Who we'll ask for information about your child or young person, and how long it takes to compile the assessment and make a decision.
If an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA) is agreed, we'll gather information about your child or young person's strengths, needs and the support they may require.
The assessment helps us to understand:
- strengths and interests
- special educational needs
- health needs
- social care needs
- support already in place
- support that may be needed in the future
The purpose of the assessment is to understand the child or young person's needs and decide whether an Education, Health and Care Plan is required.
Who we'll ask for information
We'll ask for advice and information from people who know your child or young person.
This may include:
- you and your child or young person
- an Educational Psychologist (EP)
- your child's nursery, school or college
- health professionals involved with your child
- social care professionals who will help understand the support needed at home
- other professionals who know your child or young person
The assessment looks at education, health and social care needs together.
Family views
Family views are an important part of the assessment.
You know your child best and can help professionals understand:
- what your child enjoys
- what they find difficult
- what support works well
- what you'd like to see improve
Your child or young person will also be given opportunities to share their views.
Educational Psychologist's role
All assessments should include advice from an Educational Psychologist (EP).
The Educational Psychologist may:
- review information already available
- speak with school staff
- meet with your child or young person
- carry out observations or assessment work
The exact process will vary depending on the needs of the child or young person.
Information professionals will provide
Professionals will usually describe:
- your child or young person's strengths
- any difficulties they experience
- support already provided
- recommendations for future support
- outcomes they are working towards
If there are no professionals currently involved with your child or young person, you can tell us about any concerns you have regarding their learning, development, vision, hearing, health or care needs in the family views section of the EHCNA request.
Where appropriate, we may seek advice from relevant specialist services as part of the assessment.
How long it takes to gather the information
Once we agree to do an assessment, professionals are normally given up to 6 weeks to provide their advice and information. We'll then review all the information received.
For more information about timescales and any current delays, visit our Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment improvement plan page.
How long it takes for us to come to a decision
After the professionals involved and the family and child have shared their information, a panel will consider:
- the child's needs
- the support the child needs
- what the professionals recommend
- whether this support needs to be provided via an EHCP
The panel will then decide if an EHCP should be issued. You should normally receive this decision within 16 weeks of the original request for assessment.
Read what happens after we finish the Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment.
Advice and support
If you'd like information, advice or support with the assessment process, you can contact the following organisations:
- Bristol Parent Carers is a charity run by parent carers of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). They support all families, regardless of their child's type of need or diagnosis status.
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SEND And You (SAY) is Bristol's SEND Information, Advice and Support Service. They provide free, confidential and impartial information, advice and support for parent carers and young people about SEND law, rights and processes.
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Bristol City Council SEND Team can help with questions about the EHCNA process. You can email the team at sen@bristol.gov.uk. Please take note of our waiting times which are explained on our Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment improvement plan page.
