EHCP request letter — we write the assessment request | EHCP Clarity
Prepared EHCP pack

EHCP request letter

This is the letter a parent sends to ask for an EHC needs assessment. A case professional writes it from what you have. You review it. You send it. £249.

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Get my request letter prepared — £249Full assessment request guide

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What is your EHCP situation?

Tell us where you are. We match the document you need to send, then an assigned case professional prepares it. You review it. You send it.

What we prepare for this

Request letter · £249

The letter you send to the council to ask for an EHC needs assessment.

  • The document you send
  • How to send it, and what to attach
  • One revision round of factual corrections

One case professional prepares and checks it. You review it. You send it.

Typically 5 working days after we have what we need.

Other documents: request letter £249 · appeal grounds £349 · challenge to the plan £449

Sample of a request letter · mock names
The most recent school assessment data from March 2025 shows that [CHILD] is working at a level approximately three years below his chronological age in reading and writing, and at least two years below in spoken language and verbal comprehension.

Read the full examples · What each price includes

Case preparation support only · Not legal advice or tribunal representation

Quick answer

Your letter should open by stating you are requesting an EHC needs assessment under section 36 of the Children and Families Act 2014. Then describe your child's needs, the support already tried, why it has failed, and the impact on your child. Attach every professional report you have. Send by email and keep a copy with the date you sent it.

What the letter needs to do

Your letter has two audiences: the local authority caseworker who reads it initially, and potentially the SEND Tribunal if the local authority refuses and you appeal. A well-written letter:

  • Puts the local authority on formal statutory notice that you are requesting an EHC needs assessment
  • Demonstrates that your child has, or may have, special educational needs
  • Shows that existing SEN support has not been sufficient to meet those needs
  • Makes a clear case that assessment may be necessary
  • Creates a dated record of your request that you can refer to later

Where to send your letter

Send your letter to the SEND team (sometimes called the EHC team or SEND assessment team) at your local authority. Most local authorities publish this contact on their SEND Local Offer website. If you cannot find it, contact the local authority's main SEND number and ask for the correct address.

Send by email (and keep the sent email with the date) or by recorded post. If posting, the 6-week window begins on the date the local authority receives the letter, not the date you sent it — so allow for postage time or send by both email and post simultaneously.

What to include: section by section

  1. 1

    Open with a clear statutory request

    State in your first sentence that you are requesting an EHC needs assessment under section 36 of the Children and Families Act 2014. Name your child, give their date of birth, and confirm their current school or setting. This puts the local authority on clear statutory notice.

  2. 2

    Describe all areas of SEN

    Cover every area of difficulty: learning and academic progress, communication and language, social and emotional wellbeing, sensory needs, and any physical or medical needs that affect education. Use specific examples — not 'struggles with reading' but 'reading is 3 years below chronological age, he reads at Year 2 level in Year 5 despite phonics intervention for two years'.

  3. 3

    Set out the support already tried and why it has not worked

    Describe the SEN support that has been in place at school — interventions, TA support hours, specialist programmes, group work. Then explain what outcomes were achieved and why this support has not been sufficient. Specific examples and data (progress scores, teacher reports) are powerful here.

3 further steps when you submit or appeal — Requesting, appealing, and negotiating Section F are where most parents need help — that is what we prepare for you.

This guide shows what strong cases look like. We prepare the request letter, appeal grounds, or plan letter for your route.

Match my situation →Get yours prepared — From £249

Opening phrases that work

Standard opening

"I am writing to request that [local authority name] carries out an EHC needs assessment of [child's full name], date of birth [DD/MM/YYYY], who currently attends [school name]. This request is made under section 36 of the Children and Families Act 2014."

If you have already informally raised concerns

"Following our previous correspondence about [child's name]'s needs, I am now formally requesting an EHC needs assessment under section 36 of the Children and Families Act 2014. The concerns outlined below have not been resolved despite existing SEN support."

Writing about evidence you do not yet have

If you are waiting for professional assessments — for example, your child is on an NHS SALT waiting list, or an EP assessment has been requested but not yet carried out — include this in your letter. Write something like:

"[Child's name] is currently awaiting a speech and language therapy assessment, having been referred in [month/year]. I am including available evidence in the meantime and ask that the EHC needs assessment takes account of the outcomes of the SALT assessment when available."

