Requesting an EHCP needs assessment
In most cases, children and young people identified as having complex SEN will be referred for an EHC Plan needs assessment by a relevant professional. This can be a Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO), teacher, educational psychologist, or health worker. However, parents and carers can also ask us to carry out a needs assessment.
If a request is made, it does not mean that a needs assessment will definitely go ahead or that an Education, Health and Care Plan will be provided. We will carefully consider whether a graduated approach at SEN Support has already been provided and progress has not been made before deciding if a needs assessment is needed.
For more information, contact us via telephone on 0191 433 3626 or via email on senteam@gateshead.gov.uk.
School referral
The school will need to provide the following:
- EHC Plan needs assessment request form
- top-up funding form
- support timetable
- child's views form
- child's one page profile form
- the current SEND support plan
- two previous SEND support plans
- signed parental consent form
- parental advice form
Once the school has completed the forms, they will send them to us at senteam@gateshead.gov.uk
Parental or young person referral
Parents or young people are able to request an EHCP needs assessment by completing the parental request or young person request and returning it to the SEN team at senteam@gateshead.gov.uk.
You can download the documents you need to complete below.
Parent/carer documents:
- Parental application process (Word doc, 26 KB)(opens new window)
- Parental request for an ECHP needs assessment form (Word doc, 157 KB)(opens new window)
- Parental information sharing consent form (PDF, 91 KB)(opens new window)
- Parental views form (PDF, 160 KB)(opens new window)
Young person's documents:
- Young person request for an ECHP needs assessment form (Word doc, 156 KB)(opens new window)
- Young person's information sharing consent form (PDF, 93 KB)(opens new window)
We recommend you include any additional reports, letters or assessments by any professionals that have been involved.
We also recommend to meet with the school SENCO to discuss this process and what support is in place for your child. If you are having trouble with communication with the school or would like support and advice about the EHCP process, contact SENDIASS at Barnardos (opens new window) on 07881 834 429 who offer support to families and young people.