Southend Council introduced the EHC Hub to: 

• deliver its statutory duties to children and young people with SEND in a timely, transparent and person centred way
• ensure that information gathered through EHC assessments and annual reviews is shared consistently and transparently with children and young people with SEND and their families
• allow children, young, people and their families to share their views and aspirations, across services within the area, so that they have to tell their story once
• ensure that person centred outcomes are identified by key professionals working with the child or young person, across the area

Children, young people and their families are at the heart of the EHC process. Using the EHC Hub to conduct assessments and reviews supports this.

The EHC Hub allows parent carers to track their child or young person's assessment and see who has been asked to provide advice.

When registered, parent carers are able to upload their own comments and views including photos and video’s as part of the EHC needs assessment or annual review process. 

The child or young person is also able to contribute in this way. (Please note the system can attach multiple videos but they should be no longer than 3 minutes in length each). 

The child or young person’s educational setting, and any professional working with them will also register and contribute their views within the EHC Hub. They can upload reports so that relevant and up to date information is shared with you, the SEN Team and the other professionals involved. 

The portal will ensure that parent carers and anyone working with the child or young person has access to the same information, at the same time, reducing the need for information to be repeated.

The EHC Hub provides transparency about decisions with information that is clear and accessible to all those involved in the assessment or review process with those involved having access to decisions as soon as they are made.

Using the EHC Hub we hope that the experience of children and young people with SEND and their families improves as a result of professionals’ ability to access detailed and accurate information about their needs and to co-produce good quality Education Health and Care Plans (EHCP’s).

If you have received an email inviting you to register on the EHC Hub, click on the link within the email to create your password. Access to the EHC Hub at this stage is only available from this email.

Once you have created your password you will be asked to select how to receive your Two Factor Authenticity (TFA) code – you are able to use of a 2Factor App or via SMS (a text message to a chosen mobile phone number).  If you choose SMS please input the number you would like to receive the codes to.

When you have selected your chosen TFA method you will not need to do this again. Click here to log into the EHC Hub. 

Video: account registration. 

When a user makes an initial request for assessment (but whilst not signed in) they will be prompted to complete sections 1 to 6 then submit. The user will then receive an invite to create an account for the Hub.

After the account is created they will be able to view and edit the request for assessment before it is submitted. It is at this stage that they will be able to attach any supporting documentation, reports and information.

The following videos and guides will help you use the EHC Hub. If you need information in a different format or more help, email localoffer@southend.gov.uk

A parent carers guide to the Hub and frequently asked questions are available on the EHC Hub. The documents can be found by entering the admin area on the Hub and then selecting the Help option. 

Video: How to contribute to a request for assessment

Video: How to contribute to an EHC needs assessment

Video: How to contribute ahead of a review meeting

Video: How to make a request for assessment. 

Video: How to provide advice towards an EHC Needs Assessment.

Video: How to arrange an annual review meeting and request views. 

SENCO and Contributor guides to the Hub are available on the EHC Hub. The documents can be found by entering the admin area on the Hub and then selecting the Help option. 

Thank you to everyone who joined the Southend SEND Team and the Hub provider on 17 November to give feedback about the EHC Hub.

Thank you too if you completed the EHC Hub feedback survey. 

A number of development suggestions were taken away and a report will be prepared for senior management to inform future developments and improvements.