EHC needs assessment requests

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.