic/attainment report
  • most recent EHAT/CIN/CP plan

Submit your referral

Please submit the Section 19 notification checklist and documentation to section19@liverpool.gov.uk 

What happens next?

Referrals are reviewed by a multi-agency panel every two weeks. We will inform you of the outcome within 48 hours of the review. If agreed, we will arrange an education planning meeting to decide the best provision and review arrangements.

If we decide that the council has a Section 19 duty, we will arrange suitable education provision as soon as possible.