What happens once your request is made

We have six weeks from the date we receive your request to consider:

the information about your child’s strengths and difficulties
the arrangements that have been put in place to help
the progress your child has made so far

Using the EHC Hub, you will have the opportunity to provide us with relevant historical information about your child’s:

special educational needs
health needs

The views and opinions of your child can be recorded. For example:

what is working well for you in your current education setting?
what is not working well for you in your current education setting? What do you think might help?

Your own views and opinions can also be recorded. For example:

what is working well for the child or young person in their current education setting?
what is not working well for your child in their current education setting? What do you think might help?

We must make a decision about whether an EHC needs assessment is necessary. We will contact you to confirm our decision.

If you are registered on the EHC Hub, you will receive an email to notify you that a decision has been made. Guidance on using the Hub to access decisions can be found here.

Who makes the decision

The decision about whether to start an EHC needs assessment is made by the Local Authority, moderated by a multi-disciplinary panel of professionals. The panel looks at the evidence and ensures that all decisions are made in accordance with the law.

The panel will include:

a senior manager from the SEND Statutory Team
an educational psychologist
Devon’s designated medical officer
a social work manager
advisory teachers from the SEND Support Team
an early years manager

How the decision is made

A decision will be made based on all the evidence submitted. This includes information on:

your child’s SEND needs
the provision being made by the educational setting to support the SEND needs
the impact of the provision in regard to progress
attainment over time
attendance over time

If there is insufficient evidence of the above, or evidence that your child is making progress, then a request for assessment might be turned down.

Education, health and care (EHC) plans

Step 1
If you feel that your child is not making progress, you might be considering requesting an EHC needs assessment - but, the quickest way to get some extra support for your child is to speak to staff at their school, college or education setting. We'd always recommend having these conversations before proceeding with a request for assessment.
Step 2
Follow our guidance on how to make a request, who should be involved in making the request and what happens once you have submitted it. We must give you a decision about whether or not we'll carry out an assessment within six weeks of your request.
Step 3
Find out more about what happens if we agree to carry out an assessment. We must tell you whether or not we will issue an EHC plan within 16 weeks of your request.
Step 4
The Local Authority will create a draft EHC plan and send you a copy. You will have 15 calendar days to give your suggested amendments and views before a final plan is issued. We must issue a final EHC plan within 20 weeks of your original request.
Step 5
Over time, your child’s needs may change. We will review their EHC plan each year as a minimum to ensure it continues to meet their needs.
Step 6
Find out more about what will happen if you need to transfer an EHC plan into or out of Devon.
1. Transferring an EHC plan

What happens once your request is made

Who makes the decision

How the decision is made

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Step 6

Get in touch

Partner websites

DiAS (Devon Information Advice and Support)

Support for schools and settings

Children and Family Health Devon

Parent Carer Forum Devon