An Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is a legal document that describes the extra support a child or young person with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) needs in education, and how that support will be provided.

If your child needs more help than the school or setting can normally give, you can ask Croydon Council for an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA). This is the first step toward an EHCP. 

An assessment can be requested by:

• A parent or carer.
• A young person aged 16 or over (if they are able to do so themselves).
• A school, nursery or college, with your agreement.

You don’t need a diagnosis to request an EHCP. If your child or young person is struggling significantly with learning, development, or accessing education, they may be eligible. 

When making a request, you should include:

• A brief summary of your child’s needs and why more support is needed.
• Any reports from the school, nursery, therapists, or doctors.
• Examples of what has already been tried and why this hasn’t been enough.
• Your views as a parent or carer.
• Your child or young person’s views (included using the correct contribution form).

Depending on the age of your child, please download and complete the correct forms listed below.

These should be submitted with your request:

Early Years (Child aged 0–5):

• RA.1 – Parent request to carry out an EHC needs assessment
  
• RC.1 – Early Years child contribution form
  

Primary (Child aged 5–11, in Years 1–6)

• RA.1 – Parent request to carry out an EHC needs assessment
  
• RC.2 – Primary age child contribution form
  

Secondary (Child aged 11–15, in Years 7–11):

• RA.1 – Parent request to carry out an EHC needs assessment
  
• RC.3 – Secondary age young person’s contribution form
  

Post-16 (Young person aged 16+):

RA.1 – Only to be used by a parent or carer if the young person does not have the mental capacity to make the request themselves

These forms are available to download or can be requested from the SEND Team. 

Send your completed forms by email or post to:

Email: senenquiries@croydon.gov.uk

Post: SEND Team - 0-25 Statutory Service

Croydon Council

Bernard Weatherill House

8 Mint Walk

Croydon

CR0 1EA

Croydon Council will confirm within 6 weeks whether they will start the assessment process. 

If the assessment is agreed, professionals (such as an educational psychologist or therapists) will be asked for reports.

Your views and your child’s views will be included.

If the EHCP is issued, you will be able to review and agree with the plan.

The full process takes up to 20 weeks.

If the request is declined, you will receive a letter explaining why and information about how to challenge the decision.

You can get help and advice from:

• Croydon SENDIASS - Free, confidential advice and help with completing forms.
• Your child’s SENCo or teacher.