SEN advocacy service
EHCP Needs Assessment Support
EHCP needs assessment support helps parents prepare a clear, evidence-led request showing why SEN Support is not enough and why the local authority should carry out an EHC needs assessment.
- Price
- Packages available from £250
- Best for
- Parents preparing an EHC needs assessment request or responding to a refusal to assess.
- Format
- Document review, evidence planning and written advocacy support.
Overview
What this support covers
An EHC needs assessment request is often the first formal step towards an Education, Health and Care Plan. The local authority must decide whether the child or young person may have special educational needs that may require provision through an EHCP. The request therefore needs to explain the child needs, the support already tried, what is still not working and why ordinary SEN Support is unlikely to be enough.
Parents do not need a diagnosis before asking for an EHC needs assessment, but the request does need to be structured. A short letter with general concerns can be easy for a local authority to refuse. A stronger request links school evidence, professional advice, attendance, behaviour, progress, exclusions, emotional wellbeing and daily support needs to the legal test.
The SEN Advocate helps families prepare the request, identify gaps in the evidence and present the position in a way that is clear, practical and focused on the statutory decision the local authority has to make.
Who this is for
- Your child is receiving SEN Support but still not making expected progress.
- School agrees that additional support may be needed but the evidence is scattered.
- You are unsure what to include in the parental request letter.
- The local authority has refused to assess and you need to decide whether to challenge it.
- You want an advocate to review the evidence before the request is submitted.
Common problems
- The request describes worries but does not explain why SEN Support is insufficient.
- Professional reports are attached but not linked to the legal test.
- School records show difficulties, but the pattern is not clearly summarised.
- The local authority says more cycles of assess, plan, do, review are needed.
- Parents are unsure whether to wait, gather more evidence or appeal a refusal.
How we help
- Review the child current support, school evidence and professional information.
- Identify what evidence is missing and what can realistically be obtained.
- Prepare a focused request that explains unmet needs and provision already tried.
- Help parents respond if the local authority refuses to assess.
- Explain deadlines and next steps in plain English.
Process
How the support works
Step 1
Evidence review
We look at the information you already have, including SEN Support plans, school reports, attendance records, behaviour logs, health advice and professional reports.
Step 2
Issue mapping
We identify the strongest assessment arguments and separate them from background concerns that may distract from the legal test.
Step 3
Request preparation
We help shape the request so it explains needs, current support, evidence of limited progress and why an EHC needs assessment may be necessary.
Step 4
Next-step guidance
If the local authority refuses to assess, we help you understand mediation, appeal deadlines and the evidence needed to challenge the decision.
Included
What you can expect
- Review of the key evidence you provide.
- Advice on gaps or weaknesses in the request.
- Structured wording for the parental request.
- Clear explanation of local authority deadlines.
- Guidance on refusal to assess next steps where relevant.
FAQs
Questions about EHCP Needs Assessment Support
Can a parent request an EHC needs assessment directly?
Yes. Parents, young people over 16 and schools can ask the local authority to carry out an EHC needs assessment. A parent request should explain the child needs, what support has already been tried and why an EHCP may be necessary.
Do we need a diagnosis before requesting an EHCP assessment?
No. A diagnosis can be useful evidence, but it is not a legal requirement. The key question is whether the child or young person may have special educational needs that may require provision through an EHCP.
What happens if the local authority refuses to assess?
A refusal to assess usually gives a right of appeal to the SEND Tribunal. Parents should read the decision letter carefully, note the deadline and consider whether the evidence shows that the legal threshold is met.
Can you write the whole EHCP request for us?
We can help structure and strengthen the request using the evidence you provide. The level of help depends on the package chosen and the complexity of the evidence.