Get information and support Free legal guides and template letters Template letters Template letter 1: making a request for an EHC needs assessment CLICK TO DOWNLOAD: Asking for an Education, Health and Care needs assessment (template letter 1) You can use this letter to request that your local authority (LA) carries out an education, health and care (EHC) needs assessment. You should send any supporting evidence you have with your letter. Our page about asking for an EHC needs assessment contains information on when you might want to make this request, and how to make it. 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. Who should I write to? Your LA may have a specific address to which it would like EHC needs assessment requests to be sent and you should be able to find the postal and email addresses for this in your LA’s Local Offer. You should also 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 on the Association of Directors of Children’s Services website. When will I hear back? Your LA must respond within 6 weeks of receiving your request (except for in very exceptional circumstances). If you choose to post your request instead of emailing it, we suggest you use a method which will provide you with a signed and dated receipt. If you choose to hand deliver your request, we suggest you get a signed and dated receipt. Remember to keep a copy of any letter or email you send. If you don’t get a reply within 6 weeks you can use our template letter. If you need further advice, you can book an appointment to speak with us. Manage Cookie Preferences