The school or early years setting can often give your
child help through SEN support. This means that the school makes
additional or different provision to meet their needs. Sometimes other
professionals will give advice or support to help your child learn.
Some
children need more intensive and specialist help. If your child does
not make progress despite the SEN support an EHC needs assessment might
be the next step.
The SEND Code of Practice says:
In
considering whether an EHC needs assessment is necessary, the local
authority should consider whether there is evidence that despite the
early years provider, school or post-16 institution having taken
relevant and purposeful action to identify, assess and meet the special
educational needs of the child or young person, the child or young
person has not made expected progress.
The local authority will look at:
- your child’s attainments and rate of progress
- their special educational needs
- what has already been done
- the difference that support has made
- your child’s physical, emotional and social development and health needs
The SEND Code of Practice says:
A
local authority must conduct an assessment of education, health and
care needs when it considers that it may be necessary for special
educational provision to be made for the child or young person in
accordance with an EHC plan.
Some children and
young people will have needs that clearly require an EHC needs
assessment and EHC plan. Once the local authority is aware that this is
the case it should start the process without delay.
You can find
out more about the criteria that local authorities should follow in the
SEND Code of Practice sections 9.3 and 9.14 to 9.16.