Statutory Assessments and Reviews

The local authority’s Statutory SEND Assessment and Review Team coordinates the Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA) process.

Once a request is received, the local authority must decide whether to carry out an assessment within six weeks. Parents and carers and young people will be informed of the local authority's decision by letter, and if an assessment is not agreed, this letter will explain the reasons why an assessment has been declined and contain information on how to appeal the decision

When an EHCNA is requested -

• a request for an EHCNA is received by the Statutory SEND Assessment and Review Team
• the information is discussed by a panel, which is chaired by the Group Manager of the Statutory SEND Assessment and Review Team and consists of an educational psychologist, health representative, early years representative and other professionals. The panel will consider the information presented and decide on whether there is sufficient evidence to conduct EHCNA
• the parent a carer, or young person is informed of the local authority's decision within six weeks of receiving the request for assessment.
• signed consent from the parents and carers, or the young person, must be provided with all EHCNA requests

EHC Needs Assessment

If the local authority considers that it is necessary  to carry out an EHC Needs Assessment, reports will be requested from key people, including -

• those with parental responsibility
• the child or young person (supported as appropriate)
• the education setting the child or young person attends
• an educational psychologist
• health professionals
• social care professionals (if relevant)
• other professionals who are involved (if relevant)

Once all reports have been received, the child or young person's assessment will be presented back to the panel. The local authority will then decide whether to issue an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

If the local authority decides that it is not necessary to issue an EHCP, the Statutory SEND Assessment and Review team will let the parents or young person know, explaining the reasons why. The assessments gathered as part of the EHCNA will be shared with the parents and carers of the young person and can be used to inform the education setting about what additional support the young person may require.

This video guides you through the statutory 20 week process associated with Education, Health and Care Plans.