Education, health and care (EHC) plans

5. The assessment

The EHC needs assessment will consider the child or young person's needs.
The local authority will ask for advice from:
  • parents and carers
  • child or young person
  • the nursery, school or college
  • specialist teachers
  • medical and health professionals
  • an educational psychologist
  • social care professionals
Everyone has 6 weeks to provide the advice.
The local authority will consider your views, wishes and aspirations. They will also ask advice from other professionals about:
  • education, health and care needs
  • support required to meet these needs

to help achieve the goals and outcomes they have discussed with you.

The EHC Needs Assessment Panel will consider all the information and make a decision about issuing an EHC plan.

A decision to issue an EHC plan will be made if the panel agrees more specialist support is needed.

A decision not to issue an EHC plan will be made if the panel agrees the support can be provided within the resources usually available in a mainstream nursery, school or college.

The decision will be made within 16 weeks of the request being received.

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Assessment and support