Who makes a request
Early years providers, schools, colleges and other professionals can ask for an Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment. They must have the parent’s or young person’s consent first.
Parent carers and young people aged 16 or over also have the right to ask for an assessment. We encourage families to talk with the setting before making a request.
It helps everyone if families, settings and professionals work together to decide if an EHC needs assessment is the right step. Settings should use Somerset’s Graduated Response Tool to make sure all support at universal and SEN levels has been tried.
If everyone agrees, the setting is usually best placed to lead the request. They can include all the key information we need, which helps us make a decision more quickly.
If a parent or young person makes the request themselves, we still need advice from the setting. Working together from the start saves time and makes the process smoother.
How to request
Educational settings should use the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Professional Portal to make a request. They are usually best placed to lead because they can provide the detailed information we need to make a decision quickly.
Parent carers and young people also have the right to request an Education, Health and Care plan needs assessment. You can do this by completing Appendix A and submitting it through the Citizen Portal or by emailing it to SENDassessmenthub@somerset.gov.uk.
Somerset SENDIAS can support you with making a request. Make a referral to SENDIAS.
Next steps
We then have six weeks from the date we receive your request to look at:
- Your child’s strengths and difficulties
- What support has already been given
- How much progress your child has made
