Education Health and Care Needs Assessment | EHCP information

Weeks 1-6

A request for an assessment of a child/young person’s education, health and care (EHC) needs can be submitted by the child/young person’s school or setting. If a parent or young person wishes to make a request for an EHC needs assessment, it is important that they discuss this with the school/setting/college. This ensures that all the relevant information required by the Local Authority is received and there is a coordinated approach. Following discussion with the school/setting/college if parents wish to make the request themselves, they should use the form here

Schools/settings/colleges are requested to submit evidence of at least two terms worth of interventions and support that have already been put in place (the Graduated Response). More information here.

At the point that the referral is received by the SEND Assessment & Review Team, the parents/carers or young person and the school are informed that the request has been received. The Local Authority will also contact the parents/carers or young person to gather their views. The parents/carers or young person can request impartial information, advice and support from SENDIASS

The Local Authority will communicate parents/carers or the young person throughout the EHC needs assessment process.

The request and its accompanying evidence will be looked at by the SEND Moderating Group and a decision is made by the Local Authority whether or not to proceed to an EHC needs assessment. This decision will be reached within six weeks. This decision is communicated in writing to the parents/carers or the young person, and to the school setting.

Leaflet 1B) EHC Statutory Process Information Leaftlet

If it is determined to proceed to assessments of a child/young person’s EHC needs, the SEND Assessment & Review Team will write out to any professionals involved to request advice and reports on the child/young person. There will also be enquiries with social care and health services to ensure that social care and health needs are identified.

The EHC Moderating Group will consider all reports and advice received. The EHC Moderating Group will have regard to the SEND Code of Practice and Progressive Provision Levels. A decision will be made by the Local Authority whether to write an EHC plan or whether the child/young person’s needs can be met within SEN Support in the school/setting. This decision will be made no later than Week 16.

Information on how the Local Authority reach a decision about an EHCP can be found here (opens a word document).

A SEND Caseworker will make contact with the parent/carer or young person to inform the Local Authority decision.

Decision to prepare an EHC plan

If it has been determined that the child/young person requires an EHC plan this will be prepared in draft and sent to parents/carers or the young person, the school or setting and to all other professionals involved in providing advice for the EHC plan.

The draft EHC plan will:

outline the views and aspirations of the child/young person and their family;
identify the child/young person’s special educational need;
set out outcomes related to these needs and aspirations, and
provide detail of the special educational, health and social care provision required to meet the needs and achieve the outcomes.

Parents/carers or the young person have 15 calendar days to make comments on the draft EHC plan or request amendments. Schools and settings also have 15 days to respond to the draft.

By week 20 the final agreed EHC plan will be issued. This will then be reviewed annually (or earlier if appropriate) at an Annual Review Meeting of the Education, Health and Care plan, carried out by the school or setting.

Decision not to prepare an EHC plan

A SEND Caseworker will inform the parent/carer or young person of the reasons why the Local Authority has determined not to write an EHC plan. Detail of the decision will be provided within a letter to the parent/carer or young person.

Parent/carers or the young person can request impartial information, advice and support from SENDIASS

EHC Assessment and Plan pathway timeline