- Parents, professional, or school submit a request for an EHC needs assessment
- Newcastle City Council confirm they have received the application
- Newcastle City Council decides if an EHC needs assessment is or is not needed
- Parents and/or young person are told the decision
Getting an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) for your child should take around 20 weeks.
During the assessment, Newcastle City Council may decide an EHCP is not necessary. It may be agreed that their needs can be met without an EHCP. You will be informed of this decision, the reasoning, and your right to appeal.
Click on each box below to find out what happens at each stage of the assessment.
Request Phase (Weeks 0-6)
Assessment Phase (Weeks 7-16)
- Parents are asked to share their views, hopes and aspirations
- Child/young person are asked to share their views, hopes and aspirations
- Professional information and advice is requested
- Newcastle City Council looks at the information and evidence gathered
- Newcastle City Council decides whether to give an EHCP.
- Parents/young person are told the decision.
- If the decision is to give EHCP, Newcastle City Council creates a draft.
EHC Plan Phase (Weeks 17-20)
- Newcastle City Council shares draft EHCP with parents or young person
- Parents or young person has 15 days to give feedback
- Parents and young person can request a specific educational setting to be named in the final plan
- Personal budget statement is offered
- Newcastle City Council finalises EHCP
- A copy is sent to parents, young person and any professionals involved
Who is involved during an EHC needs assessment?
A caseworker at Newcastle City Council oversees the assessment and creation of a plan. They will keep in touch with you and your child throughout. Both of you will be able to give information and share your views.
Your child will be involved as much as possible. We encourage you to discuss the questions with your child where possible.
The following people will give information and advice during the assessment:
- Parents/carers (or the young person)
- Your child or young person's education setting
- An educational psychologist
- Health professionals who work with your child
- Social care worker
- Anyone else you consider relevant
There may already be information and advice. Professionals might have already worked with your child. We can use this information when everyone agrees it is suitable and up-to-date.
What happens when the EHC needs assessment is finished?
If approved, you will receive the a draft of the EHCP. You have 15 days to give comments, ask for a meeting, or accept the draft plan. If we do not hear from you, we may assume that you agree with the draft plan.
You will then be sent the final EHCP for your child. This will be reviewed at least once every 12 months.