SEND & school
EHC needs assessment evidence toolkit.
Work out what the local authority is being asked to decide, what evidence supports the request and which statutory milestone you are currently at.
The questions below help you organise information and spot issues to check. A checklist cannot decide whether an organisation has acted unlawfully or whether an appeal will succeed.
Who this toolkit is for
Preparing a request
Use it when you need to set out needs, functional impact, support already tried and the evidence that helps explain why an EHC needs assessment is being requested.
Already in the process
Use it to keep the decision, evidence, advice received and key dates visible rather than letting the case become a stack of disconnected documents.
What evidence should I focus on?
Start with evidence that makes the child's needs, functional impact, support already tried and response to that support clear. Relevance is more useful than volume.
What if the answer is no?
Record exactly what was refused, the reasons given and what evidence was considered. Then check the decision letter and current official information about any deadline, mediation or appeal route.
1. Define the request
What special educational needs are known or suspected?
Why might an EHC needs assessment be needed now?
Focus on needs, current provision, progress, access, complexity and why existing information/support may not be enough to make or implement the necessary decisions.
2. Evidence map
| Need / difficulty | Functional impact | Support already tried | Response / progress | Evidence source | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3. Keep the statutory milestones visible
Date the local authority received the request
My calculated check dates (verify against the actual rules / council correspondence)
4. Advice gathering check
The SEND Code and regulations require the local authority to obtain specified advice/information during an assessment, subject to rules about existing advice being sufficient. Use this table to see what has actually been requested and received.
| Advice / source | Requested? | Received? | Current enough? | Covers needs? | Covers provision? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5. If the answer is “no”
What legal/process decision has actually been made?
What reasons were given?
Which evidence did the decision appear to rely on — and what relevant evidence appears missing or misunderstood?
GOV.UK confirms that parents/young people can challenge a refusal to assess and a refusal to issue an EHC plan. Check the decision letter and current mediation/tribunal rules promptly.
6. If a draft plan is issued
- Check every identified SEN has been captured.
- Check the provision proposed for each need.
- Check outcomes are meaningful and linked to needs/provision.
- Check reports/advice are reflected accurately.
- Record corrections and requested amendments clearly.
- Use the separate EHCP Quality Checker before commenting.
Sources & review
Last reviewed: 16 August 2026. This resource is practical information for England, not legal or clinical advice. Check the linked source if your situation turns on a deadline, appeal right or legal interpretation.
GOV.UK — SEND Code of Practice: 0 to 25 yearsGOV.UK — Children with SEND: extra help / EHC plansMedway Council — requesting an EHC needs assessmentUse this with
Keep the evidence connected to the next action.
Assessment request refused?
Read what to check next without losing sight of appeal rights.