Asking for a re-assessment

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD: Asking for a re-assessment of a child or young person's needs (template letter 2)

When should I ask?

You may wish to request a re-assessment if you believe that:

  • the needs of your child, or as a young person your needs, have changed since the last EHC plan was issued
  • a different kind of help, or more help, is needed, or
  • your child or you should attend a different kind of school or college.

A re-assessment is an opportunity to gather new evidence to work out what support your child or you now need. When you write to your local authority (LA) asking for a re-assessment of your child’s or your education, health and care needs, explain why you think the current EHC plan is not good enough. 

Your LA does not have to reassess if it has carried out an assessment within the previous six months or if it considers that a further assessment is not necessary. 

If you already have the evidence of the changes needed, it may be more effective to request that the EHC plan is amended after a review. This could be after an annual review or you could request an early review. 

If you already have a right to appeal what the EHC plan says, it may be better to try mediation and/or appealing to the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability) (the SEND Tribunal). You will need evidence to back up the changes you want to see in the EHC plan but you might not need a whole EHC needs assessment to be repeated (which as below takes a long time). You may be able to get some new evidence during the appeal process too. For example, your LA might agree to get a new report from an educational psychologist, or other specialist, in mediation or during an appeal and, if you can access legal aid, you may be able to get expert evidence for free. 

If you are unsure whether to ask for a re-assessment or use an annual review, mediation or appeal, we recommend you take advice and try our Advice Line or Call-in Helpline.    

Please note, this template letter is for general advice purposes and will need to be tailored to your own individual circumstances. Please read all the information on this page and, if possible, we recommend you take advice on using this letter. 

Should I speak to the school or college first?

Yes, definitely. Speak to the SENCO, the relevant class teacher or subject teacher and the head teacher or principal about your worries. They may be able to provide evidence to support your request.

What if the school or college offers to write on my behalf?

Anyone acting on behalf of a school or post-16 institution can write and ask your LA to carry out a re-assessment, but if you do it yourself you can be sure that the request has definitely been made. However, if the school or college is willing, you could ask them to write a letter which supports your request for a re-assessment.

Who should I write to?

You should write to the most senior person at your LA, usually called the Director of Children’s Services. You can find information and contact details for this person online.

When will I hear back?

Your LA must respond within 15 days of receiving your request.

Remember to keep a copy of any letter or email you send. If you don’t get a reply within 15 days, or if you need further advice, you can book an appointment to speak with us.

What happens next?

If your LA refuses to carry out a re-assessment, you can appeal this decision. Your LA must send notice of this right of appeal when it tells you it has refused to re-assess.

The procedure for appealing against this is the same as appealing against a refusal to carry out an EHC needs assessment, except you need to use form SEND35. If the appeal is successful, the SEND Tribunal will order your LA to carry out the re-assessment but it cannot tell your LA that it has to change what the EHC plan says in this type of appeal. Your LA will decide whether to change the EHC plan after the re-assessment.

If your LA agrees to re-assess then it must carry out a full EHC needs assessment, including obtaining all the information and advice required. Please see our page What happens in a re-assessment? for more information. 

If you haven’t been able to find the answer to your question on this page, see our FAQs.

Back: Who can ask for a re-assessment?   Next: What happens in a re-assessment
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