sment for statutory services if the child’s situation does not appear to be improving or is getting worse. Statutory children’s social care assessments and services 57. Where a child is suffering, or is likely to suffer from harm, it is important that a referral to local authority children’s social care and if appropriate the police, (see when to call the police: guidance for schools and colleges (npcc.police.uk)) is made immediately. Referrals should follow the local referral process. 58. Local authority children’s social care assessments should consider where children are being harmed in contexts outside of the home17, so it is important that schools and colleges provide as much information as possible as part of the referral process. This will allow any assessment to consider all the available evidence and enable a contextual approach to address such harm. Additional information is available here: Contextual Safeguarding. 59. The online tool Report child abuse to your local council directs to the relevant local authority children’s social care contact details. 17 See working together for further information about extra-familial harms and environments outside the family home 20 Children in need 60. A child in need is defined under the Children Act 1989 as a child who is unlikely to achieve or maintain a reasonable level of health or development, or whose health and development is likely to be significantly or further impaired, without the provision of services; or a child who is disabled. Local authorities are required to provide services for children in need for the purposes of safeguarding and promoting their welfare. Children in need may be assessed under section 17 of the Children Act 1989. Children suffering or likely to suffer significant harm 61. Local authorit