Special Educational Needs (SEN) support is extra help that schools and other education settings give to children and young people who need additional support with their learning.
If a child may have special education needs and/or disabilities, the school must follow the Graduated Response (also called the Graduated Approach). This is a step‑by‑step way of working out what support the child needs. The SEND Code of Practice gives guidance on this.
You can get more information on the graduated approach by viewing:
The graduated approach has 4 stages:
The Assess, Plan, Do, Review cycle is the way settings plan support for children/young people with SEN. You and your child should be part of every step.
Schools repeat the support cycle until the child makes progress. Some children improve after one cycle, but others may need several.
If a child isn't making progress, specialists should be asked to help. Depending on the needs of the child these could be:
- Educational Psychologist
- Specialist Advisory Teacher
- Speech and Language Therapist
- Occupational Therapist
The decision to involve specialists should be made by the school and parents together.
If your child does not make progress following these steps, an Education, Health and Needs Assessment (EHCNA) may be necessary.
Some children and young people need extra help at nursery, school, or college (setting). Sometimes the help they get there is not enough. When this happens, they may need an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA).
Here are some things to check:
- Have a look at the SEND information report on your child’s nursery, school, or college website.
- Make sure your child is getting SEND Support in school.
- Check that the school is using the Graduated Approach (Assess, Plan, Do Review).
- Check that the school has evidence of the support they have tried. This may include:
- An individual support plan
- Reports from an educational psychologist or other professionals
- Make sure you have had regular meetings with your child's teacher or keyworker.
If you need help, contact the Derbyshire Information Advice and Support Service for SEND (DIASS).
If you feel the school has not done enough, please speak with the Special Education Needs and Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCo).
Who can ask for an EHC Needs Assessment?
An assessment can be asked for by:
People at your child's nursery, school or college, such as:
- A SENDCo (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator
- A teacher
People at your child's nursery, school or college, such as:
- A SENDCo (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator)
- A teacher
Other professionals, such as:
- Health or social care workers
- Foster carers
- Early years workers
- Youth offending or probation teams
Parents and carers:
- Parents and carers of a child aged 0 to 16 years old
- Parents and carers of a young person aged 16 to 25 years old, who needs support to make the request
Young people aged 16 to 25 years old:
- Young people with SEND can ask for an assessment themselves if they are able to do so.
If you want to ask for an assessment, please complete the 'Request Needs Assessment form' on the Derbyshire County Council EHC Hub.
Why schools usually make the request
Schools can generally give strong evidence because they work with your child every day.
They need to show:
- What SEND support has been in place
- Whether it has helped
- Which professionals have been involved, and their reports
The information goes to the SEND Multi-Agency Panel.
You have the right to make the request yourself, but you should include any evidence you have. For example:
- Copies of My SEND Learning Plan or other support plans
- Notes/minutes from SEND review meetings
- Any professional reports (Education Psychologist (EP), Speech and Language Therapy (SALT), Occupational Therapists (OT), and Paediatrician)
- Medical reports or diagnosis letters
- Any communication with school showing concerns raised over time
You can get help from:
An assessment does not always lead to an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
How the decision is made
A group of professionals called the SEND Multi-Agency Panel meets regularly.
They decide if the local authority should assess your child by checking:
- whether the child or young person has or may have SEN
- whether they may need special educational provision to be made through an EHCP
If the answer to both is yes, the local authority must do an assessment. You will get a letter to explain the decision.
What happens in the Assessment?
If the local authority agrees to assess:
- They will ask for information from different professionals
- This includes an Educational Psychologist
- They will look at your child's education, health and care needs
- You and your child will be asked for your views
- You will have an EHCP Coordinator to support you
After the assessment, the local authority decides if an EHCP is needed. If they say no, they must tell you within 16 weeks of your request.
If you disagree with a decision
You can:
EHC Assessment Timeline (20 Weeks)
- Week 0: Request sent
- By Week 6: Local Authority decides whether to assess
- By Week 16: Assessment finished and decision made about issuing an EHCP.
If the decision is yes to issue an EHCP:
- Week 17 to 18: You receive a draft EHCP
- You have 15 days to give feedback and ask for a school
- By Week 20: Final EHCP completed
The timeline starts the day the council receives a request for an EHC Needs Assessment. The process should be completed within 20 weeks.