Requesting an Education Health and Care Needs Assessment
Education settings meet the needs of most children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) through their existing resources. Some children and young people are assessed, supported and reviewed at SEN Support level.
If a child or young person does not make expected progress, a formal assessment can be requested to see if special educational provision is needed. This is called an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA). It is the first step to getting an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
Local Authorities must consider any request for an EHCNA.
A flow chart showing the statutory timescales for EHC needs assessments and EHC plan development can be found on page 154 of the SEND Code of Practice.
Who can request an assessment?
The following people have a specific right to ask a local authority (LA) to do an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA) for a child or young person aged between 0 and 25:
- the child's parent carer
- a young person in education aged over 16 but under 25
- a young person under 19 in a youth custodial establishment
- a person acting on behalf of an early years setting, school or post-16 institution. This should ideally be with the knowledge and agreement of the parent or young person where possible.
Anyone else can bring a child or young person who has (or may have) special educational needs or disabilities to the attention of the LA, particularly where they think an EHCNA may be necessary. This may include a Section 23 referral from the health authority.
How to request an assessment
The quickest way to request an EHCNA is through the Education Health and Care (EHC) Hub. Click the `request needs assessment` link on the log in page.
Or you can email the Southend Council SEND Team at SENteam@southend.gov.uk stating that you are requesting an Education, Health and Care needs assessment under section 36(1) of the Children and Families Act 2014.
Make sure your request includes:
- the child or young person's name
- the child's home address
- their date of birth
- education setting attended (if applicable)
- parent carer name and contact details (email address and telephone number)
- information about your child or young person's additional needs
Upon receipt of a request for EHCNA:
- a member of the SEND Team will contact you to acknowledge the request and;
- ask you for details of professionals supporting your child and any evidence required to consider the request. This may include private reports you have sourced.