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

Campaigners gather across the country to protect children and young people's legal rights

Alongside our partners in the Save Our Children’s Rights campaign and thousands of families across the country, IPSEA took part in a large national demonstration calling for children and young people’s legal rights to be protected and strengthened.
Stories behind the stats: what can we learn from them?

The Department for Education (DfE) has published the latest round of statistics for all things related to EHC plans. They can tell us a lot, about the direction SEND reform may take us in and the stories that sit behind every statistic.
IPSEA responds to Government SEND Reform Consultation

IPSEA has submitted answers to the consultation questions, as well as a detailed supplementary paper exploring important issues not covered by the Department for Education’s questions.
SEND Law Update Training (Summer 2026)

This virtual training is designed specifically for professionals working in SEND Law and provides an update on the latest in SEND law practice and policy.

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is in place for a child or young person, it is unlikely to remain the same over time - as they grow up, it may become out of date, and they may move to a different school or college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