What an EHC Needs Assessments is.
Most children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities will have their needs met by the usual resources available in mainstream early years settings, schools, colleges, or health services.
An EHC needs assessment is an assessment of a child or young person’s education, health and care needs.
It’s a detailed exploration to find out what your child's special educational needs are and what provision needs be put in place to meet them.
The EHC needs assessment is the step before an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
The assessment does not always lead to an EHCP being written
Read our pdf Easy Read guide on what is an EHC needs assessment (1.20 MB) .
When is an education, health and care needs assessment necessary
If your child's educational setting, health practitioner or social worker has concerns and thinks an assessment is needed, they'll give you their reasons.
The needs assessment shouldn't be first step in assessing your child or young person's needs.
It'll normally follow on from planning already done with parents or as a young person, with help from an education provider, as well as health and social care services. This is known as the graduated approach.
If your child’s educational setting, health practitioner or social worker has concerns and thinks an assessment is needed, they’ll give you their reasons.
Find information about how to make an application for an EHC needs assessment.
You can also find information about what happens during an EHC needs assessment.
