The EHCP process

The following people have a specific right to ask a local authority to carry out an EHC needs assessment for a child or young person aged between 0 and 25:

• the child's parents
• the young person themselves if they're over the age of 16 but under the age of 25
• someone acting on behalf of a school or post-16 institution. They should only refer the person with their or their parents' knowledge and agreement, where possible

Also, anyone else can bring a child or young person who has (or may have) SEN to the attention of the local authority, particularly if they think they may need an EHC needs assessment.

This could be any of these people:

• foster carers
• health and social care practitioners
• early years practitioners
• youth offending teams or probation services
• those responsible for education in custody
• school or college staff
• a family friend

Again, this referral should be with the person's or their parents' knowledge and agreement. 

The EHCP could provide extra support that will allow their needs to be met in their current school or educational setting.

An EHC needs assessment will not always lead to an EHCP.

The information we gather during an EHC needs assessment may show ways that the school, college or other provider can meet the the needs of the child or young person without an EHCP.

Find the following EHCP forms on Dorset Nexus:

• request for a needs assessment
• summary of parents' view if you're a school or educational setting 

Parent, carer, family friend or young person

If you're a parent, carer or young person, find out how to request a needs assessment for an EHCP.

Have a discussion with the SENCO at your child or young person's school or educational setting about the different options available to support them. If possible a request for a needs assessment for an EHC plan should be made by the school or setting. It's no quicker to request the assessment yourself as we will still have to get advice from the school or educational setting. 

Or discuss your options with us.

Call us if:

• you'd rather start this process yourself or you're still not sure about your options
• your child or young person doesn't attend school or an educational setting

You can get impartial support from:

• SENDIASS (SEND Information, Advice, and Support Service)
• DPCC (Dorset Parent Carer Council)

We aim to put your child at the centre of the review of their education, health and care plan (EHCP) by taking a person-centred approach.

Young people with SEND don't always have much control over their lives or the decisions or choices that are made for them. We can help your child play an active part in planning for their future. We do this by placing them at the centre of:

• the review meeting
• the planning
• any decisions that affect them

Person-centred planning (sometimes called PCP) aims to:

• put the child or young person and their family at the heart of the process
• highlight the child or young person's strengths and interests
• take a 'tell us once' approach to families sharing information with control of what's shared
• listen and respond to the importance of their views, wishes and aspirations
• focus on what outcomes (goals) families and young people are seeking for their futures
• collaboratively plan the support needed to achieve the goals
• bring services and professionals together to discuss and agree an overall approach for EHCP's
• give children and young people and their families better choice and control over their futures

Find out more about person-centred planning in this video:

Person-centred planning for the EHCP.

We'll need information from you and your child's school or educational setting if you're asking for a needs assessment. The school or educational setting will complete the request for a needs assessment for an EHCP form with your help. They will also ask you to complete the summary of parent or carer views form.

You'll be asked information about:

• you and your child's views, wishes and goals
• your child's strengths and needs
• any existing support your child has both at school and at home

You can also speak to your child's school or educational setting or contact the Education and Early Help (SEND) Team to:

• provide additional information to support the request
• comment on something that's written in the request

Sign the form once it's complete. If your child is over 16 they'll need to sign it too. 

We'll let you know what happens next once we've received your request for a needs assessment. We will tell you if a needs assessment has been agreed within 6 weeks. 

If a needs assessment is agreed it doesn't always lead to an EHCP, but it could tell us how the school or setting can meet your child's needs without a plan. The whole EHCP process shouldn't take more than 20 weeks. 

Contact your local Education and Early Help (SEND) Team.

For impartial information and advice at any stage of the EHCP process contact Dorset SEND Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS)

Stage 1 - this is the start date

We've got the request for a needs assessment for an EHCP. 

Stage 2 

We’ve made a decision about the needs assessment request.  We have let you know our decision and next steps. This will happen within six weeks.

If we agree a needs assessment should take place, we will gather information on the child or young person and their needs.  The information will be used to decide if an EHCP is needed. 

Stage 3 - by 16 weeks

We’ve made a decision on an EHCP and have let you know whether it has been agreed or not.

We have sent a draft EHCP to you. You have 15 calendar days to check through the draft and tell us any concerns or requests for changes, or to request a meeting.

Stage 4 - by 20 weeks

We have sent you a final EHCP.

Find out more about the EHCP review.

Outcomes are what a child or young person is able to do at different times in the future. Outcomes set out observable skills that the young person hopes to have within a set period of time. They are usually broken into long-term and short-term outcomes. 

They should be:

• realistic
• achievable
• related to hopes and dreams for the future

 Outcomes should be created by these people together:

• the child or young person
• parents or carers
• any education, health and care professionals who are involved

Why use outcomes?

We use outcomes because:

• they let us think of the skills and abilities we'd like the child or young person to have
• they help us focus on a positive and possible future for the child or young person

Long-term outcomes

Outcomes may:

• reflect the attributes and skills we hope the child or young person will have by the end of the next phase
• be broad so that they're relevant in the next stage of education

Reviews of these outcomes take place each year, at the same time as the short-term outcomes. 

Short-term outcomes

Short-term outcomes are long-term outcomes that have been broken down into smaller steps. They should be achievable within a year. 

We will review them each term or at least once a year.