Parental contribution to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment guidelines

There are many important people in a child or young person’s life. Throughout this document the term parent is used to refer to the person/s with legal parental responsibility.

This guidance is to help you provide the information that the local authority needs to make the decision about whether your child would benefit from an EHC plan. Your views are important, after all, it is you who knows your child best.

If at the end of the EHC needs assessment the local authority decides to write an EHC plan it will include your views.

How can I/we share my/our views?

There is a Parental contribution to EHC needs assessment form which you may choose to complete, and in this document there are suggestions as to the type of information you might like to include in your parental contribution.

Alternatively you may choose to:

  • Write about your child in a letter or a report and send that to us either in an email or through the post
  • Discuss your views with a relative or friend, and for that person to write down your comments on your behalf
  • You may wish to ask someone at your child’s educational setting to help you write your contribution
  • Use the information you have provided as part of an Early Support plan
  • Seek help from the Special Educational Needs and Disability Independent Advisory Support Service (SENDIASS):
  • Telephone:01736 751921
  • E-mail:
  • Website:

Suggestions for completing your parental contribution to the EHC needs assessment request

If at all possible:

  • It would be helpful if you are able to word process your parental contribution
  • In your parental contribution it would be helpful if you can be as detailed, but as concise as possible. Using bullet points and summarising key points helps

When you tell us your views, please tell us:

  • What you feel are your child’s special educational needs
  • How do you feel thesespecial educational needs should be met

About my child

This section is for you to tell us about your child.

Your child’s journey so far

You may choose to tell us about:

  • Any issues during pregnancy and/or at birth
  • Your child’s developmental milestones
  • Any changes which affected your child and/or your family
  • Anything else you think we need to know

What is your child like now?

Please help us get to know your child. Tell us:

  • How does your child need to be supported, so that they are heard and understood?
  • What are your child’s strengths and what do they find challenging?
  • What does your child like and dislike?

Please tell us what you feel is working or not working as well as you’d like about:

Friendships and relationships

You might like to tell us about:

  • Relationships with you, within your family and other important people in your child’s life
  • Your child’s friendships with other children
  • How your child gets on with the adults who support them
  • Is your child shy and finds meeting new people difficult, are they not really interested in other people or are they outgoing and enjoy meeting new people?

Please tell us what you feel is working or not working as well as you’d like about:

Health and well being

You might like to comment on:

  • Your child’s general health e.g. how well does your child eat and/or sleep
  • Any serious illnesses, or periods in hospital, any medical diagnoses
  • Your child’s physical skills e.g.rolling, balance, running, writing, scribbling drawing
  • Your child’s sensory needs e.g. sensitive to noise, texture, smells, lights
  • Self-help skills e.g. toileting, dressing and feeding themselves. Are their skills age appropriate or do they need more adult support for some things
  • How much independence in their day to day activities does your child show?
  • Is your child aware of potential dangers for themselves and others e.g. can they cross the road on their own?

Please tell us what you feel is working or not working as well as you’d like about:

Learning, achievement and educational progress

You might like to tell us your views on:

  • How well your child is progressing academically
  • Is your child curious about the world, are they interested in finding things out and enjoy learning new things?
  • How do they learn best?
  • Do they find anything especially challenging or difficult?
  • What are their strengths and skills?
  • What is their concentration like?
  • Are they willing to take part in learning activities?
  • What are their interests or activities in and out of school?

What are your aspirations for your child?

You might like to tell us:

  • What you want for your child, now and in the longer term
  • What do you want them to be able to enjoy or achieve, now and in the longer term. This could include independent living, employment, community and inclusion
  • What do you think your child needs to be able to achieve the above

How do you think an EHC plan might help your child?

Please tell us how you think an EHC plan might help your child

Personal budget information

When you agreed to the request for an EHC needs assessment, your child’s educational setting will have signposted you the personal budget information on the Local Offer website:

If the EHC needs assessment results in an EHC plan, information about personal budgetstatements will be sent to you along with the draft plan.

Thank you for taking the time to read these guidelines and for providing your parental contribution to the EHC needs assessment request.

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