An Education Health and Care needs assessment (EHCNA) is undertaken by the local authority (LA) to determine whether it is necessary to issue an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
What Happens During an Education Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA)?
An EHCP will be necessary where the assessment identifies that a child or young person has significant and/or complex special educational needs that requires them to have regular access to specialist support, provision or services so that they can make educational progress and develop their knowledge and skills in preparation for their life as an adult.
Dudley Council’s Special Educational Needs (SEND) Team is responsible for coordinating the EHCNA for all children and young people residing within the borough regardless of where they go to school.
The assessment should be completed within 20 weeks of the date that the initial request is received by the SEND Team.
More information can be found in the leaflet below.
We recognise that waiting for an Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment can be an anxious and challenging time for children, young people and their families. We are committed to completing assessments as promptly as possible while ensuring that each child or young person’s needs are carefully and thoroughly considered.
Under the SEND Code of Practice (2015), the full EHC needs assessment process — from the date a request is received to the issuing of a final EHC Plan — should normally be completed within 20 weeks, except where specific statutory exceptions apply.
At present, due to increased demand and capacity pressures across education, health and care services, our average timescales are currently longer than the statutory 20-week timeframe.
As of March 2026, there are currently 553 EHC needs assessments in progress.
Current average timescales are:
5 weeks from request to decision on whether to carry out an EHC needs assessment
36 weeks from initial request to issuing of a final EHC Plan (where agreed)
These figures will be reviewed and updated on a monthly basis to ensure transparency and to keep families informed of system pressures.
We recognise that these timescales are longer than the statutory expectation and understand the impact this may have on families. We are actively working to reduce delays by:
Increasing assessment capacity, including Educational Psychology provision
Streamlining internal processes
Improving multi-agency coordination
Where delays occur, families will be kept informed and provided with regular updates. In the meantime, children and young people should continue to receive SEN Support from their education setting.
If you have concerns about your child’s needs while waiting for an assessment, or if you require further information about your case, please contact the SEND Team.
We remain committed to improving timeliness and ensuring that children and young people receive the support they need as quickly.
