Help EHCPs and funded support for Neurodiversity
Funding for SEND
All schools receive a budget directly from the central government. Part of the school budget is for SEND education and provisions. This is sometimes called the inclusion budget. More about inclusion funding on LCC website. This budget can be used as part of a graduated approach to providing additional support for your child.
If your child continues to not make progress at school, your child may benefit from an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA). An EHCNA allows a more detailed look at your child’s special educational needs and the support they need to help them learn. More about EHCNAs from SENDIASS.
You can also read detailed guidance on applying for an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA) on the Leeds Local Offer website. the Leeds Local Offer website.
You can apply here for an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment on the Leeds City Council EHCNA website page. It is highly recommended that you read the guidance, as above, before applying.
Team in Leeds. EHCNAs and EHCPs are managed by Special Educational Needs Statutory Assessment and Provision (SENSAP) Team in Leeds.
Watch this video for a summary of EHCPs and the assessment process.
Leeds Local Offer
The Leeds Local Offer provides information for children and young people with SEND and their parents/ carers in a single place. It shows families what they can expect from a range of local agencies including education, health and social care. The Leeds Local Offer is about providing families with information to make informed choices about services they chose to use.
The EHCNA process and timescales
The SEND Code of Practice states that Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments (EHCNA) should be completed within 20 weeks. They focus on the educational needs and the support needed to be able to learn.
Whilst the local authority have invested additional resources and are finalising more improvement developments EHC plans are not currently being issued within the expected timescales, due to a range of factors. Updates of these developments can be read here on the Leeds Local Offer website.
Leeds City Council has six weeks from receiving the request to decide if they think that an assessment is needed.
A decision making meeting is held to discuss the request and review the information. You will be informed of the date of this meeting in writing.
If an assessment is not agreed, this is known as ‘refusal to assess’ and you could appeal against this decision to the SEND tribunal. You can read more information about appealing this decision here on the SENDIASS website.
If the assessment is agreed, then Leeds City Council will gather any necessary further evidence and information. This includes gathering information from parents/carers, schools and any healthcare professionals involved. This will help them to assess your child’s needs, so that they can make a decision on whether they think that an EHC plan (EHCP) is needed.
Watch this video for a summary of requesting EHCNA and gathering the evidence.
- If it is agreed that an EHCP is needed, a draft plan will be written. The draft EHCP will be sent to the family and they have 15 days to respond in writing.
- If it is decided that your child does not need an Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP), you will be notified by the council. You will be provided information about your right to a meeting to discuss the reasons and voice objections, and to appeal this decision if you wish to do so. You can read more information about appeals and mediation here on the SENDIASS website.
Watch this video for a summary of draft and final EHCPs.
A final version of the Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP) will be completed and shared with the family.
The child/young person and their family have a right to identify the setting that they’d like to attend. The SENSAP team will then ‘consult’ with the setting to see if they can meet your child’s needs.
Watch this video for a summary of placement and provision in an EHCP.
Once the draft and setting is agreed, the setting is named on the final EHCP.
The EHCP is then a legal document that details any special needs a child has and the support and provisions that must be in place to help them learn.
EHCP’s are reviewed at least every 12 months to make sure that they’re up to date and still needed. For children under five years old, reviews are at least every six months.
Watch this video for a summary of EHCP reviews.
SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Services)
SENDIASS support children and young people with SEND and their families/carers to get help where needed. They provide free, impartial, and confidential advice and online resources, including on applying for an EHCP.
They have made lots of helpful videos explaining SEND support, EHCPs and EHCP tribunals.
Links for more information
Leeds SEND local offer
The Leeds Local Offer provides information for children and young people with SEND and their parents/carers in a single place. It shows families what they can expect from a range of local agencies including education, health and social care. The Leeds Local Offer is about providing families with information to make informed choices about services they chose to use.
Go to LCC page
Disability rights in education
More information about schools’ responsibilities in relation to disability is available on the gov.uk website
Go to gov. website pageSEND: The rights of the child
Information about what kinds of support your child has a right to is available on the gov.uk website
Go to gov. website page