Education Health and Care plans (EHCP)

You won’t automatically get an assessment. We decide on a case by case basis if it’s right for your child. In Waltham Forest, this decision is made by an expert panel, including:

• Senior SEND Officer
• Principal Educational Psychologist
• Designated Clinical Officer from health services or other senior health representative
• School SEND Co
• Advisory Teacher representative from Flourish
• Early Years Advisor
• Waltham Forest SEND Service Team Leader

The panel meets weekly and reviews the information from the school/parent. It looks at current support, any access to local services, statutory or otherwise, and what impact it’s having. Panel decisions are shared with school or parents within ten working days.

If your child needs an assessment

If the panel decides in your favour, our business support officer will request as much information as possible.  All the professionals involved with your child will then write reports for the assessment. This must be done within six weeks. After hearing back, the SEND Case Officer summarises the information and refers back to the panel for the final decision.

If your child needs an assessment, you will move on to Step 3: my story - hyperlink.

If your child does not need an assessment

If the panel turns down your request, your child’s needs will continue to be met at SEND support. A Senior SEND officer will contact you and your child's school or nursery and arrange a 'way forward' meeting. The meeting will reconsider what support is best for your child. They may opt to change the support, involve other services via the Local Offer, or ask us for extra help through referrals such as therapies.