Pathway for special educational needs support
This is the pathway that you and your child will follow to get the right support for your child
Your journey starts with identifying that your child might have special educational needs. You will learn how their education setting will put plans in place to help them.
During the journey, you will discover the right level of support that your child needs. This might be somewhere in the middle of the pathway. We hope that wherever that is, you will feel confident that your child is getting the help they need and are entitled to.
SEN Support in all education settings
All education settings such as nurseries, schools and colleges are required to help children with special educational needs (SEN). The SEN support provided will give most children with SEN all the support they need. Only a very few children with long term and complex needs will stay on the pathway to receive extra support.
Education Health and Care Assessment process
It is important to be sure that the nursery, school or college has done everything that it can and should to support your child or young person. If the child has not been able to make progress using the strategies put in place by the education setting, they might be able to get extra support. This could be in the form of an Education Health and Care (EHC) Assessment.
This process shows the steps that are taken in an EHC Assessment, and what happens if an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is or isn't agreed.
Making your request
We encourage all requests for EHC assessment to be made through the EHC Hub, which helps ensure requests are received securely in the Local Authority straight away. We can't accept requests for EHC assessment by telephone. If you choose not to request an EHC assessment through the EHC Hub, you may instead email the SEN Service Helpdesk via [email protected].
EHC Hub
The Education, Health and Care (EHC) Hub is where a child's progress through the EHC pathway is recorded. Parents and professionals can follow the journey in the Hub and see any decisions made. You can also add and view reports and contributions relevant to the child.
You can only log into the EHC Hub if you have been invited to take part in an EHC assessment in the EHC Hub.