If the EHC Needs Assessment request is approved, we will gather more information and advice from people who work with your child, including health and social care professionals. This will include an educational psychologist.
We do not need to request more information from professionals if it has been provided recently. However, any existing reports must meet the assessment requirements. They must include detailed information about:
- your child’s needs
- the support or provision they need
- how the support will help your child
You and your child will be involved throughout this process. If you have already provided information as part of your request, you do not need to repeat it. You can send new information if you want to.
Not all EHC Needs Assessments lead to an Education, Health, and Care Plan.
What is the process and timescales for (EHC) Needs Assessments?
- Ideally, agree with the SENDCo and setting that an EHCP is required, so they can help with the next stage and provide information on what has already been tried.
- Request an Education, Health, and Care (EHC) Needs Assessment, sometimes called an EHCNA – in terms of timescales, the submission of the request is WEEK-1.
- Before the end of WEEK-6, you will be informed of the outcome of your request, which will lead to one of two outcomes:
- The request for an EHC Needs Assessment is approved, and we will gather information from various people, including you and the child or young person.
- We will show ways that the school, college or other setting can meet the needs of your child or young person without an EHC Needs Assessment.
- If approved, the EHC Needs Assessment takes place, and before the end of WEEK-16, you will be informed of one of two outcomes…
- An EHCP is being drafted
- We will show ways that the school, college or setting can meet the needs of the child or young person without an EHCP.
- If an EHCP is drafted, you will receive this by WEEK-16 and have 15 calendar days to check through the draft and tell us any concerns or requests for changes, or to request a meeting.
- By WEEK-20, the EHCP should be finalised – this is then reviewed appropriately moving forwards.
Who is involved in an EHC Needs Assessment?
Various people are involved in the process, which include
- the child/Young person
- the parent or carer
- SENDCo’s
- SEND specialists at the council
- headteachers
- social care professionals
- health professionals
We aim to put your child at the centre of the review of their education, health and care plan (EHCP) by taking a person-centred approach.
Person-centred planning (sometimes called PCP) aims to:
- put the child or young person and their family at the heart of the process
- highlight the child or young person's strengths and interests
- take a 'tell us once' approach to families sharing information with control of what's shared
- listen and respond to the importance of their views, wishes and aspirations
- focus on what outcomes (goals) families and young people are seeking for their futures
- collaboratively plan the support needed to achieve the goals
- give children and young people and their families better choice and control over their futures
Find out more about person-centred planning in this video:
When do I find out the outcome of the EHC Needs Assessment?
Within 16 weeks of submitting the original request, you will be informed the decision made by a panel of SEND specialists, head teachers, social care professionals, and health professionals. It will be of one of two outcomes:
- Your child needs an EHCP and it is being drafted.
- It is felt that the school, college or setting can meet the needs of the child or young person without an EHCP.
What happens if an EHCP is not approved?
The SEND team at Dorset Council will give you feedback on this decision, and they will offer you a meeting to discuss how to support your child. This is an opportunity to meet with the SEND team and education setting. You can discuss the decision and focus on the next steps available to support your child.
If you do not agree, you have the right of appeal to challenge decisions about support for children with SEND, which includes the option to use an independent mediator.