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Requesting an Educational Health and Care Needs Assessement

Factsheet for Parents and Carers

Most children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) will have their needs met through SEN support in a mainstream, preschool, school, or college. This support is provided through school/college budget.

If the child or young person does not make expected progress over a period at SEN Support (usually 2 or 3 cycles of assess – plan – do – review) a request can be made for an Education Health and Care Needs Assessment. (EHC Needs Assessment) This assessment will identify if an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is required.

Funding for support within an EHCP is a top up to that already being provided by the school. The top up is funded by the Local Authority and delegated to the school to provide the support listed in the EHCP.

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Who can make a request for an EHC Needs Assessment?

  • The parent of a child or young person under the age of 16 (or an advocate on their behalf)
  • A young person aged between 16 and 25 (or an advocate on their behalf)
  • School; early years setting or post-16 institution (with the knowledge and agreement of the child’s parent or young person)
  • Foster carer, health, or social care practitioner
  • Children and young people between the ages of 10-18 in youth custody
  • Those responsible for a child’s education in custody
  • Pre-school, school, or college usually make the request for assessment as they have a clear idea of what support the child or young person needs and have evidence of what they are doing to support them already
  • A parent, carer, or young person over 16 (after they have finished Year 11) can make a request themselves

Whoever makes the request for an EHC needs assessment, it is important to provide the Local Authority with as much Information and evidence as possible, so that they can consider your request properly

To make the decision they will need:

  • Evidence of the child or young person’s rate of progress and academic attainment (or developmental milestones in younger children)
  • Information about their SEND – what type of difficulties do they have, and how does this affect their ability to make progress in learning
  • Evidence of what support is already in place by the early year’s provider, school, or post-16 institution to meet the child or young person’s SEND
  • To understand how any progress made has been made because of the support and intervention which has been put in place. This should be over and above what is given to all children/young people of the same age who do not have SEND
  • Evidence of the child or young person’s physical, emotional, social development and health needs. Provide reports and any other relevant evidence from clinicians and other health professionals and show what other agencies have provided to support the child or young person’s SEND.

If a young person is aged over 18, the local authority must consider whether the young person requires additional time, in comparison to most others of the same age who do not have SEND, to complete their education or training and prepare them for adult life.

Whoever makes the request the education provider (pre-school, school, or college) parent, carer or young person will have to submit their views and evidence (outlined above) before the Local Authority can decide whether an EHC Needs Assessment is required

Where can we get information, advice and support?

At Kirklees Independent Advice Service (KIAS) and Calderdale SENDIASS we can give free, legally based, confidential, impartial advice and support including:

  • Advice on SEN support at school / college aged 0 - 25 years
  • Explain the EHCP assessment process and your rights
  • Support in Annual reviews and meetings
  • Support in mediation and appeals
  • Advice on school exclusions

Who do I contact?

We would be happy to hear from you on:

KIAS – (Kirklees enquiries)
Telephone: 0300 330 1504

SENDIASS – (Calderdale enquiries)
Telephone: 01422 266141