Parental Request Letter

Our template parental request letter and guidance are intended to help you ask the local authority to assess your child’s special educational needs and disabilities following an Education, Health and Care Plan.

Template Parental Request Letter

On the next page, you can find a template letter to request an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Needs Assessment from Warwickshire County Council. This should be sent by email to sen@warwickshire.gov.uk or posted to the address on the letter along with copies of any supporting evidence.

As a parent or young person, you have the right to request an EHC Needs Assessment. The decision to proceed with the assessment is made on a case-by-case basis, and the same evidence is required if the school or college were to apply. Please refer to our information sheet on EHC Needs Assessment for more details.

Once the template letter has been sent, you should receive a letter from Warwickshire SENDAR (assessment and review team) acknowledging receipt of your request. They will then contact the early years setting, school or post-16 setting for additional information and then make their decision on whether an EHC Needs Assessment is needed within six weeks.  This decision will be made at the Assessment Panel.  They will let you know this decision in writing.

They will then contact the early years setting, school or post-16 setting for additional information and decide on whether an EHC Needs Assessment is needed within six weeks. This decision will be made at the Assessment Panel. They will let you know this decision by phone and/or in writing

What to include in the request letter

Outline the child or young person’s special educational needs, including any diagnosis your child/young persons have, although a diagnosis is not necessary to apply for an EHC Needs Assessment.

There are four areas of SEND, and it may help to mention difficulties in each of these areas:

• Cognition and Learning

• Communication and Interaction

• Sensory and Physical

• Social, Emotional and Mental Health

It is helpful to explain briefly what your child/young person finds difficult at school and home, such as:

• Literacy – reading, writing, spelling

• Numeracy

• Social skills

• Communication

• Understanding

• Concentration

• Behaviour

• Health needs

Discuss what steps the school or educational setting have taken to date to meet your child or young person’s special educational needs. This could include any additional intervention or support they have provided.  Also, include any special circumstances, such as your child or young person being unable to access school, having multiple suspensions, or being permanently excluded.  Include your child or young person’s progress at school and why you think they are not making expected progress.  You can include the latest school report or Individual Education Plan (IEP), or similar document.  Also, try to explain why you feel an assessment is necessary, e.g. increased level of support.  You can also include what support you feel your child or young person needs to help them progress.

Your child or young person may be receiving support from specialists who can provide additional information. If you are aware of any such involvement, note this in your letter along with their name and contact details if possible. These might include:

• Integrated Disability Service (IDS)

• Educational Psychology Service (Ed Psych)

• Speech and Language Service or Therapist (SALT)

• Specialist Teaching Service (STS)

• Physiotherapy (Physio) or Occupational Therapy (OT)

• Hospital Consultants / Clinical Psychologists

• Independent Specialists

You should include copies of reports from any assessments to help give a clear picture of your child’s or young person’s needs. Ideally these reports should be no more than two years old, except reports which contain a diagnosis; however, if you feel they are still relevant, you should include them.

Young Persons Request

An EHC Needs Assessment Request for a young person over the age of 16 must be sent directly from the young person. This means that they could complete the request themselves, if they are able, or, as their parent, you could complete the request on their behalf and include a paragraph at the bottom of the letter explaining that the young person gives their consent for this request, and have your young person sign it.

If you need more information on EHC needs assessments for young people, please contact us.

Email: warwickshiresendiass@barnardos.org.uk

Or

Leave a voicemail on 01788 593159

You can find more information on our website and contact us via a web form on  www.warwickshiresendiass.co.uk

DOWNLOAD Letter and remove blue writing to add your own (Blue writing is to help you fill out the letter)