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Parent/carer request for an Education Needs Assessment form

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Parent/carer request for an Education Needs Assessment form

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(IPSEA) Independent Provider of Special Education Advice

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Children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities are entitled to support with their education. Follow the links below to find out more and to access our free guides, resources and template letters - if you can’t find the answer to your question, please visit our services page and consider contacting our helplines to speak with one of our trained volunteer advisers.

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Appeal to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal if you disagree with a decision your local authority has made about a child or young person's education, health and care ( EHC) needs or plan.

You can appeal if you do not agree with the EHC plan your local authority has made, or if they:

refuse to carry out an EHC assessment or reassessment

refuse to create an EHC plan after carrying out an assessment or reassessment

refuse to change the sections of an existing EHC plan which are about education (sections B, F and I)

decide you or your child does not need an EHC plan any more

The process is different if you're in Wales.

Who can appeal

In most cases, you must talk to a mediation adviser before you appeal.

You can appeal as either:

Help you can get

Check if you can get legal aid.

You can also get free help and advice from:

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Appeal an education, health and care (EHC) plan decision

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Local authorities must provide support in EHCPs

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Applying for an EHCP | Disability charity Scope UK

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Legally, local authorities must provide the support in a child’s EHCP. You can apply directly to the local authority to get an EHCP assessment.

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This advice applies in England only. Read information for families in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales.

Some children or young people with more complex educational needs receive support through an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, following an EHC needs asssessment. On this page, you'll find links to find out more detail about this type of support.

Introduction

Some children require more or a different kind of help than a mainstream school, college or nursery can usually provide from its own resources.

These pupils will need an education health and care (EHC) plan.

Getting an EHC plan

Local authorities use a process called an EHC needs assessment to determine whether a child needs an EHC plan and, if so, the support (provision) contained within it.

The EHC needs assessment process includes different stages and comes with timescales those involved must keep to. As part of this process, you'll child will receive a draft EHC plan.

When your child has an EHC plan

Your local authority must review your child's EHC plan at least once a year. This is to look at how your child is progressing and to ensure that the plan is kept up to date. This process is known as the annual review.

There are other changes in circumstances that might impact your child's EHC plan, including when their education comes to an end.

Putting things right

If you disagree with a decision made by the local authority relating to your child's special educational needs, you can appeal to an independent body called the First Tier Tribunal for Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND).

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Information about the support an EHC plan provides, the process of getting a plan, and what you need to know if your child has an EHC plan.

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Wirral’s Education Health Care Plan Process

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Educational, Health and Care plans (EHC plans)

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Education, Health and Care Plans are personalised plans for children and young people with special educational needs that cover from birth to age 25. They aim to ensure that all the support the young person needs from education, health and social care professionals is agreed in one place.