TRAUMA-INFORMED · PACE-TRAINED
NeuroKind · byneurokind.com
[Your name]
4 August 2026
SEN Team [Local Authority]
Dear SEN Team,
Request for EHC Needs Assessment — [child's name]

I am writing to formally request an Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment for my child, [child's name], under Section 36 of the Children and Families Act 2014. [child's name] currently attends [current school].

My child's Special Educational Needs
[Please describe your child's needs here]
Existing Professional Assessments and Evidence
No formal diagnosis or professional report has been obtained to date. I understand that this is not a requirement for requesting an EHC needs assessment under the Children and Families Act 2014.
Support Already Provided by the School
[Please describe what the school has tried here]
Why an EHC Needs Assessment Is Required
I believe [child's name] meets the criteria set out in Section 36(8) of the Children and Families Act 2014: [child's name] has, or may have, special educational needs, and may need special educational provision beyond that which [current school] can reasonably provide from its own resources. The support already provided, as described above, has not been sufficient to meet [child's name]'s needs. A statutory EHC needs assessment is required to determine what provision would be appropriate.
I respectfully request that you acknowledge receipt of this letter and provide your decision, in writing, within the statutory 6-week timeframe as required by the Children and Families Act 2014. I am happy to provide any further information or documentation you may require.
Yours faithfully,
Generated using the NeuroKind EHCP Application Builder — byneurokind.com. This letter is provided as a starting point based on the Children and Families Act 2014 and does not constitute legal advice. Every child's situation is different. For complex cases or if you have previously been refused, consult IPSEA (ipsea.org.uk) or a specialist SEND solicitor before sending.
NeuroKind UKFree tool · UK families

EHCP Application Builder

Answer a few questions and we’ll generate a well-structured EHC needs assessment request letter — ready to send to your Local Authority.

There is no required form. You do not have to use your Local Authority’s online portal or their own form — the LA cannot reject your request simply because you didn’t use their system. A letter in writing is all the law requires under Section 36 of the Children and Families Act 2014.

Not legal advice. This tool generates a starting-point letter based on the Children and Families Act 2014. Every child’s situation is different. For complex cases or if you’ve already been refused, consult IPSEA (free, independent SEND legal advice) or a SEND solicitor before sending.

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Your child

This appears in the letter header and identifies your child to the Local Authority.

Include the school they currently attend — even if changing schools is part of your goal. The letter should describe the current situation so the LA understands the context.

Child’s full name *
Date of birth

Optional — but useful context for the LA

Current school or setting *
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