Request for assessment of child and young person for an Education Health and Care Plan

What is meant by special educational needs?

A child or young person has Special Educational Needs if they have a learning difficulty or disability which calls for special educational provision to be made for him or her.  A child of compulsory school age or a young person has a learning difficulty or disability if he or she: has a disability which prevents or hinders him or her from making use of facilities of a kind generally provided for others of the same age in mainstream schools or mainstream post-16 institutions

Who can make a request for an Education Health and Care Plan to the Local Authority?

The following people have a specific right to ask a local authority to conduct an education health and care needs assessment for a child or young person between the ages of 0-25:

  1. The child’s parent
  2. The young person over the age of 16 but under the age of 25
  3. A person acting on behalf of a school or post 16 setting (this should be with the knowledge and agreement of the parent or young person where possible)

In addition, anyone else can bring a child or young person who has (or may have) SEN to the attention of the local authority, particularly where they think an Education Health and Care needs assessment may be necessary. This could include, for example, foster carers, health and social care professionals, early years practitioners, youth offending teams or probation services, those responsible for education in custody, school or college staff or a family friend. Bringing a child or young person to the attention of the local authority will be undertaken on an individual basis where there are specific concerns. This should be done with the knowledge and, where possible, agreement of the child’s parent or the young person.

Children and young people under 19 in youth custodial establishments also have the right to request an assessment for an EHC plan. The child’s parent, the young person themselves or the professionals working with them can ask the home local authority to conduct an Education Health and Care needs assessment while they are still detained. The process and principles for considering and carrying out an Education Health and Care needs assessment and maintaining an EHC plan for children and young people in youth custody are set out in Chapter 10 of the SEND Code of Practice, children and young people in specific circumstances.

What happens following a request?

Following a request for an Education Health and Care needs assessment, or the child or young person having otherwise been brought to its attention; the local authority must determine whether an EHC needs assessment is necessary. The local authority must make a decision and communicate the decision to the child’s parent or to the young person within 6 weeks of receiving the request.

How do parents make a request for an Education Health and Care Needs Assessment?

Parents are able to submit a request for an Education Health and Care Needs Assessment via the SPA (Single Point of Access 0300 111 8007, option 2) or in written format as well as on line with the new online portal through the Hub.

Where can I find more information?

Further information can be found via the local offer and the graduated response information page for parents and carers  and the graduated response toolkit 

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