EHC needs assessments
An education, health and care (EHC) needs assessment is an assessment of your child or young person’s education, health and care needs.
It is the first step to getting an Education, Health and Care plan (EHC plan); however, an EHC needs assessment does not always lead to a plan being written.
The information gathered during the EHC needs assessment may indicate ways in which the setting can meet the child or young person’s needs without an EHC plan.
Requesting an EHC needs assessment
If you or the educational setting is concerned that a child is not making the progress expected despite all the additional resources and interventions put in place, a request can be made to the Council to undertake an EHC needs assessment.
A request can be made by the education setting, parent, or young person (16 to 25).
Submitting a request
If you would like to make a request for an EHC needs assessment, you can do so via the Council’s secure EHCP portal.
We recommend watching the Council’s portal account registration video for guidance on setting up your account and using the online portal.
EHC needs assessment timeline
The EHC needs assessment is a structured process to determine whether a child or young person requires an EHC plan to meet their special educational needs.
The entire process, from the request for an assessment to the issue of a final EHC plan (if approved), should be completed within 20 weeks.
Learn more →
If there is a problem
If the Council refuses to carry out education, health and care (EHC) needs assessments, you can take action.
IPSEA have produced guidance and a useful template which can be used to write to the Council to raise your concerns.
IPSEA refusal to assess pack →
You can request a re-assessment if the needs of your child have changed since the last EHC plan was issued, a different kind of help is needed, or your child should attend a different kind of school or college.
The Council does not have to reassess if it has carried out an assessment within the previous six months or if it considers that a further assessment is not necessary.
IPSEA have produced guidance and a useful template which can be used to write to the Council to request a re-assessment.
IPSEA Template Letter: Asking for a re-assessment of a child’s needs →
If the Council refuses to issue an education, health and care (EHC) plan after carrying out an EHC needs assessment, you have a right to appeal this decision to the SEND Tribunal.
IPSEA have created a refusal to issue pack, which is a detailed guide to preparing for and carrying out a refusal to issue appeal.
IPSEA refusal to issue pack →
Downloads
We have pulled together relevant downloads for this topic below:
LEAFLET: Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan – What are they? Who needs one? What do they include?
[PDF, 8 pages]
Further help and support
You may also find the following websites useful:
Bromley Council – EHC needs assessments →
Bromley Council – Requesting an EHC needs assessment →
Bromley Council – EHC needs assessment timeline →
Bromley Council – Decision making for EHC needs assessments →
IPSEA – EHC needs assessments →