Education, health and care (EHC) needs assessments and plans
Contents
- EHC assessments explained
- Education, health and care plans (EHCP) explained
- How young people, parents and carers can apply for an EHC assessment
- Stay informed: Children and Families Support Gateway
- How schools and education settings can request an EHC needs assessment
- The EHC needs assessment process
- EHC personal budgets
- SEND assessment processing timescales
- Reviewing EHC plans
How young people, parents and carers can apply for an EHC assessment
The young person, their parent or carers, and other people who know the child/young person well, may request an EHC needs assessment using the portal below or by email.
We always recommend that you speak to the SENCo in your child's school or educational setting before you ask the local authority to consider a request to start a needs assessment.
We would like to encourage parents and carers to make a joint request for assessment with their child's educational setting with the final submission coming from the setting. This is because they typically have access to the range of evidence required to enable the LA to decide whether the assessment meets the 2 legal thresholds.
Applications for students aged over 16 must be made by the young person.
Submitting evidence
When making your request, it may help to prepare any supporting evidence you have - you can submit this at the same time. This could be letters and reports from medical and other professionals who have worked with or assessed the child.
It is important you submit all evidence alongside the request to support our decision-making. We do not seek further information at the point of considering whether we carry out an assessment; only if we agree to assessment do we seek further advice.
Request an assessment
You can use this online form to ask the local authority to conduct an education, health and care needs assessment for your child, aged under 16, as an alternative to writing to request it.
No, the process remains the same.
The difference is to the portal and the functionality on the portal which allows users to:
- track submitted applications
- receive updates at each stage
- view decisions and outcomes
- access key documents, including draft EHCPs
- stay informed on what happens next
In addition, we have worked closely with West Northants Voices in Partnership (WNVP), parents and stakeholders to create new forms as well as updated our EHCP template, helping to ensure the experience is seamless and user-friendly.
Unfortunately not at this time. Any EHC needs assessments which were requested before Monday 13 October 2025 will be on the previous portal which we plan to move over to the new site in early 2026. Further information will be shared with you on this over the coming months.
Please be assured you will still receive the same service and support from the EHC team.
Yes, simply set up an account on the portal and you can then receive updates and view the submission.
Please email [email protected].
Need help with your child's application?
If you need support with your child's application you can contact the:
Last updated 13 October 2025