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EHC Needs Assessments
An Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment is an assessment of a child or young person’s education, health and care needs. It is the first step to getting an Education, Health and Care plan (EHC plan). An EHC plan can result in additional support and funding for a child or young person with special educational needs (SEN).
For most children and young people with SEND, their needs will be met through School SEN Support. If you have concerns about your child’s progress or the support in place, you can speak with the SENCO. Some children and young people may need more support than school/college is able to provide and so an education, health and care plan (EHCP) may be necessary.
If a local authority (LA) is requested to carry out an EHC needs assessment by a parent, young person, school or college, they must consider:
- Whether the child or young person has or may have special educational needs (SEN)
- Whether they may need special educational provision to be made through an EHC plan.
If the answer to both of these questions is yes, they must carry out an EHC needs assessment.
This test is set out in the law (section 36(8) of the Children and Families Act 2014). This means these are the only questions the LA should be asking when considering whether or not to carry out an EHC needs assessment.
Contact - EHC Needs Assessments
When should I request an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA)?
If a child or young person has a learning difficulty or a disability which is holding them back at school or college, parent/carers should first discuss this with school. If following this you and/or school believe that they will not able to provide the help and support which is needed, then you may want to make a request to the Local Authority (LA) for an EHC needs assessment. School may support you with this, or you may wish to make a parental request.
You can do this at any time.
You can only ask for an EHC needs assessment if the child or young person has, or may have, SEN – it does not apply where there are only health or social care needs. Remember that under the law, a child has SEN if they have a learning difficulty or a disability which calls for special educational provision. You can read more about the definition of SEN on our SEN Support page.
For children under 16, the parent makes the request. This includes children from age 0 to 5, where parents should make a request if they believe that the child will need extra help at nursery or when they start school.
In the case of a young person (over 16 and up to 25), they can make the request themselves. If the young person is not able to understand, remember or communicate decisions about the educational support they need, their parent or carer can make the request on a young person’s behalf.
How do I apply for an EHC Needs Assessment?
Before applying for a needs assessment, it would be helpful to speak to the school or college about your concerns. You can speak with your child's class teacher, the school SENCO or the person at the college responsible for SEN provision, and the head teacher or the principal.
If school/college agrees with applying for the needs assessment, you can do the application together. If not, you can apply yourself by completing the parental request for an EHC needs assessment form:
Parental Request for an EHCNA Form
If you are a young person aged 16-25, you can use the young persons EHCNA request form:
Young Persons Request for an EHCNA Form
Once completed, the form can be submitted to the SEND Department via email:
The LA must reply within six weeks (this is required by regulation 4(1) of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014). They should always reply to you as a parent even where the request was made by the school or college.
If the LA agrees to carry out an assessment, they will start the process of gathering evidence to then make a decision as to whether they will issue an EHCP or not. More information on the process can be found on our Resources page.
If the LA refuses to carry out an assessment, you will have the right to appeal. The letter should explain the reason for refusal and provide information on how to appeal to the SEND Tribunal, details for Collis Mediation and SENDIASS for you to contact.
EHC Needs Assessment Timeframe
The EHC needs process from start to finish should take no more than 20 weeks.
Request made
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By six weeks
The Local Authority decides whether to assess.
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By 16 weeks
The Local Authority finish the assessment (if agreed) and decide if a plan is needed.
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Weeks 16 to 20
The Local Authority send a draft plan (if agreed). The parent/ carer or the young person has 15 days to comment and to request a setting.
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By week 20
The Local Authority must complete all stages and send the final EHC plan where agreed
Each time a decision is made, you will be given the right to appeal. You can find a detailed timeline of what happens at each stage of the EHC needs assessment process below:
Useful Links
Education, Health and Care plans (EHCPs) | Royal Borough of Greenwich
IPSEA - Asking for an EHC Needs Assessment
IPSEA - Asking for an EHC Needs Assessment Model Letter
IPSEA - Timeline for EHC needs assessment to an EHC plan
IPSEA - Local authorities cannot impose format for EHC needs assessment requests
Contact - EHC Needs Asessments
Contact - Writing about your child – a checklist to help for EHC needs assessments
IPSEA - What happens in an EHC Needs Assessment