Last reviewed: March 2026
Written by: School of Diversity SEND Support Team
Topic: Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP)
This guide is designed to help parents understand the EHCP process in England and is regularly updated to reflect SEND guidance and procedures.
EHCP Assessment Process Explained
The EHCP assessment process is used by local authorities to understand a child’s special educational needs and decide whether an Education, Health and Care Plan is required. During the assessment, professionals such as teachers, educational psychologists, and health specialists may provide reports about the child’s needs. The local authority then reviews the evidence and decides whether to issue an EHCP.
Key Takeaways
The EHC needs assessment helps determine whether a child requires an EHCP.
Parents, schools, or professionals can request the assessment from the local authority.
The local authority gathers information from education, health, and sometimes social care professionals.
Reports from specialists such as educational psychologists or therapists may form part of the assessment.
After reviewing the evidence, the local authority decides whether to issue an Education, Health and Care Plan.
When parents request an Education, Health and Care Plan, the local authority may decide to carry out an EHC needs assessment. This assessment is an important stage in the EHCP process because it gathers information about the child’s needs and the support required to help them access education.
Understanding how the EHCP assessment process works can help parents know what to expect and how different professionals contribute to the decision about whether an EHCP should be issued.
What Is an EHC Needs Assessment?
An EHC needs assessment is a formal process carried out by the local authority to understand a child’s special educational needs.
The purpose of the assessment is to:
identify the child’s needs
understand how those needs affect their education
determine what support may be required
The information gathered during the assessment helps the local authority decide whether the child requires an Education, Health and Care Plan.
Who Can Request an EHCP Assessment?
An EHC needs assessment can be requested by several people.
These include:
parents or carers
the child’s school or educational setting
a young person over the age of 16
certain professionals involved with the child
Parents have the right to request an assessment directly from the local authority, even if the school does not make the request.
What Happens During the EHCP Assessment?
Once the local authority agrees to carry out the assessment, it begins gathering information about the child’s needs.
This may involve collecting:
school reports
progress information from teachers
parent observations
specialist assessments
health or therapy reports
The goal is to build a clear picture of the child’s strengths, challenges, and support needs.
Which Professionals May Be Involved?
Several professionals may contribute information to the assessment.
These may include:
Educational Psychologists
Educational psychologists assess how a child learns and identify any difficulties affecting their education.
Health Professionals
Health professionals such as speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, or physiotherapists may provide reports if relevant to the child’s needs.
School Staff
Teachers and SEN coordinators often provide information about:
the child’s progress
the support already in place
how the child responds to that support
Parents and Carers
Parents play an important role in the assessment by sharing information about their child’s needs, experiences, and challenges.
What Happens After the Assessment?
Once the reports and evidence have been collected, the local authority reviews the information.
They must then decide whether:
the child’s needs can be met through SEN support, or
the child requires an Education, Health and Care Plan
If the authority decides to issue an EHCP, parents will receive a draft plan before the final version is produced.
Why the Assessment Process Is Important
The EHCP assessment process ensures that decisions about additional support are based on detailed information from multiple professionals.
This process helps ensure that the support described in the plan reflects the child’s needs and provides the foundation for the provision written into the EHCP.
EHCP Assessment Process FAQ
How long does an EHCP assessment take?
The full EHCP process, including the assessment, should normally be completed within 20 weeks from the original request.
Who decides whether an EHCP is issued?
The local authority reviews the assessment information and decides whether to issue the plan.
Do parents contribute to the assessment?
Yes. Parents can provide written information about their child’s needs and experiences.
Can the local authority refuse to issue a plan after the assessment?
Yes. If the local authority believes the child’s needs can be met through SEN support, they may decide not to issue an EHCP.
Explore More EHCP Guidance
Understanding the assessment process is an important step in the EHCP journey. If you would like a broader overview, you can explore our complete EHCP guide for parents, where all of our EHCP resources are brought together in one place. You may also want to read how to apply for an EHCP, which explains how parents can request an assessment, or explore what evidence you need for an EHCP to understand the types of information that can support the process.