Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA)
If you think your child needs extra help, you can talk to the SENCo (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) at their school or nursery. They can tell you about the SEND support that’s already available (Inclusive Provision). If you still feel your child needs more help, you can ask for an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA).
Who can request an EHCNA?
An EHCNA is usually requested by:
• Education settings
• Other professionals
• Parent carers
• Young people (aged 16–25)
What happens after I request an EHCNA?
When we receive your request, the Assessment and Placement Team will contact the education setting for additional information. Your request will then be reviewed by Havering’s EHC Panel, which includes professionals from:
• Education
• Health
• Social care
Within six weeks of the date of the request, you will receive a letter from the Assessment and Placement Team informing you whether an assessment will take place.
If the Local Authority has not agreed to an EHCNA, speak to your educational setting’s SENCo to discuss the SEND Support Plan (Inclusive Provision) that will be put in place by the education setting.
If the Local Authority has agreed to carry out an EHCNA, the Assessment and Placement Team will begin requesting advice from education, health, and social care professionals.
What happens during the EHCNA process?
An EHCNA is a process that considers every aspect of a child’s or young person’s life, not just their educational needs. Its purpose is to identify the full extent of their needs and determine the support required across education, health, and social care.
Throughout the assessment, parent carers, children, and young people play an active role by sharing their views and aspirations for the future. The Local Authority may also gather information, advice, and reports from a range of professionals, including:
• Education professionals
• Health professionals
• Social care professionals
• Other relevant specialists
The process may also involve observations and/or assessments to build a comprehensive picture of the child’s or young person’s strengths and challenges.
What happens after the EHCNA process?
Following the assessment process, the Local Authority will decide whether the child’s or young person’s needs can be met through SEND Support (Inclusive Provision) or whether an EHCP is required.
You will be informed of the decision by week 16 from the date of your request.
If an EHCP is not issued, speak to your educational setting’s SENCo to discuss the SEND Support Plan (Inclusive Provision) that will be put in place by the setting.
If an EHCP is issued, you will be sent a draft plan to review, comment on, and express a preference for an educational setting. The Local Authority will then send the draft plan to education settings to consider whether they can meet the child or young person’s needs. This stage of the process is known as consultation.