Who decides the area of Need on an EHCP

[Unintentionallycausingoffence]

At DS previous school his SENCO disagreed he had ASC even though he since has received a diagnosis. His main area of need is Social and Communication on his EHCP. Could his original EHCP had another area of need if the SENCO had a say in it?

Those who assessed your DS for his EHCP would decide the needs for example an Ed psych, OT, S&LT.

The LA writes the EHCP, including the instances where there is a primary area of need stated, after considering all the evidence collated as part of the EHCNA.

The EP recommended one area of need for my child. At the outcomes meeting the LA agreed it was totally inappropriate and they are changing it now.

Good for you for doing that. Is more than one area of need considered complex needs?

Most DC with EHCPs will have needs in more than one area (edited to add, if assessed properly, many EHCNAs are poor and don’t identify all needs). That isn’t necessarily described as complex needs. Although there isn’t one set definition of what complex needs means. It varies depending on who is using it and in what context.

If it helps, all my dc who have autism or on the pathway have social and communication as their primary need.