• the child or young person's parent or carer, or an advocate on their behalf
• the young person if they are aged between 16 and 25 (or an advocate on their behalf)
• anyone acting on behalf of your child or young person’s early years setting, school or college if they have the agreement of you or your young person.

The following people can also tell the local authority if they feel a child or young person may need an assessment:

• a health professional supporting the child or young person, such as a doctor or a health visitor
• any other professional working to support the child or young person, including foster carers, social care professionals, youth justice teams, probation services or those responsible for education in custody, or a family friend.

You can apply for an EHC Needs Assessment in a number of ways: 

• by email to the SEND team at EHCNA@bcpcouncil.gov.uk
• by post to:SEND Team Manager, SEND Team, BCP Council, Civic Centre, Bourne Avenue, Bournemouth BH2 6DY
• by using the SENDiass4BCP request for EHC needs assessment template
• the child or young person’s education setting, working in partnership with you, can also make an application for an EHC needs assessment using the education health and care needs assessment request form. 

It will be helpful to provide the following:

• any medical and diagnostic reports relevant to the child or young person’s special educational needs and disability (SEND), if applicable
• information about how their needs are impacting their learning
• information about your child's ability over the last year, describing particularly where support is needed.
• evidence of interventions implemented by the setting to support the child or young person’s needs at SEND support level and how this has been reviewed over time following the BCP Graduated Response (Assess, Plan, Do, Review).

You can also write about your child or young person’s needs and how long they have had them.

You can use the one-page profile template in the downloads section or create a one-page template of your own. There are lots of examples online, including these from Sheffkids or Helen Sanderson Associates.

When we receive a request for assessment, we have six weeks from the date the request is received to consider if an assessment is necessary.

To help with decision making, wherever possible, the case will be discussed with the SEND Panel

When a decision is made we will tell:

• you
• the young person
• the health service (relevant Clinical Commissioning Group or NHS England)
• local authority social care services
• the education setting that your child or young person attends

If we decide to go ahead with an assessment, we'll make sure you are included from the start and given opportunities to share your views and information.

If we haven’t already been given information, we’ll ask you to write to us your child or young person's needs including any early years setting, school or college reports and an assessment from the medical professionals involved in your child or young person's care.

Read about the EHC needs assessment process.

If we decide not to carry out an assessment, we’ll write to you and tell you other ways your child or young person/you can be supported in the educational setting.

You and your child or young person will be given the opportunity to meet with us to talk about our decision. You have a right to appeal the decision and seek independent advice and we will give you information on how to do this.

If you have questions about the EHC Needs Assessment process you can contact the BCP Council SEND Statutory Services Team at SENDbso@bcpcouncil.gov.uk or by phone on 01202 128880.

SENDiass4BCP can also provide information, advice and support.