If your child has been referred for an EHCP assessment, it is completely normal to feel worried, confused or overwhelmed. Many parents tell us the same thing. They want to support their child properly but do not always understand what the process involves, who is involved, or what they should be asking in meetings.

An Education, Health and Care Plan, usually called an EHCP, is a legal document that sets out a child’s special educational needs and the support they should receive in school. Before a plan can be put in place, the local authority carries out a detailed assessment of your child’s needs. This is known as an EHCP needs assessment.

The aim is not to focus on what a child cannot do, but to understand what support they need in order to learn, communicate and take part in school life alongside their peers.

What triggers an EHCP assessment?

In primary school, an EHCP assessment is usually requested when a child needs more help than the school can reasonably provide through its usual special educational needs support. This might be because of ongoing difficulties with speech and language, learning, attention, behaviour, sensory processing, handwriting or emotional wellbeing.

Sometimes the school makes the request. In other cases, parents can apply directly to the local authority. Either way, the local authority decides whether there is enough evidence to carry out a full assessment.

Who is involved in the assessment?

An EHCP assessment is never based on just one person’s view. It brings together information from a range of people who know your child in different ways. This often includes:

• The class teacher and the school SENCo

• A speech and language therapist

• An educational psychologist

• Sometimes an occupational therapist

• Parents or carers

• The child, where appropriate

Each professional looks at a different part of your child’s development. A speech and language therapist focuses on communication and understanding. An educational psychologist looks at how your child learns, thinks and processes information. An occupational therapist may look at handwriting, coordination and how your child manages everyday tasks at school.

Your views as a parent are also a vital part of the assessment, as you see your child in ways school staff do not.

What areas are assessed?

The assessment looks at your child as a whole person, not just their academic progress. This usually includes:

• How your child understands and uses language

• How they cope with learning in the classroom

• Their attention, memory and processing speed

• Their handwriting and fine motor skills

• Their sensory needs, such as sensitivity to noise, movement or touch

• Their emotional wellbeing, confidence and anxiety

• How they manage socially with other children

This information is gathered through observations, assessments, school records and discussions with you.

What happens at the EHCP assessment meeting?

Once the reports are complete, a meeting is held to discuss the findings. This is where professionals explain what they have seen, what your child finds difficult and what is helping.

The group then considers whether your child meets the criteria for an EHCP. If they do, they will also talk about what support should be included in the plan, how often it should happen, and who will be responsible for delivering it.

For many parents, this meeting can feel daunting. There is often a lot of information shared in a short space of time, and it can be hard to take everything in or know when to speak up.

Why preparation makes such a difference

It is very common for parents to leave these meetings feeling unsure about what was decided, or wishing they had asked more questions. Some are not clear about when support will start, what it will look like, or who to contact if things are not working.

Going into the meeting with a clear set of questions can make a huge difference. It helps you focus on what matters, understand what professionals are saying, and make sure your child’s needs are fully explored.

Our EHCP Assessment Meeting Questions template

To support families, we have created a free EHCP Assessment Meeting Questions template that parents can use before and during their meeting.

It covers all the key areas that are usually discussed, including:

• Speech and language development

• Learning and classroom access

• Handwriting and fine motor skills

• Social and emotional wellbeing

• Sensory and attention needs

• Support and interventions

• The EHCP process and what happens next

There is also space to make notes, so you can keep track of what is said and what has been agreed.

Parents tell us that having these questions in front of them helps them feel calmer, more confident and more involved in the discussion.

Final thoughts

An EHCP assessment is not about labelling a child. It is about understanding them better and making sure they get the right support to succeed in school and beyond.

Being informed and prepared helps you play an active role in that process. If your child is going through an EHCP assessment, our question template is there to support you every step of the way.

Get in touch with us for more information or click here to download your free template!