Explain
EHC needs assessment
An EHC needs assessment is when the council gathers advice about a child or young person's education, health and care needs, to decide whether they need an EHC plan. The council must seek advice from the parent or young person, the school or college, health, an educational psychologist, social care and others. It must say whether it will assess within 6 weeks of a request. If it then makes a plan, the final plan is due within 20 weeks of the request.
- Type of rule
- Law (Act or Regulations)
- Rule id
ehc_needs_assessment- Rules version
- england-2026.10
- Law as at
- 30 September 2026
Sources
- Children and Families Act 2014, s 36(2)Law (Act or Regulations)
- SEND Regulations 2014, reg 6(1)Law (Act or Regulations)
- SEND Regulations 2014, reg 5(1)Law (Act or Regulations)
- SEND Regulations 2014, reg 13(2)Law (Act or Regulations)
Related
- Asking for an EHC needs assessment
- The legal test for an EHC needs assessment (section 36(8))
- Advice and information for an assessment (regulation 6)
- Time limits for assessments and plans (6, 16 and 20 weeks)
- EHC plan (education, health and care plan)
In an assistant, the ehcp_next_steps tool helps with this: EHCP next steps.
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