Requesting a Statutory Education, Health and Care Assessment

Integrated Children’s Disability Service (ICDS) - Assessment Team

Following the feedback we have received since September 2016 from families and professionals who have told us that the impact of the increased demand for EHC needs assessments requests has had a knock on effect on the number of professional reports being requested, which has then impacted on our ability to meet timelines and give families a response in a timely way, we have been exploring how we can improve the current process.

With a view to making the process more streamlined we have now introduced a new EHC Guidance and Checklist booklet for parent/carers to complete with their child, young person’s Education placement/link when considering requesting an EHC needs assessment. This will then be used as part of the request for an EHC needs assessment (see downloads on the right side of the page).

This will ensure that the Local Authority receives all of the information needed to make a fully informed decision as to whether or not to proceed with an EHC needs assessment at a much earlier stage. We are then able to give a decision earlier on in the 20 week process as to whether or not we are progressing an EHC needs assessment and where a statutory plan is issued this will give us more time to get this right for the child, young person. This process is in-line with what many of our neighbouring local authorities have in place currently and is reported to be working well.

For full guidance on the EHC Needs Assessment request process please read the EHC Process Leaflet

Considering whether an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Needs Assessment is necessary is based on the information below:

 

• Does the child/young person have, or may have, special educational needs which calls for special educational provision to be made?

 

• Does the child, young person require special educational provision that is additional to, or different from, that made generally for others of the same age; directly related to their Special Educational Need?

 

• Is the child/young person making expected educational progress? Has the progress made only been as the result of additional intervention and support over and above that which is usually provided?

 

• May it be necessary for special educational provision to be made in accordance with an EHC plan? (Can the support and help only be given to the child or young person if they have an EHC plan)

 

The information is discussed by a panel who also consider the views, wishes & feelings of the child, young person and their parent/carers.

In Nottinghamshire, we ask that, wherever possible, parents and education settings discuss an EHC needs assessment request using the 'EHC Guidance Checklist' under downloads on the right side of this page. For parents/carers, we recommend that the next steps are to:

• arrange a meeting with a professional in the education setting, usually the SENCO
• attend the meeting and complete, with the education setting, the ‘checklist’
• decide if you and/or the education setting wish to make an EHC needs assessment request 

If you then wish to make a referral for an EHC needs assessment, please complete the following forms, which can be found under 'downloads' on this page:

• EHC guidance checklist
• EHC request report from school/college
• EHC needs assessment request information from parent/carer and consent form

and then send to the Integrated Children's Disability Service:

Email: icds.duty@nottscc.gov.uk

Tel: 0115 8041275

 

EHC Digital Hub

The last 12 months the Local Authority has been running a live trial in the use of an EHC Digital Hub to manage requests for new EHC assessments in the Bassetlaw and Newark and Sherwood localities. The Local Authority are now planning to roll out the use of the EHC Digital Hub across the wider county from 4^th November 2019, for all new EHC Assessment Requests. To progress a new request users will still need complete the EHC guidance checklist as well as completing the information requested within the EHC Hub.  The checklist and any other information (e.g. health reports), that will be helpful to support a new request should then be uploaded to the hub before submitting the online request. The checklist can be found under 'documents' on this page.

 

Requesting a new EHC assement

To request a new EHC assessment please click on the following link: EHC Assessment

To access the EHC Hub please click on the following link: EHC Hub

 

How to Register for an Account

Guide to Registering and logging in to the EHC Hub

A short video is also available here: Registering for an account

 

Managing your EHC Hub Account

Guide to managing your EHC Hub account

 

Guidance for Families and Young people

Guide to Contributing to an EHC Plan

 

School SENCO - Making a request for an Assessment

General Guide to EHC Hub Screens

Guide to Making a Request for an Assessment 

A short video is also available here: Requesting an Assessment

 

Contributing Practitioner - How to Provide Advice Towards an Assessment

Guide to Contributing to EHC Plans

A short video is also available here: Contributing to EHC Plans

 

School SENCO - Arranging an EHC Hub Review

Annual review functionality is being rolled out incrementally during 2019 and early 2020. We will be in touch once your schools EHC plans are all transferred to the EHC Hub.

Guide to the Annual Review Process in the EHC Hub

A short video is also available here: EHC Hub Reviews

 

Contact Us

For further guidance on accessing and using the Nottinghamshire EHC Hub in the first instance please contact CFCS.Systems@nottscc.gov.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

For further information relating to the EHC Needs Assessment Request process please contact the Integrated Children's Disability Service (ICDS) Assessment Team:

Email: icds.duty@nottscc.gov.uk

Tel: 0115 8041275