Requesting an EHCP Needs assessment

[EHCPHelp]

Hi All,

Hoping to get some advice as I start the EHCP process. DD starts school September 2024. She has no diagnosis currently but has been assessed at being 12 months delayed in speech and language (delayed in both expressive and receptive). She'll be 4 in October. My questions are;

• Will I realistically have an EHCP granted with no diagnosis? I can get reports from nursery as well as (private) SALT assessment
• Will an EHCP be granted if the primary need is SALT support? She does have some sensory needs and short attention span, but speech is currently the main issue

Thanks in advance!/9

EHCNAs and subsequently EHCP are based on needs, not diagnosis. It is possible to get an EHCNA and then an EHCP without a diagnosis. The only threshold to focus on first is that for an EHCNA which is - a) has or may have SEN, and b) may need SEN provision to be made via an EHCP.

Some DC with EHCPs do have SLCN as a primary need.

@ThomasWasTortured Thank you, that's helpful to know

My ds2 is the same age as your dd. He recently saw the paediatrician and she put his speech at the 24 month mark and sounds very similar with speech being his primary need. He’s currently receiving early intervention and at the most recent parents consultation the speech therapist said he would be an ideal candidate for an EHCP which would hopefully mean he can attend a school with a language hub and keep up the intensive speech therapy. Prior to this I’d been told that EHCP’s were rarely granted solely for speech but I’m not sure how true this is?! Ds2’s speech is very behind his peers and without intervention I doubt he’ll catch up. He’s very sociable etc but I am worried about how he’ll get on at school (I can’t imagine he’ll get any 1:1 as he tends to fit in and my concern is he’ll get lost in a class of 30). Nursery want to start EHCP process in autumn once he’s got 2 x One Plans behind him

Nursery want to start EHCP process in autumn once he’s got 2 x One Plans behind him

Don’t wait. Apply yourself now. 2 One Plans are not needed. If you want an EHCP in place prior to starting school you need all the time you can get as if you have to appeal, as many do, the waits are long.

@LadyCLS , thanks for commenting and they do sound quite similar! My dd is quite sociable and like your son does fit in, so worried she'll end up being neglected. She's also receiving early intervention but agree with @ThomasWasTortured re starting the EHCP process asap. I've started filling out the form from my council and plan to send to nursery to fill out their bits this week.

Is it quite straightforward? I’m worried that my son won’t get it in time if I don’t start process soon but am quite nervous about doing it myself 😬

@EHCPHelp just so you know, you don’t have to complete the LA’s request form and get the nursery to as well. You can use IPSEA’s model letter.

@LadyCLS on their website IPSEA have a model letter you can use to request an EHCNA.

I got a ehcp for my DC without diagnosis and before starting primary school (he was at a private nursery) so it is possible and I'd encourage you to do it

Thanks @OneTwoThreeFourFiveOnceI for confirming. @ThomasWasTortured , I've got the IPSEA model letter but was wondering if there are any advantages of using the one my LA normally uses at all?

There is no legal obligation to use the one the LA provided which will probably reference various locally set requirements that have no legal basis.

There is no legal advantage to using the LA’s form.

Just to come back and say thanks to everyone who commented. I got an approval to assess and am now waiting for the co-produce meeting