The assessment

During the assessment information will be gathered from the following people:

• You or your child will be asked to give your views if you haven’t already
• Current nursery, school or college
• If the child has a hearing or vision impairment, educational advice from a person qualified to teach children and young people with these impairments
• Educational psychologist
• Health care professionals
• Social care
• From year 9 onwards, someone giving advice on preparing for adulthood and independent living
• Any other person requested by the child’s parent or the young person
• Any other advice the LA considers appropriate e.g. youth offending team,  designated teacher for looked after children

Sometimes new assessments will be needed, but if assessments or reports have already been done, you won’t need to repeat them as long as you, the local authority and the person who provided the report all agree that it is still accurate. Professionals have 6 weeks to provide a report.

The educational psychologist will complete an assessment of your child as part of the EHC (Education, Health and Care) Needs Assessment. During the assessment they will talk to your child or young person to ask them their views. Once they have completed their assessment they will meet with you (and possibly school and other professionals) to agree what would be the correct outcomes to aim for.