Free EHCP Request Letter Template
A template for parents requesting an education, health and care (EHC) needs assessment in England. Check and adapt it using your own facts.
Get the free template →📄 What's in the template
- Correct legal subject line (Section 36 of the Children and Families Act 2014)
- Fillable sections with prompts to check and adapt
- Section for your child's specific difficulties, with example prompts
- Section documenting what support has already been tried
- How to explain why provision through an EHC plan may be necessary
- Checklist of supporting documents to enclose
- The usual 6-week response deadline, with a reminder to check exceptions
- Practical prompts in plain English
- What to do if the LA says no
Why your letter matters
A formal EHC needs-assessment request triggers a legal process. The local authority must usually decide whether to assess within 6 weeks, subject to statutory exceptions.
A clear, specific request helps the local authority understand the needs, support already tried, and evidence it should consider. The legal test still applies and no template can guarantee a decision.
You don't need a solicitor to write it. There is no requirement to use SENDPath’s format. It is an optional way to organise your request.
[Your Address]
[Date]
To: The SEN Team, [Local Authority]
RE: Request for an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Needs Assessment — [Child's Name], DOB [DD/MM/YYYY]
I am writing to formally request that [Local Authority] carries out an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Needs Assessment for my child, under Section 36 of the Children and Families Act 2014...
Section 1: About My Child
Section 2: Description of My Child's Needs
Section 3: What Has Already Been Tried
Section 4: Why an EHC plan may be necessary...
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📚 Related EHCP guides
Full EHCP Application Guide (Kent)
Step-by-step walkthrough of the entire EHC needs assessment process.
Read guide →EHCP Checklist
Use the checklist to review an initial draft or final EHCP, identify missing needs or provision, and check the appropriate challenge route.
Read guide →EHCP Appeal Guide
If the local authority refuses, learn the appeal deadline, mediation-certificate rule and how to prepare relevant evidence.
Read guide →🔍 Need professional support?
Use existing school and professional evidence and free advice first. A private report is not a prerequisite for requesting an assessment. If there is a specific evidence gap, discuss what would address it before commissioning work: