EHCP or ECN assessment?

[soootiredddd]

Hi everyone,

My 3 year old DD is awaiting autism diagnosis. She is due to start school in sept 2023 and I have been told by several people that we should apply for an EHCP now so that we (maybe?!) have it in place for the admissions cut off. However upon doing further reading I have been completely overwhelmed by all the information and am now wondering if we need to do an EHC needs assessment first? I don't want to put all this time and effort into doing an EHCP application only for them to come back and say oh no you can't have one of those until after you've had an EHC needs assessment. To be honest I still don't really understand the difference between the two. Thanks for any advice.

An EHCNA is the initial needs assessment prior to the LA deciding whether they will issue an EHCP or not. You have to request an EHCNA you can’t request an EHCP directly. IPSEA have a model letter you can use.

You should make the request ASAP because the process takes 20 weeks unless you have to appeal, but sadly many parents do have to appeal, some more than once and tribunals are currently taking a long time.

Ok thank you I think that makes sense now. The website I've been looking at really didn't make that obvious as it's in a part that says 'how do I request an EHCP'! www.wokingham.gov.uk/local-offer-for-0-25-year-olds-with-additional-needs/education-and-special-educational-needs/education-health-and-care-needs-assessment/

If I complete the under 5s form above then do I still need to use a letter? Or can I just send the form? Sorry this is all new to me and I'm so overwhelmed (ADHD)

You don’t need to fill in the LA’s form if you don’t want to, you can use the IPSEA model letter instead (even if the LA try to tell you otherwise). But if you do want to use the LA’s form you don’t have to send the IPSEA letter as well.

I would also recommend you work with the nursery and send in evidence of reports from any private therapies you are doing. My child is just 3 and I have gone through this and we've had the assessment, we will find out very soon if EHCP issued. Take a look at the childrens and families act 2014 in there somewhere is a statement around the LA requirement to assess ( it's very low and only if suspected Sen) are they already under the inclusion worker at the LA or receiving portage, if so you can reference that at acknowledgement of SEN so no right to refuse. It is overwhelming but once you get started is ok. Have a look at SOSSEN they do very helpful webinars. Best of luck OP x

Portage or being under the inclusion worker may be part of the evidence considered but it is not part of the test for an EHCNA. The only legal test for an EHCP set out in s.36 CAFA 2014 (which is the section covering EHCNAs) is (a) the child or young person has or may have SEN, and (b) it may be necessary for SEP to be made for the child or young person in accordance with an EHCP.

There is also some helpful EHCP support groups on Facebook OP they where very helpful with knowledge and you can just read the posts to get a feel for it. It's how I worked out what to put in mine along with the SOSSEN webinars. I submitted the request to assess at 2y 10 months for my little one and as mentioned include the above along with supporting evidence from private therapists and nursery and it wasn't declined. Hopefully it will all help you 😊