How to apply for an EHC Assessment

If you are the young person or the parent / carer

The young person, their parent or carers, and other people who know the child/young person well, may request an EHC needs assessment in writing, by post or email.

We always recommend that you speak to the SENCo in your child's school or educational setting before you ask the local authority to consider a request to start a needs assessment. Although a parent carer or young person can request an assessment, where possible it is better that an educational setting makes the request. This is because they will have the evidence that they have used the graduated approach to SEN Support.

If you are considering requesting an EHC Needs Assessment, you should contact the SEND Team to discuss the request on 01225 712620. SEND Lead Workers can help and advise you on next steps.

The form below can be used by parents to request an assessment.

To request an assessment as a parent use: Parent/Carer request for an EHCNA – Wiltshire (OpenDocument text format, 44 KB)(opens new window) and submit this along with any supporting evidence you wish to contribute, including any views your child or young person may wish provide.

To request an assessment as a young person aged 16 and under 25 use: Wiltshire Young Person's request to carry out an EHCNA (OpenDocument text format, 39 KB)(opens new window)

If you are submitting a parent/ carer or young person application for an Education Health and Care needs assessment please ensure it is sent to statutorysen.service@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window) or the address below. Any deviation from these addresses may incur a delay in the processing of the application.

You can also write to the SEND Team on how to request an assessment using these contact details:

Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Service
Wiltshire Council
County Hall
Bythesea Road
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14 8JN

Phone: 01225 712620

If you are a school or educational setting

Educational settings such as schools, in partnership with the young person and/or their parents or carers, can request an EHC Needs Assessment using the Wiltshire Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment request e-form and by adding relevant up-to-date evidence.

The e-form has a checklist for you to complete prior to starting the request, to make sure you have all the evidence to hand.

EHC needs assessment request form for schools and settings

Use the 'report this page' feature if you have issues as this will help us develop and improve this system. To discuss the process before making a referral you can call the SEND team by phoning 01225 712620.

Such requests should be discussed at the review meeting as part of the Assess, Plan, Do, Review cycle. Parent/carers and professionals involved in the support for the child/young person should be invited to the meeting.

In considering whether an assessment is necessary, the local authority must have regard to the views, wishes and feelings of the child and the parent or the young person. Here is a guidance document with suggestions on how to gain the views of the child or young person as part of the assessment process. There is also a template that could be used with the child:

Click the link below to access the template.

Template: Information about me document (OpenDocument text format, 794 KB)(opens new window)

Guidance document: Guidance document (OpenDocument text format, 43 KB)(opens new window)

Contacting the SEND Service

If you need to speak to the service for support with the assessment process please visit the following page:

Contacting the Wiltshire SEND team