EHCP and SEN Support: Questions for Parents in England

In England, parents can ask their local authority for an Education, Health and Care needs assessment themselves; a school or SENCO does not have to be the person who submits the request. An EHCP is different from the SEN support a school can provide without a plan.

This guide applies to England

Education systems and terminology differ in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Check the relevant national and local guidance if your child is educated outside England.

What is SEN support?

Schools should identify and support pupils with special educational needs. Support may include changes to teaching, targeted help, communication support, environmental adjustments or involvement from specialists. Ask what need has been identified, what provision is being used, who is responsible and when progress will be reviewed.

What is an EHCP?

An Education, Health and Care plan is a legal document for a child or young person whose needs require provision through an EHC plan. It records needs, agreed outcomes and specified provision across education, health and care where applicable. An EHC needs assessment does not automatically result in a plan.

1. Ask the SENCO for the current evidence

• What needs has the school identified?
• What support is currently delivered, how often and by whom?
• What progress or continuing difficulty has been recorded?
• What has been adjusted after review?
• Which reports, attendance records or incident patterns are relevant?

2. Describe needs through their educational impact

Use concrete examples: missed learning, inability to access a classroom environment, communication barriers, fatigue, distress, attendance problems or support required to participate safely. Include strengths and what already works.

3. Know who can request an assessment

GOV.UK states that a parent can ask the local authority to carry out an assessment. A young person aged 16 to 25 can also request one, and other people may make a request. The school can support the evidence, but it is not the only route.

4. Keep the request factual and organised

Include reports you already hold, the support tried and why you believe the child may need provision through an EHCP. Do not delay a time-sensitive request merely to create a perfect file. Your local authority should publish its process through the Local Offer.

5. Understand the decision points

The local authority first decides whether to assess. After an assessment, it decides whether to issue a plan. GOV.UK explains that parents can challenge certain decisions, including a refusal to assess, refusal to issue a plan, the special educational provision in a plan and the named school.

6. Check provision, not only outcomes

If a draft plan is issued, read whether support is specific enough to understand what will actually happen. Seek individual advice if wording is vague or important evidence has been missed.

7. Use the annual review to record what has changed

An EHCP should be reviewed, but families should also raise urgent or material changes rather than waiting silently for the next scheduled meeting. Keep copies of requests, reports, plans and written decisions.

Timescales

The SEND Code of Practice sets out statutory processes and timescales. The commonly referenced overall limit is 20 weeks from the initial request to issue of a final plan where a plan is issued, subject to specified exceptions. Check current official guidance and obtain individual advice about missed deadlines.

Frequently asked questions

Does a child need a diagnosis before support or an assessment?

Support should respond to identified special educational needs, and parents can request an assessment when they believe an EHC plan may be necessary. A diagnosis can provide useful evidence but is not the only form of evidence.

Can a SENCO apply for an EHCP?

A school may request an assessment, usually working with the family. Parents can also make the request directly to the local authority.

Where can families obtain individual advice?

Use your local SENDIASS service and consider specialist organisations such as IPSEA for information about an individual case.

Related Clarikind guides

For the day-to-day situations that often sit behind requests for school support, see our guides to school avoidance in autistic children and back-to-school anxiety. These are practical parenting resources, not legal advice.

What should you document before an EHC needs assessment request?

Describe the child's educational needs in concrete terms. For example: difficulty accessing spoken classroom instructions, distress during particular transitions, a requirement for communication support or school attendance affected by unmet needs. Include strengths, the support already tried, whether it was delivered as planned and what happened when it was reviewed.

You can provide relevant school records, health reports and your child's views. The GOV.UK guidance confirms that parents can request an EHC needs assessment from the local authority; a school does not need to submit the request on their behalf.

Three common decisions in the process

1. Whether the local authority will assess

The local authority should normally notify parents or the young person of its decision within six weeks of the request, subject to the applicable rules. A refusal to assess can carry appeal rights; refer to the formal decision notice for details.

2. Whether the local authority will issue a plan

Where an assessment takes place, the local authority normally communicates a decision not to issue a plan within 16 weeks of the initial request where that is the outcome. An assessment does not guarantee a plan.

3. A final plan if one is required

Where a plan is to be issued, the normal overall deadline is 20 weeks from the initial request, subject to specified legal exceptions. The IPSEA assessment guidance explains the stages and statutory timescales. These deadlines are legal obligations rather than predictions of how quickly every council will act.

How to read a draft EHCP for practical support

Compare each identified educational need with the provision described in the plan. Ask what staff will actually do, how frequently, in which settings and how the child will access it. Distinguish clearly between an aspiration such as “improve communication” and the actual provision necessary to support communication. If the draft misses evidence, parents and the young person can provide their views within the applicable process.

A plan should also consider the child or young person's views and aspirations. Avoid treating a list of support products as a substitute for the appropriate professionals, adjustments, provision and review arrangements.

What should parents ask at a SENCO meeting?

• Which specific needs are documented and how were they identified?
• Which SEN support arrangements are being delivered now?
• What does the evidence show about access to education and progress?
• When will the school review the current adjustments?
• Who is responsible for requesting outside specialist advice if needed?
• How will the child's own views be collected and respected?

Where to find independent information

Families in England can contact their local SEND Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS) for locally relevant guidance. IPSEA provides specialist information about the legal process, including decisions and appeals. Ask for advice on your individual case before treating a generic example or online checklist as a legal strategy.

Further questions about assessment and support

Does an EHCP automatically provide a particular product?

No. Educational provision is determined according to assessed needs and the applicable process. A commercial visual board or sensory item is not a replacement for an individual assessment or specified support.

Can a family ask for an assessment without a school referral?

Yes. GOV.UK states that parents can request an EHC needs assessment directly from their local authority.

Do the same rules apply across the UK?

No. This article covers England; Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have different statutory education systems and terminology.

Current England sources

• GOV.UK: extra help for children with SEND.
• GOV.UK: SEND code of practice.
• IPSEA: what happens during an EHC needs assessment.

General educational information for England, checked October 2026. It is not individual legal advice; confirm current rules and decision notices with official sources.

Official sources

• GOV.UK: Children with special educational needs and disabilities
• GOV.UK: Requesting an EHC assessment and challenging decisions
• Department for Education: SEND Code of Practice, 0 to 25 years

Editorial review: Clarikind checked this England-focused overview against current GOV.UK guidance on 26 September 2026. It is general information, not legal advice.