Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)

Most children and young people with special educational needs and disability (SEND) don't require an EHC Needs Assessment (EHCNA). This is because the local school, early years or college setting can support their learning and progress from extra help that they can make available. This is known as Newcastle’s Graduated Response.

An EHCNA is a detailed look at a child or young person’s special educational needs (SEN) and the support he or she may need in order to learn. 

Local Authorities are responsible for carrying out EHCNAs under the Children and Families Act 2014. The needs assessment brings together information about your child’s needs. It includes information from the CYP, their parents/carers, education, health and social care.

When an EHCP request is made, information is shared about how to access the SEND Portal, where information from CYP, parents/carers and professionals is shared and available to view. Information is also shared on what to expect from the 20-week EHCP process.

For further information on SEN Support, including the EHCP process and Newcastle’s Graduated Response, please visit: Newcastle Local Offer

Special Educational Needs Support, Assessment and Review (SEN SAR) Team

The SEN SAR Team is responsible for managing the process of considering and undertaking statutory Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments (EHCNA), and reviewing Education, Health Care Plans (EHCPs) at least on an annual basis. Support for CYP with SEN is usually provided in the child or young person's mainstream early education setting or school, and sometimes with the help of external specialists. When you request an EHCNA, you will be provided with information including how to access the SEND Portal and what to expect from each stage of the process, as well as key contact details for the SEN SAR Team.

SEND Caseworkers

SEND Caseworkers in the ‘Assessment Team’ co-ordinate Education, Health & Care Needs Assessments (EHCNA) and produce EHCPs for children and young people ages 0 - 25. Through consultation and commissioning arrangements, they secure appropriate educational provision and placements for children and young people. 

SEND Caseworkers in the ‘Annual Review and Age Phase Review Team’ oversee and manage the annual reviews of EHCPs. 

SEND Caseworkers in the ‘Preparation for Adulthood Team’ oversee and manage the annual reviews of EHCPs from Y9 onwards.

Our SEND Caseworkers can:

• Process and co-ordinate your EHC needs assessment requests.
• Collate professional reports and present to the LA Inclusion panel for consideration.
• Be your main point of contact during assessment and review.
• Provide advice around the assessment and review process.
• Consult with educational placements.
• Check, consider and process annual review paperwork.
• Organise alternative provision and annual reviews for children who are not on a school roll. Attend complex reviews, such as when there is a breakdown of placement or a significant change in the child’s or young person’s needs.
• Work closely with internal and external contacts and stakeholders to ensure all required information is shared appropriately.
• Signpost families to sources of advice and information.

Our SEND Caseworkers do not:

• Make decisions to conduct an assessment, issue an EHCP, or allocate funding – these decisions are made by a multi-agency EHCP panel.
• Make recommendations or advise on specific educational placements. The type of placement decision is made by a multi-agency EHCP panel.
• Deal with complaints about schools. The school complaints policy published on the school’s website will advise what to do regarding this.
• Control the response times of other professional services.
• Organise or monitor SEND Transport, taxis, or personal travel budgets.
• Manage appeals or tribunals.
• Deal with crises or incidents in school. If you have a safeguarding concern, please contact the Safeguarding lead at the nursery/school/college.

Contact us:

Email: senadminteam@newcastle.gov.uk