EHCP guidance

After diagnosis

A guided walkthrough of what happens after an autism diagnosis in England — who you'll see, what to ask your council, and how to request an EHC needs assessment.

Step 6 of 8

Who does what in an EHC needs assessment

School, council, health, and you -- what each stage draws on, and from whom.

  • SEN Support (school-led, ongoing): teacher and SENCO, informed by classroom observation, your input, your child's own views, and any existing specialist advice.
  • EHC needs assessment (council-led, statutory): the council must gather advice from the school, an educational psychologist, health professionals, and social care -- plus your views and your child's.
  • The EHCP itself: the resulting legal document, covering education, health, and social care needs and the provision to meet them, built directly from that gathered advice.
Your (and your child's) views must legally be sought at every one of these stages -- this isn't optional input, it's part of the process.
This system is under reform. The government's Schools White Paper (February 2026) proposes replacing EHCPs over time, but the law has not changed: nothing takes effect before September 2029 at the earliest, existing plans continue, and everything on this page is the process as it stands today.
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