Introduction
You can now complete your Appendix A form online using the Citizen Portal. This is the quickest and easiest way to give us the information we need for your child or young person’s Needs assessment.
Using the online form means:
- You do not need to upload a word document or PDF (although this is also an option).
- You can complete the form on a computer, tablet or smartphone.
- Your information is sent securely to us as soon as you submit it.
Information you will need
The Appendix A form is quite detailed and can take some time to complete. We recommend reading through the information below and planning your answers before starting the online form.
When completing Appendix A, you will be asked to provide a wide range of information about your child or young person, as well as your own views. The form collects both factual details and personal perspectives to support the Education, Health and Care (EHC) assessment
Personal details
You will need to provide basic information about your child or young person, including:
- Full name and preferred name
- Home language(s)
- Gender and date of birth
- Ethnic origin
- Home address
- Whether they are in care
- Your contact details
- Your relationship to the child
- Whether you have parental responsibility
- Any communication needs linked to disability
Medical support and health services
You will need to list any health professionals or services involved with your child in the last 12 months. This may include:
- Paediatricians
- Speech and language therapy
- Physiotherapy or occupational therapy
- Mental health services
- Any other relevant professionals
Please include names and contact details if possible.
Your child’s views
You will be asked about your child’s:
- Personal history and important people in their life
- Strengths and what others admire about them
- Things that are going well and things they find difficult
- What they would like to change
- Hobbies, interests and dislikes
- New experiences they want to try
- Dreams, goals and future aspirations
Your views as a parent or carer
You will be invited to share information about your child’s:
- Early years and development
- Physical skills and self‑help abilities
- Communication and learning
- Activities at home and outside the home
- Relationships with others
- Behaviour
- Progress at school or college
- Your thoughts on your child’s special educational needs
- What support you feel would help them
- Their understanding of their own needs
- Any worries, strengths, interests and aspirations
- Anything else you think is important
Additional contacts
You can add the names and contact details of any professionals or other people who may have useful information about your child or young person.
Privacy notice
Before submitting the form, you will be shown information about:
- How your data will be used and shared
- How it will be stored
- Your rights regarding the information you provide
Logging into the Citizen Portal to complete the form
- Go to the Portal login page – Log in with the email address and password you used when you created your account.
- Open the SEND Section – Select the SEND tile on your homepage. If you have not already set up Two‑Step Verification, you may be asked to do this before you can continue
- Select the child or young person – Choose the child or young person you want to complete the Appendix A for. If this is your first time using the SEND section, you may need to add them. Please use their full name, as this helps us match them with any existing records (such as school admissions information).
- Start the online Appendix A – When viewing the child’s SEND page, select the option to complete Appendix A online. This will open the digital form inside the portal. You can upload Appendix A if you prefer to complete the form using Microsoft Word or other office software.
- Complete each step of the form – The online form guides you through each section of the Appendix A. You can:
- Save your progress and return later
- Move back and forward between steps
- Review your answers before submitting
- Submit the form – On the final Summary page, check your answers carefully before you submit.