How to request an EHC needs assessment

You can ask your council for an EHC needs assessment yourself. You do not need the school's permission, a diagnosis, or a report from a professional first. Here is how to do it, with a template letter you can copy.

Who can ask

A parent of a child under 16
A young person aged 16 to 25, for themselves
The school, college or nursery, ideally with you

A request from a parent carries the same legal weight as one from a school.

The legal test is low

The council must carry out an assessment if your child has or may have special educational needs, and may need special educational provision to be made through an EHCP. The word "may" matters. You do not have to prove your child needs a plan at this stage, only that they might.

What to send

A letter or email to the council's SEN team asking for an EHC needs assessment. Use the template below.
Evidence of need. Anything that shows what your child finds hard: school reports, SEN Support plans, professional reports, and your own dated notes. See how to gather evidence for an EHCP and what to write in an EHCP diary. If attendance is a problem, read school refusal and EHCPs.
What has been tried. Support the school has put in place and how well it worked.

Keep a copy of everything and note the date you sent it. The 6-week deadline runs from the date the council receives your request.

Template request letter

[Your name]
[Your address]
[Date]

To: Special Educational Needs Team, [Council name]

Request for an Education, Health and Care needs assessment for [child's full name], date of birth [date of birth]

I am writing as [child's name]'s parent to request an EHC needs assessment under section 36 of the Children and Families Act 2014.

[Child's name] attends [school or setting] in [year group]. I believe [he/she/they] has special educational needs and may need special educational provision to be made through an EHC plan, because:

[Main difficulty, for example: struggles to stay in class and has left the classroom on 14 days in the last 6 weeks]
[Second difficulty, for example: reading age 3 years below chronological age despite small-group support]
[Effect on learning, wellbeing or attendance]

The school has provided [support given] since [date], but [child's name] has not made the progress expected.

I enclose [list of evidence, for example: school report, SEN Support plan, my dated diary of the last 8 weeks].

Please confirm the date you received this request. I understand you should tell me within 6 weeks whether you will carry out an assessment.

Yours faithfully,
[Your name]
[Phone] [Email]

Change the wording to fit your child. Facts with dates are more useful than general statements.

What happens next

The council may contact the school and other professionals. Within 6 weeks it must tell you whether it will assess. If it says yes, it gathers advice from education, health and social care, and from you. If it says no, you can appeal. See EHCP refused: what to do next.

Use the deadline calculator to track your dates, and keep logging what you see while you wait.

Common questions

Can a parent request an EHC needs assessment without the school?

Yes. Parents can write to the council directly. The school does not need to agree or be involved, although its records are useful evidence.

How long does the council have to respond to a request?

Usually 6 weeks from the date it receives the request to tell you whether it will carry out an assessment.

Can I send the request by email?

Yes. Email is fine. Keep a copy and ask the council to confirm the date it was received.

What if the council refuses to assess?

You can appeal to the SEND Tribunal. You usually have 2 months from the date on the decision letter, and you must first get a mediation certificate.

Keep a record as you go

EHCPlog is a 30-second daily diary for parents. Your notes become a dated evidence pack for the council, the school or a tribunal.

Start your diary free Join the waitlist Get the free template

This guide is general information about the law in England, not legal advice. Practice varies between councils. For advice on your situation, contact IPSEA or your local SENDIASS service. Both are free and independent. Last reviewed 1 November 2026.