If your child is struggling at school and the support they’re getting doesn’t seem to be enough, you may have heard about an EHCP. It stands for Education, Health and Care Plan. Knowing what it is, when to ask for one, and how to make a strong request can make a significant difference to what your child receives. In law, this is called an EHC needs assessment, and the resulting document is an EHC plan, also called an EHCP plan.
This guide walks you through the process step by step, with specific guidance for children with ADHD.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal or benefits advice. Eligibility and processes can vary by local authority. If you need personalised advice, contact your local SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Service).
Key Takeaways:
- An EHCP is a legally binding document covering a child’s educational, health, and social care needs and the provision required to meet them
- ADHD can qualify for an EHCP when it significantly affects a child’s ability to learn
- A formal ADHD diagnosis is helpful, but not legally required to request an assessment
- Parents can request an assessment directly from their local authority, even without school support
- The local authority must decide within six weeks whether to assess, and the full process takes up to 20 weeks
How to Apply for an EHCP
The EHCP application process starts with a written request to your local authority’s SEND team. Here is how to apply for EHCP support step by step, as a parent in England
- Find your local authority SEND team. Search your council’s website for “request an EHC needs assessment” or use the government of the UK local council finder. Each council’s local offer page will explain its specific process, which may involve an online form, a downloadable PDF, or a direct email.
- Write your request. You can use a template letter from IPSEA (Independent Provider of Special Education Advice) or write your own. State clearly that you are requesting an EHC needs assessment for your child, include your child’s name, date of birth, and school, and explain how their needs are affecting their education.
* The EHCP application form or EHCP form varies by council but always asks for the same core information.
- Include supporting evidence. Send copies of any school reports, teacher observations, SEN support plans, and any medical or clinical letters you have. An ADHD diagnostic report is valuable here if you have one.
- Send it in writing. Email or post your request so you have a record of when it was received. The 20-week clock starts from the date the local authority receives your request.¹
- Wait for the six-week decision. The local authority must tell you within six weeks whether they will carry out an assessment.¹
If you are wondering how to apply for an EHCP as a parent only, without school support, it follows exactly the same process. You apply directly to the local authority. The school does not need to countersign or approve your request.
When you apply for EHCP support, you submit your request directly to the local authority SEND team.
What Evidence Should You Include?
Applying for an EHCP is not just paperwork. The strength of your evidence directly affects whether the local authority agrees to assess and, if they do, what ends up in the final plan.
For a child with ADHD, the most useful evidence includes:
From school: SEN support plans showing what has been tried and the child’s response. Progress data showing any gaps between the child and their peers. Records of incidents, behavioural concerns, or safeguarding referrals if relevant.
From clinicians: A formal ADHD diagnostic assessment report covering how ADHD affects the child’s functioning across settings. Letters from CAMHS, paediatricians, or any other professionals involved in the child’s care.
From you: A parent statement describing your child’s needs in your own words. Describe the specific daily difficulties, how long they have been present, and how they affect school, home, and social life. Write about your child on their difficult days, not their best ones.
The local authority is looking for evidence that despite purposeful action by the school to identify and meet your child’s needs, the child has not made expected progress.² That is the threshold. Your evidence needs to show both the impact and the inadequacy of existing provision.
What Happens After You Apply?
Once the local authority receives your request, the statutory timeline begins.¹
- By week 6, the local authority must tell you whether they will carry out an EHC assessment. If they agree, the EHC plan process begins. If they refuse, they must tell you why and explain your right to appeal.
- By week 16, the assessment is completed. The local authority decides whether to issue an EHCP.
- Weeks 16 to 20: If an EHCP is to be issued, a draft plan is sent to you. You have at least 15 days to comment and request a specific school or setting.
- By week 20, the final EHCP must be issued.¹
In practice, only 46.4% of new EHCPs were issued within the 20-week statutory timeframe in 2024.³ Delays are common. Keep records of all correspondence and dates. If the local authority misses the six-week deadline without explanation, you can complain formally.
Can a Child Get an EHCP for ADHD?
Once parents understand what an EHCP is, the next question is whether ADHD can qualify and what the local authority will actually look at.
An EHCP for ADHD is possible where ADHD has a significant impact on a child’s ability to learn and the provision required goes beyond what the school can offer through SEN support alone. The issue is not the diagnosis label alone. What matters is the impact of ADHD on the child’s ability to learn, and whether the provision required to support them goes beyond what the school can provide through SEN support.²
Children with ADHD often experience difficulties with sustained attention, impulse control, emotional regulation, transitions between activities, and organising their work and time. These difficulties can significantly affect academic progress, attendance, behaviour, and social development. Where these impacts are substantial and the school’s existing provision is not meeting the child’s needs, an EHCP assessment is appropriate.
Do you need an ADHD diagnosis for an EHCP?
