Where despite the educational establishment having taken appropriate and focussed action to identify, assess and meet the SEN of the child or young person, they have not made expected progress, consideration should be given to requesting an EHC assessment following the information provided in the SEND Handbook and Criteria.
The Local Authority takes account of the following information when deciding whether a child or young person with a disability or SEN requires a statutory assessment around their Education, Health and Care plan:
The child or young person:
- has or may have severe or complex long term needs that affect their everyday life; and/or
- requires or may require provision and resources that are not normally available within a mainstream educational setting; and/or
- requires or may require intensive help and support from more than one agency; and/or
- despite relevant and purposeful levels of support being provided by their educational establishment, they are making limited or no progress.
AND
In the case of:
- an EHC assessment: it may be necessary for special educational provision to be made for the child or young person in accordance with an EHC plan; or
- an EHC plan: it is necessary for special educational provision to be made for a child or young person in accordance with an EHC plan.
In order that the Local Authority has the information it needs to decide if these criteria are satisfied, it would expect to see proof of:
- the action taken by a child or young person's school, where they are of statutory school age, including evidence that appropriate interventions, support and resources, which are available through the Local Offer and school's SEN funding, have already been put in place, including the Assess/Plan/Do/Review cycles;
- the child or young person's failure to make expected progress; and
- the special educational provision required to meet the child or young person's needs cannot reasonably be provided from with the resources normally available to their setting.