Requesting an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCP) for your child
A letter template to send the local authority SEND department
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Postcode]
[Email Address]
[Phone Number]
[Date]
SEND Department
[Name of Local Authority]
[Address of Local Authority]
[Postcode]
Subject: Request for an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment for [Child’s Full Name]
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to formally request an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment for my child, [Child’s Full Name], who is [age] years old and currently attends [name of school/nursery] in [year/class group].
[Child’s name] has been experiencing ongoing difficulties in [his/her/their] education, and despite receiving support at school, I am concerned that [he/she/they] is not making adequate progress. [He/She/They] has/has been diagnosed with [if applicable, state any diagnoses], and presents with difficulties in the areas of [e.g. communication, learning, behaviour, emotional regulation, mobility, sensory needs].
The school has provided additional support through SEN provision, including [briefly describe what support has been provided – e.g. small group work, differentiated learning, support from the SENCO, etc.], but these interventions have not been sufficient to meet [child’s name]’s needs.
[Optional paragraph with more detail:]
For example, [child’s name] struggles significantly with [e.g. maintaining attention, understanding instructions, social interaction], which impacts [his/her/their] ability to access the curriculum and take part in school life. [Include any health, therapy, or social care needs that affect the child’s learning.]
I believe that an EHC needs assessment is necessary to properly identify the level and type of support that [child’s name] requires in order to make meaningful progress and thrive both educationally and emotionally.
In accordance with Section 36 of the Children and Families Act 2014, I am requesting that you carry out a statutory assessment of [child’s name]’s education, health and care needs.
Please confirm in writing that you have received this request and let me know the next steps. I understand that you are required to respond within six weeks of this request with a decision.
I am happy to provide any further information or attend any meetings as needed.
Yours faithfully,
[Your Name]
(Parent/Carer of [Child’s Name])
Links:
gov.uk SEND Information page - for more information, and contact details for your local authority