No, not legally. The legal test under the Children and Families Act 2014 is whether the child has, or may have, special educational needs and whether they may need special educational provision through an EHCP.² A formal diagnosis can strengthen a request significantly, but the law does not require one before you can ask for an assessment.
This is an important point many parents miss. If your child is on an NHS waiting list for an ADHD assessment, you do not need to wait for a diagnosis before requesting an EHC needs assessment. You can apply now, describing how your child’s difficulties are affecting their education, and pursue diagnosis in parallel.
If you do need a formal ADHD diagnosis to support an EHCP request or to provide evidence during the assessment process, our ADHD assessment for children produces a detailed clinical report covering how ADHD affects your child’s day-to-day functioning, which local authorities and educational psychologists can use directly.
SEN Support vs EHCP: When Should a Parent Escalate?
Before making a formal request, parents often need to understand whether school SEN support is enough or whether the child’s needs have reached the point where an EHCP assessment should be considered.
SEN support is school-led, graduated, and should follow an assess-plan-do-review cycle. An EHCP is a formal legal plan used where SEN support is not enough. Signs that escalation may be needed include:
- Your child is not making expected progress despite SEN support being in place
- The school has tried multiple strategies, and the difficulties persist
- Your child’s needs require specialist provision, therapies, or staffing that the school cannot fund from its own resources
- Your child’s ADHD is affecting their attendance, wellbeing, or risk of exclusion
- The school itself is recommending an EHCP assessment
You do not need the school’s agreement to request an assessment. If you believe your child needs an EHCP and the school disagrees, you can apply directly to the local authority yourself.³
What to Do If the Local Authority Refuses
If the local authority decides not to carry out an assessment, they must tell you why in writing and inform you of your right to appeal. You have two months from the date of the decision letter to appeal to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SENDIST), also known as the SEND Tribunal.³
Before appealing, you can ask for a mediation meeting with the local authority. This is a legal requirement before most SEND Tribunal appeals. Mediation is free and must be offered within 30 days.
SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Service) provides free, independent advice and can support you through an appeal. Find your local SENDIASS through the Council for Disabled Children directory.
If you’re also pursuing an ADHD diagnosis to strengthen a future appeal or resubmission, our children’s ADHD assessment provides a detailed clinical report covering your child’s functioning across home, school, and social settings, which carries significantly more weight in an SEND Tribunal than a brief GP letter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need an ADHD diagnosis for an EHCP?
No. The legal test is whether your child has or may have special educational needs and whether those needs may require provision through an EHCP. A formal diagnosis strengthens a request considerably, but you can apply without one, particularly if your child is on a waiting list. Describe the educational impact of your child’s difficulties as specifically as possible and include any supporting evidence you have.
What are the 5 stages of an EHCP?
The EHC needs assessment process has five key stages. Stage one is the request, which you or the school submits to the local authority. Stage two is the decision, which the local authority must make within six weeks. Stage three is the assessment itself, which gathers evidence from education, health, and social care professionals. Stage four is the draft plan, which is sent to you for comment between weeks 16 and 20. Stage five is the final plan, which must be issued by week 20.¹
What is an EHCP?
An EHCP, or Education, Health and Care Plan, is a legally binding document issued by a local authority. It sets out the educational, health, and social care needs of a child or young person who requires more support than their school can provide through ordinary SEN support. Once issued, the local authority has a legal duty to deliver the provision written into it. EHCPs cover children and young people from birth to age 25 who are in education or training.¹
What does EHCP stand for?
EHCP stands for Education, Health and Care Plan. In law it is also referred to as an EHC plan, and the process of getting one begins with an EHC needs assessment. It replaced the previous Statement of Special Educational Needs in 2014 under the Children and Families Act. The terms EHCP, EHC plan, and EHC needs assessment all refer to parts of the same statutory process.¹
What happens if the local authority refuses to assess?
The local authority must give you written reasons for refusal and inform you of your right to appeal to the SEND Tribunal. You have two months to appeal. Before appealing, you must consider mediation, which is free and must be offered within 30 days. SENDIASS can support you through this process at no cost. A stronger evidence base, including a formal ADHD diagnostic report, can significantly improve the outcome of a resubmission or appeal.
How long does the EHCP process take?
The full process from request to final plan must be completed within 20 weeks by law.¹ The local authority has six weeks to decide whether to assess, 16 weeks to complete the assessment and decide whether to issue a plan, and must issue the final plan by week 20. In practice, delays are common. Only 46.4% of new EHCPs were issued within the statutory timeframe in 2024.³
References
[1] GOV.UK (2014, updated 2026) Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND): Extra help. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/children-with-special-educational-needs/extra-SEN-help
[2] Department for Education and Department of Health (2015) Special educational needs and disability code of practice: 0 to 25 years. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-code-of-practice-0-to-25
[3] Department for Education (2025) Education, health and care plans: Reporting year 2025. Available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-health-and-care-plans/2025
