Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment
Most children’s needs should be met within their mainstream school through universal and targeted SEN Support. However, for some children with greater level of need, they may need more help . The Local Authority can provide this help, whichever type of school your child attends.
Requesting an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment
Parents, Carers and Young People
Parents & carers are able to submit a referral if they feel their child needs an EHCP but we would always advise you speak to your SENDCO in the first instance where applicable.
Please complete the referral form below and provide us with as much information as possible including details of your child’s special educational needs and any professional reports you may have in support of the referral, for example, a report from an educational psychologist or speech and language therapist.
We also want to understand you and your child’s views, wishes and feelings, as well as your Hopes and Aspirations for the future. You can use the form below if this is helpful.
Please email the request to senteam@tameside.gov.uk
Professionals
Any professional working with a child, young person and their family can make a referral for an EHCN assessment.
Request for assessment from professionals can be submitted via the SEN portal. Professionals can submit their referrals are able to track and monitor progress of assessments.
If you are a professional and are not signed up to our portal, please email senteam@tameside.gov.uk to request a sign-up link.
Our referral process for professionals is now completed online, we no longer accept paper referral forms outside of the portal.
EHC Needs Assessment Process and the Issuing of the Education, Health & Care Plan
0-6 Weeks:
Within 6 weeks, the local authority must issue a decision whether they intend to proceed with an EHC needs assessment or not.
A multi-disciplinary panel will make this decision base don the information provided.
6-14 Weeks:
Should the local authority agree to proceed with an EHC needs assessment, they will request advice from relevant professionals.
This advice will then be reviewed in accordance with the referral information to determine if special educational provision is required in accordance with an Education, health and Care Plan, this decision must be made by week 14.
14-20 Weeks:
Should the local authority decide to issue an Education, Health and Care Plane, a draft version will then be issued. This will be shared with you and you will have at least 2 weeks to consider the content, propose any changes and indicate a preference for education provision.
A final EHCP must be issued within 20 weeks unless there are exceptional circumstances.
When an Education, Health and Care Plan has been issued, you are entitled to request a personal budget. For more information please see Personal-Budgets-Policy-for-EHCP.pdf (tameside.gov.uk)
Reviewing of Education, Health & Care Plans
The local authority has a legal duty to review Education, Health and Care Plan’s at least annually and every 6 months for children under the age of 5 years.
The purpose of the annual review is to review the child or young persons progress towards meeting the outcomes in the EHCP and to reflect any changes in the child’s needs, provision and outcomes. The review will also consider the child’s health and care needs alongside their educational needs.
If your child is attending a school or other education provision, named in the EHCP, the annual review is typically arranged and held by them on behalf of the local authority.
Right to appeal a decision
If there are elements of the final Education, health and Care plan that you disagree with you have the right to appeal. The SEN Code of Practice states that you must do so within 2 months of the date of the final plan. However, we would always encourage you to talk to us first before doing this, as we may be able to help.
There is a disagreement resolution and mediation service available. It is the right of the child’s parent or young person to request mediation under section 53 or 54 of the Children and Families Act 2014. It is a requirement to obtain a ‘mediation certificate’ in accordance with section 55(4) or (5) of the Act before any appeal can be made.
If you feel you would like to access the disagreement resolution and mediation service you should contact them within 2 months of the final EHCP being issued. They will then plan to arrange a meeting or issue a mediation certificate within 30 days.
Referrals to the disagreement resolution and mediation service can be made y contacting:
KIDS Mediation Service
email: senmediation@kids.org.uk
Tel: 03330 062 835
website: https://www.kids.org.uk/send‑mediation
If you need to escalate further after speaking to a member of the SEN team, please contact our councils complaints team below.
If you have any concerns or questions about this process, you can always seek independent advice through Tameside Special Educational Needs and Disability Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS). They are an impartial service that aims to encourage and develop partnership between children, young people, parents, schools, the local authority and all other partners who are involved in working to identify, assess and meet the special educational needs of children and young people.
SENDIASS
Newbridge Centre,
Cromer Street
Stockport
Cheshire
SK1 2NY
Tel: 0161 359 8005
Email: tamesidesendiass@togethertrust.org.uk
