What is an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Needs Assessment?
An Education, Health & Care Plan or EHCP is a document which sets out the education, health and social care needs of a child or young person aged up to 25, and the support that is necessary to help them achieve their outcomes. For an EHCP to be issued, there must be special educational needs that cannot be met through ordinarily available provision within education settings.
Who needs an EHCP?
EHC plans are for children and young people (age 0-25) who have a special educational need or disability that cannot be met by the support that is already available at their educational setting.
Most children and young people with special educational needs will have help given to them without the need for an EHCP. This is called SEN support.
The purpose of SEN support is to help children and young people to achieve the outcomes or learning objectives that have been set for them.
How do I get an EHCP?
An EHCP will only be issued after a child or young person has gone through the process of EHCP needs assessment. At the end of that process, the local authority makes a decision whether to issue an EHCP or not.
What is an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Needs Assessment?
Should I speak to the school or college first?
Yes, definitely speak to the relevant staff within the education setting. This should start with the person responsible for SEND to talk about the support already in place to meet current special educational needs before completing this online form.
What if the education setting offers to complete this form on my behalf?
Anyone acting on behalf of a school or post 16 institutions can write and request an EHC needs assessment. They are often best placed to work with you to provide Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council with specific information to support the process.
Who can submit a request for an EHC needs assessment?
1. Child's parent or carer
2. A young person over the age of 16 but under the age of 25 acting on their own behalf
3. A professional acting on behalf of an educational setting
4. Professionals including foster carers, social or health professionals
When should I hear back?
Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council must reply within six weeks. They will always reply to you as a parent/carer or young person, even where the request was made by an education setting.