Needs assessment for an EHCP
Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA)
This is a process in which a range of professionals will be asked to fully assess your child’s needs and then decide what level of extra support should be put in place to support them and if this should be within an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). You and your child will be asked your views too. Making a request for an assessment does not guarantee that your child will be granted a ‘Education, Health and Care Plan’ but if the request to assess is accepted, it does mean that there will be a better understanding of your child’s needs available.
In order to request an assessment, parents and carers and/or the school need to write to the SEND team, either on paper to the:
SEND Team
Children's Services
Westmorland and Furness Council
4th Floor
Craven House
Michaelson Road
Barrow-in-Furness
Cumbria
LA14 1FD
Or they can email the request to: SEND@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
If you need some help to complete the request, you can ask your child’s SENDCO to assist and/or contact your local SENDIAS team.
Westmorland and Furness SEND IAS service
There is a separate section on the website that explains everything you need to know about what happens once you have made the request and the next steps in the section on Education, Health and Care Plans. You must note the date you submitted the request as there is a strict legal framework which must be followed and an EHCP timeline.