Lesson 2.2

What an EHC needs assessment really is

Reviewed June 2026 About 1 minute to read

Information, not legal advice. Applies in England. Reviewed June 2026.

An EHC needs assessment is the formal process a Local Authority uses to work out whether your child needs support beyond what a school can normally provide. It is the doorway to an EHC plan, and the threshold to ask for one is far lower than most parents are led to believe.

This lesson explains what the assessment is, who can request it, and what happens once you do. The detail below is illustrative and written to show the shape of the process, not to give legal advice on your specific case. It covers the law in England; the rules differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Your legal right
A parent can request an EHC needs assessment directly, and a Local Authority must consider that request. You do not need a formal diagnosis first, and support is based on need rather than on a label.

The point to hold on to is simple: asking is your right, and a request has to be properly considered. The figures and timescales around assessments do change, so always check the current position. Correct as of June 2026

Resources

Helpful links

Important: This is general information, not legal advice, and it applies to England. SEN law, statutory timescales and guidance can change, and every child's situation is different. Check the current position, or take specialist advice, before you act. For free, independent support, contact IPSEA or your local SENDIASS. Last reviewed: June 2026.