Find out how to get an assessment, when more help than special educational needs (SEN) support is needed.
A parent or guardian, professional or young person (over the age 16), can apply for an education, health and care (EHC) needs assessment.
If your child is not making progress in school
What you can do
If your child finds it hard to learn, you can speak to their special educational needs coordinator (SENCo). They will be able to tell you what extra support is available.
At this stage, your child may be on the school SEN Register as receiving SEN Support.
What the school can do
If your child isn't making progress at school, the school SENCo should take a graduated approach to:
- check your child's current written plan of support is accurate (this could be either a healthcare plan or plan of support)
- use funding for specialist advice and assessments to understand your child’s specific needs
- organise training on strategies to support your child
- ask for support from the cluster or area inclusion partnership
- make reasonable adjustments to the school, including equipment, adaptations and policy changes
If this approach does not help your child make progress, your child may benefit from an education, health and care needs assessment (EHCNA). This may lead to an education, health and care plan (EHCP) being issued. This is a legal document that details any special needs a child has and the support and provisions that must be in place to help them learn.
To apply for an assessment, a professional can complete an education, health and care needs assessment - professional referral form online. This should include any evidence gathered through the graduated approach.
If you are the parent or carer of a child wanting to apply for an assessment, you can complete an education, health and care needs assessment - parent or carer request form (EHC2).
If your child is over the age of 16, they can apply for their own assessment by completing an education, health and care needs assessment - self request form (EHC3).
If your family is new to the country and your child has special educational needs, please
contact the school admissions team. They will help you find a mainstream school place for your child.
Apply for an assessment
Request an education, health and care (EHC) needs assessment.
Professionals
To apply for an EHC needs assessment, you need to complete an education, health and care needs assessment - professional referral form online.
This should include any evidence gathered through the graduated approach.
We highly recommend providing the Synergy number. Not providing the Synergy number may delay the referral being processed.
Information you will need to complete the online form
Please make sure you have the following information ready for you and the person being referred, before you apply:
- your contact details
- your school, setting or organisation details
- child or young person details (including full name, date of birth and address)
- child or young person school or setting
- child or young person information (including their Synergy number). Not providing a Synergy Number may delay the referral being processed
- parent or carer details
- professional third parties already involved
- child or young person care circumstances
- educational context (details of reduced timetable, education in an alternative provision, any suspensions or exclusions and absence details)
- educational attendance percentage
- educational performance (attainment in Early Years or English, Maths, and Science)
- child or young person strengths
- health information
- social information (provide the child or young person's care needs)
- child or young person's voice including their views, interests and aspirations
- details of outcomes
Additional needs
If any of the following needs are applicable, you need to summarise how you have supported the child or young person through the graduated approach:
- cognition and learning needs
- communication and interaction needs
- social, emotional and mental health needs
- physical and sensory needs
- independence and self-care needs
Make a professional referralExternal link Parents, guardians or carers
Self-referrals
Assessment steps and timescales
Assessments take up to 20 weeks to complete. They focus on the educational needs and the support needed to be able to learn.
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Making a decision
We have up to six weeks to decide if an assessment is needed. To do this, we hold a panel to discuss needs and decide if an assessment is needed.
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Making a decision at the panel
We will decide if an assessment is needed or not based on the evidence provided. When making a decision, we'll review a wide range of evidence, including:
- checking academic attainment, developmental milestones and rate of progress records
- information about the SEN and care or health needs
- assessing any actions already being taken to meet needs
- giving consideration to information provided by the parent or carer and child or young person
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Gathering evidence
If we think an assessment is needed, we will gather any further evidence from our own teams, the school SENCo, parents and carers and any healthcare professionals involved.
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If a plan is not to be created
We will notify you if a decision has been made not to create an education health and care plan (EHCP). You will be notified of the decision, your right to appeal, and your right to a meeting to discuss the reasons and voice objections.
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Writing a draft plan
If it is agreed that an EHCP is needed, we will start to write a draft plan. We will send you a copy of the draft EHCP and you will have 15 days to respond in writing.
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Final version of the plan
A final version of the plan will be available.
Education, health and care plan (EHCP)
Within 20 weeks of the request for an assessment, if it is agreed that your child needs an EHCP, a final version of the plan must be available.
EHCP's are reviewed at least every 12 months to make sure that they're up to date and still needed. For children under five years old, reviews are at least every six months.