This shows the local authority that more evidence is coming and prevents them from refusing simply because all assessments are not yet complete.

Letter checklist: before you send

  • Letter opens with a clear statutory request under section 36 CFA 2014
  • Child's full name, date of birth, and school are stated
  • All areas of SEN are described — not just the most visible difficulties
  • Support already tried is described with specific examples
  • Evidence of why existing support has not been sufficient

6 more items depending on your case. Plus turning this evidence into one coherent pack an LA or tribunal takes seriously.

This guide shows what strong cases look like. We prepare the request letter, appeal grounds, or plan letter for your route.

Match my situation →Get yours prepared — From £249

Common letter mistakes to avoid

  1. Using vague language ('has difficulties') instead of specific examples ('reading age 3 years behind, no progress in 18 months of intervention')
  2. Omitting areas of need because they seem less obvious — cover social, emotional, and sensory difficulties as well as academic
  3. Not attaching professional reports — the more evidence the better
  4. Not mentioning pending assessments — add them even if incomplete
  5. Writing to the wrong department — check the local authority's SEND team contact on the Local Offer
  6. Not keeping a dated copy of the letter and any email confirmation
  7. Using very formal or legal language that obscures the real picture of your child's needs

This guide shows what strong cases look like. We prepare the request letter, appeal grounds, or plan letter for your route.

Match my situation →Get yours prepared — From £249

What your pack includes

  • Assessment request letter, written from your intake and reports — you review before you send
  • Council-response matching and SEND law in that letter
  • Named reports referred to by author, date and what they show
  • Assigned case professional who prepares and checks it
  • How to send, one revision, and 14 days of email support

Frequently asked questions

England · SEND

Does my request letter have to be formal or use legal language?
No. Your letter does not need legal language. It simply needs to clearly request an EHC needs assessment under section 36 of the Children and Families Act 2014, describe your child's needs, and explain why existing support has not been sufficient. Plain English is fine and often more effective than technical language.
Can I send the request by email?
Most local authorities accept requests by email. Check your local authority's SEND team page on the Local Offer website for the correct email address. Keep a copy of your email and note the date you sent it — the 6-week decision window begins when the local authority receives your request. For important correspondence, also send a postal copy via recorded delivery.
Should I include professional reports with my letter?
Yes, attach every report you have — even if they feel informal or incomplete. Educational psychologist reports, SALT assessments, OT reports, medical letters, school reports, and CAMHS correspondence all help. If the local authority does not have this information, it is easier for them to refuse on the grounds that the evidence does not show sufficient need.
Does the school need to agree before I send the letter?
No. Parents have the independent right to request an EHC needs assessment directly. You do not need the school's permission or signature. However, it strengthens your request if you can include details of what the school has tried, what support is currently in place, and why it has not been enough. If the school is not cooperating, contact your local SENDIASS.
What if my child does not have any professional reports yet?
You can still make the request. Include your own detailed parent evidence describing your child's needs and the difficulties you have observed. Request that the EHC needs assessment itself includes professional assessments — that is part of what the assessment process is for. Mention any private assessments you are waiting for.
How long and detailed should my letter be?
There is no required length. A concise, specific letter (one to three pages) covering all the key areas is often more effective than a very long one. Focus on specifics: particular incidents, failed interventions, and concrete examples of how your child's needs affect their education and wellbeing. Avoid vague statements like 'struggles a lot' — give detail.
Can I ask a professional or advocate to write the letter for me?
Yes. A SENDIASS adviser, specialist SEN solicitor, or other professional can help you write or review your letter. However, the request must come from you as the parent — it should be signed by you and written in the first person. Make sure you understand and agree with everything in it before sending.
What should I do if I do not get a response within 6 weeks?
Follow up in writing and refer to the statutory 6-week deadline under the SEN and Disability Regulations 2014. Note the date you are writing and ask them to confirm receipt and provide their decision. If they continue to delay without a valid reason, contact your SENDIASS or seek specialist advice. Persistent non-response can be the subject of a formal complaint.

Related guides

Sources and further reading

  1. Children and Families Act 2014 — section 36 (EHC needs assessment) — Statutory basis for assessment requests
  2. SEND Code of Practice 2015 — section 9.14 (what to consider when deciding whether to assess) — Criteria the local authority must apply
  3. IPSEA — sample EHC needs assessment request letter — Free template and guidance from a specialist SEND charity