SEND Assessment and Placement Service
The Assessment and Placement Service sit within the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Services. The Assessment and Placement Service is responsible for carrying out education, health, and care needs assessments for children and young people with special educational needs (SEN) and overseeing the administration of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP) held by children and young people in Havering.
The service is organised into different teams:
Assessment Team
The Assessment Team carries out the process of EHC needs assessments. Once the EHC Plan has been issued, the Assessment Team Case Officer retains responsibility of the EHC Plan for 8 weeks. After this, your child/young person’s EHC Plan will move over to the relevant school/setting Placement Team Case Officer.
Schools and post-16 colleges have at least one named Case Officer.
Placement Team
There are three Placement Teams, which are categorised as follows: Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) to Year 4, Year 5 to Year 8, and Year 9 to Post-16. Each of these teams is led by a Team Lead.
The Case Officers in the Placement Teams carry out the work following the annual review meeting. This includes making the decision on whether or not the EHC Plan needs amending. If significant amendments are needed, the Case Officer will carry this out along with any consultations that may be needed.
Case Officers can attend annual review meetings if possible. This includes the review for a pupil in a transition year who will be moving to a new school the following September. Case Officers should always attend a review meeting if there is going to be a request for a change of school.
Case Officers support parents/carers, young people and schools with any concerns around the EHC needs assessment or the EHC Plan. They can also signpost to other services. This can include information about support given in schools or funding.
If you are unsure of the name of your Case Officer please email sen@havering.gov.uk or telephone 01708 431885. You will need to provide your child’s name and the name of the early years setting/school/college they attend.
Page updated 19.08.25