EHC needs assessments

An education, health and care (EHC) needs assessment is an assessment of your child or young person’s education, health and care needs. It is the first step to getting an Education, Health and Care plan (EHC plan). An EHC plan can result in additional support and funding for a child or young person with special educational needs (SEN).

You can click on the links below to read more.

Asking for an EHC needs assessment

What happens in an EHC needs assessment

When does a local authority have to issue an EHC plan

What to do when you receive your draft EHC plan

What to do when you receive your final EHC plan

EHC needs assessment and plans FAQs

Latest

New report: Breaking barriers

We have published a new report highlighting persistent inequalities in how children and young people from under-served communities access special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision, and how their families access the legal advice they may need to secure that support.
Annual reviews during Tribunal contents appeals: Can LAs still issue amended EHC plans?

With SEND Tribunal waits now reaching 18 months, many families face annual reviews during an ongoing appeal. Here's what families need to know.
SEND Tribunal hints and tips (2): 7 October

This training is suitable for parents and carers currently going through an appeal against the contents of an EHC plan or an appeal against the school named in a plan
Reforming SEND without removing rights

Hear from our Policy Manager, Catriona Moore, about why protecting children’s rights must remain central to decisions about SEND reform

What an EHC plan contains

An EHC plan should be written in a way that makes it clear, to parents, young people, schools, colleges and LAs, who is required to do what, when it has to happen and how often it should be reviewed
Personal budgets and direct payments

Once a child or young person has an EHC plan, the local authority must ensure the support set out in the plan is made for the child or young person
Changing an EHC plan

Once an EHC plan is in place for a child or young person, it is unlikely to remain the same over time - as they grow up, it may become out of date, and they may move to a different school or college
Enforcing your EHC plan

What to do if your child or young person has an EHC plan but the provision set out in it is not being made
Moving with an EHC plan - permanent and temporary moves

Sometimes children and young people with EHC plans move. We explain what happens when they do on this page
If your LA takes away your EHC plan

When a local authority decides to take away, or end, an EHC plan, this is called ‘ceasing to maintain’
Appealing to the SEND Tribunal

The SEND Tribunal is an independent national tribunal which hears parents’ and young people’s appeals against LA decisions about the special educational needs of children and young people

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