If the child or young person with Special Educational Needs (SEN) is not making expected progress despite the school's best efforts following the graduated approach (Assess, Plan, Do, Review). Then a request will normally be made by your child/young person’s educational setting, with parental consent. Alongside this the child/young person’s and parent/ carers views need to be captured.

Professionals, parent carers and young people aged between 16-25 can make a request to the Local Authority to carry out an assessment to decide whether an EHC Plan is needed. A request will normally be made by your child/young person’s educational setting, with parental consent.

Professionals can view guidance, complete the assessment request form and email this to SENSTART.

• EHC Needs Assessment request guidance
• EHC Needs Assessment form

Parent/Carers can view guidance, complete the assessment request form and email this to SENSTART.

• Parent/Carer EHC Needs Assessment request guidance
• Parent/Carer EHC Needs Assessment form

A young person aged between 16-25 can view guidance, complete the assessment request form and email this to SENSTART.

• Young Person EHC Needs Assessment request guidance
• Young Person EHC Needs Assessment form

Before making a request, the Local Authority recommend that you arrange a meeting to speak to the child or young person’s teacher or Special Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo) to discuss the provision in place for your child at SEN support level and whether the SENCO is planning to make a request for EHCNA. Due to the amount of evidence expected as part of the EHCNA, it is often best that EHCNA requests are made by the school’s SENCO, rather than by a parent directly. They appreciate this may not always be possible depending on individual circumstances i.e. if your child is Electively Home Educated.

If you would like impartial advice and support, you can contact Wolverhampton Information, Advice and Support Service. For more information refer to Wolverhampton Information, Advice and Support Service EHCP Booklet guide.

Useful link

Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND): Extra help

The EHC Needs Assessment is a legal process carried out by the Local Authority (LA) which should take a maximum of 20 weeks to complete. There are two key decision points during the assessment process which are called ‘decision to assess’ (EHC needs) and ‘decision to issue’ (an EHCP). An agreement to assess does not mean an EHCP has been agreed.

After the EHC Needs Assessment request is made, the Local Authority will take between 1 and 2 working weeks to acknowledge this. This means you will receive a letter by email or in the post (depending on your preference). The Local Authority has up to 6 weeks from receiving the request to make a decision whether an EHC Needs Assessment is required and to inform you of this decision to assess.

If the decision is not to assess then the LA must give you the reason for the decision and your rights to appeal the decision and consider mediation. Your decision letter tells you how to do this, and how to get support from Wolverhampton Information, Advice and Support Service.

Otherwise the LA will tell you that they are carrying out the EHC Needs Assessment.