The EHCP Process: Step by Step

Step 1 : Requesting an Education, Health, and Care Needs Assessment

An education, health and care needs assessment must be requested for the child or young person.


Step 2: Local Authority decides whether to assess (by 6 weeks)

Within 6 weeks the LA must provide a response. This will either accept or refuse the request to assess.

If the LA refuses to assess, you have the right to appeal to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Tribunal (SENDIST) or you can seek mediation services.


Step 3: The Assessment (by 16 weeks)

The EHC needs assessment is an assessment of the education, health care and social needs of the child. The LA seeks advice and information from the child’s parents/carers or the young person, their school, an educational psychologist and any others deemed appropriate.


Step 4: Draft EHCP/No plan (by 16-20 weeks)

Based on the assessment, the LA makes a decision about whether to issue an EHCP or not.

If the LA refuses to issue a plan, you have the right to appeal to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Tribunal (SENDIST), or you can seek mediation services.

If the decision is to issue one, the LA will issue a draft plan.


Step 5: Final EHCP (by 20 weeks)

The parents/carers or young person have the opportunity to send comments to the LA about the plan, and discuss any requested changes.

By 20 weeks from receipt of the original request to assess, the LA must issue a final plan (unless it has been refused at an earlier stage).

If you are unhappy with the final plan you can appeal to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Tribunal (SENDIST) or you can seek mediation.


Step 6: Annual Review (every 12 months)

The annual review is the statutory process (not a meeting) of looking at the needs and provisions specified in the EHCP and deciding whether anything needs to change.

The first review must be held within 12 months of the final plan being issued. Subsequent reviews must be held within 12 months of the previous review.