This timeline shows a brief summary explaining the main stages of the education, health and care (EHC) needs assessment process and the issuing of an EHC plan.
For a more detailed explanation of each stage of the process please see Education, health and care (EHC) plans and assessments - what happens and when
- Start
Speak to your school
Speak to your headteacher or special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) at school to ask them about available support.
- Week 0
Request received by local authority
Education, health and care needs assessment (EHCNA) request received.
- Week 0 to 5
Information gathered
Local authority looks at all the information and decides whether to undertake an assessment.
- By week 6
Decision on whether to carry out an assessment
If yes, assessment begins.
If no, parent or carer and educational setting provided with advice about how needs can be met within Ordinarily Available Guidance.
- Weeks 6 to 12
Assessment undertaken
The assessment process can take up to 4 weeks.
- Weeks 12 to 16
The decision process
The local authority will decide whether to issue an Education, health and care (EHC) plan.
- By week 16
Decision on whether to issue an EHC plan is made
If yes, a draft EHC plan is issued.
If no, parent or carer and educational setting provided with advice about how needs can be met within Ordinarily Available Guidance.
- Weeks 16 to 20
Consultation
You, the local authority EHC team and the education setting and any other professionals involved, will be consulted on the draft plan.
- By week 20
Final EHC plan issued
By week 20 we will issue the final plan.