20 week Educational Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA) process
When an application for an EHCNA is submitted, the 20-week process below is followed.
Weeks 1 to 6
- Following the Educational Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA) request being received, a panel will meet to decide whether to assess.
- If the decision is not to go ahead, your case officer will contact you by phone and confirm in writing to explain the decision and what happens next.
- If the assessment is agreed, we will write to you to give details of the process including
- who will be involved
- the information that is needed - If there are any services/therapies involved with your child/young person, you should share details at this stage if you haven’t already.
- It is important to ensure that we are given the completed Section A (All about me/All about us) including your hopes for the future.
Weeks 6 to 14
The LA will seek advice from all agencies identified. This may include:
- health care professional
- education professionals
- educational psychologist
- social care
- any other agency the LA thinks is appropriate
- any agency that parents or the young person reasonably request that the LA seek advice from.
Weeks 14 to 16
- The LA will use the information gathered to make a decision about whether or not to issue an EHCP
- We will write to you to inform you of the decision.
- If an EHCP is needed, your case officer will use all of the information gathered during the assessment to prepare a draft (proposed) EHCP.
Weeks 16 to 17
- The draft EHCP will be sent to you and all professionals who have contributed to the assessment.
- When you receive the draft EHCP you will be asked:
- your preference for the education setting
- If there are any changes you would like to be made to the EHCP before the final plan is issued.
- Your reply must be received within 15 days - The local authority must agree with a parent or young person’s preference for a school or college unless:
- the school or college is unsuitable for the child or young person’s age, ability, skills and SEND.
- the child or young person’s needs cannot be met without affecting the education of other children/young people already at the setting.
- placing the child or young person at the setting will be an inefficient use of the local authorities resources.
Weeks 17 to 19
- The LA will consult with the local mainstream provider along with any parental preference and with reference to efficient use of LA resources.
- The education setting/s will have an opportunity to confirm that they are able to meet the needs of your child/young person as identified in the draft EHCP.
Weeks 19 to 20
- The final Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) will be issued.
- You will be sent further information about what you can expect to happen next.