What is an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment?

The majority of children and young people with Special Educational Needs or disabilities will have their needs met within local mainstream early year’s settings, schools or colleges. Some children and young people may require an EHC Needs Assessment in order for the local authority to decide whether it is necessary for it to make provision in accordance with an EHC plan.

The purpose of an EHC plan is to make special educational provision to meet the special educational needs of the child or young person, to secure the best possible outcomes for them across education, health and social care and, as they get older, prepare them for adulthood.

An EHC Needs Assessment is only necessary if your child’s education setting cannot provide all of the help that they need and will usually only happen after the graduated approach has been followed.