EHC needs assessment requests

Most children and young people with special educational needs (SEN) will have their needs met with SEN Support in a mainstream place of learning.

An EHC plan is for under 25s with complex special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

The following people can request an EHC needs assessment:

• A person acting on behalf of a place of learning. For example, a teacher, or college staff. A request should have the knowledge and agreement of the parent or young person (where possible)
• A professional or organisation. For example, a health and social care professional, a foster carer, early years practitioner, the youth offending team or probation service. Again, a request should be done with the knowledge and agreement of the parent or the young person (where possible)
• Parent carers or a family member, for a child aged 0-16 and for a young person with SEND (aged 16-25) who cannot make the referral independently or with support
• Young people with SEND (aged 16-25) who can make the request independently or with support

Although a parent carer or young person with SEND can request an EHC needs assessment, where possible it is better that the place of learning makes the request. This is because:

• They will have evidence of the SEN Support that has been put in place 
• We need to check they have used the graduated approach to SEN Support.

The place of learning can supply this evidence, which will help us make an informed decision on whether we should carry out a needs assessment.

1. Read the SEN information report for the child's place of learning. This should be published on their website. It will give information about what they offer and the process to follow if you have concerns

2. Ask your child's teacher whether your the child is receiving SEN Support

3. Read about the special educational provision we expect places of learning must provide for children with SEND.

   • Speak to the place of learning if you do not think this is happening

4. Check that your child's place of learning is using the graduated approach to SEN Support. This is commonly known as 'assess, plan, do, review'. The place of learning should have been through at least two cycles of the process.

   • Have your child's expected outcomes been shared with you?

   •  Are new strategies and support making a difference to your child?

5. Have regular meetings with the child's keyworker or teacher about your child's needs and the SEN Support provided. Check that your child's place of learning can evidence their use of the graduated approach to SEN Support.

   • Is there a SEN Support plan in place and it is being reviewed and updated?

   • If your child has been seen by an educational psychologist, are the ideas set out in their report being followed?

6. Speak to Norfolk SEND IASS if you need more information, advice and support

7. If you do not agree with the existing SEN Support that has been put in place at your child's place of learning, ask the SENCO or keyworker if you could meet with them.

   • Speak to them and discuss whether everything possible is being done to support the child

8. If you are still unhappy with the SEN Support your child is receiving, try disagreement resolution

9. If you want to request an EHC needs assessment, talk to your child's place of learning. As part of this process, they will need to provide evidence of the SEN Support they have put in place for your child.

You need to have considered/referred to a school and community team.

You need to have checked whether there a coordinated approach around the family. Such as an Early help for children and families assessment and plan (EHAP).

You need to have considered/referred to the The SEND and inclusion team.

The Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is a legal document. It must be followed by the Council and the Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board (ICB).

All places of learning and other professionals must include evidence that shows the graduated SEN Support that has already been put in place.

Before you submit the application, you must have the following to send through:

• Details of the provision, progress and outcomes at the level of SEN Support as recorded in the child/young person's SEN Support Plan or equivalent. This must be added as an appendix or fully detailed in this referral form.

• A copy of the child/young person's attendance record (if they are on roll) at their educational placement for the last 2 years.This must be added as an appendix or fully detailed in this referral form.

• An identification of needs descriptors in educational settings framework (INDES) completed within the last 12 months - this must be added as an appendix

• All assessments/diagnoses/reports from professionals supporting the child/young person that you may have received dated within the last 24 months. These must be added as appendices and/or fully detailed in this referral form.

• A Family Conversation Form completed by the child/young person and the parents/carers. This must be added as an appendix and/or their views fully detailed in this referral form.

• A SEND Education Health Care Plan Data protection information/Privacy Notice and Consent to Information Sharing (SEND DP1) signed by parents/carers (and/or young person over the age of 16)

Parent carers and young people who request an EHC needs assessment must also include evidence of the graduated SEN support that has been put in place and prepare supporting information as evidence. Read information on the 'Your views' form

Reports sent to the Council giving information and advice for an EHC needs assessment may be used:

• To write the description of a child's education, health and care needs
• To decide the provision required to meet the needs

The reports may also be included in Section K of the EHCP.

If there is disagreement about the content of an EHCP, it can be looked into by the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) First Tier tribunal. It is therefore important that the Council and ICB have confidence in the content of all reports.

If a child was assessed by a private provider, see our advice on seeking neurodevelopmental assessments.

Places of learning or professionals

Schools or professionals involved with the child should complete:

INDES/IPSEF EHC needs assessment form professionals (Word doc) [74KB]

Early Years providers

Early years providers should complete:

EHC needs assessment form Early Years (Word doc) [79KB]

Parent carers

Parent carers should complete:

EHC needs assessment form parent carers (Word doc) [71KB]

Young people with SEND aged 16-25

Young people with SEND should complete:

EHC needs assessment form young people (Word doc) [70KB]

Some of the documents available from this web page may not be accessible for some users. To request any of them in an alternative format, please email csehcp@norfolk.gov.uk

Upload the request online

You need to upload:

• A completed EHC needs assessment request form
• A completed My views/ family conversation form which includes information sharing consent
• A completed DP1 form (Word doc) [55KB]

If we are of the opinion that:

• The child or young person has or may have special educational needs, that cannot be met with SEN Support and resources that are ordinarily available to mainstream schools
• The child or young person may need additional specialist help to meet their needs 

we will do an EHC needs assessment. 

The EHC needs assessment and plan timeline.