EHCP / EHCNA Eligibility Checker

Quick self-check to help you decide whether to request an Education, Health & Care Needs Assessment.

Important: This is guidance, not legal advice. It reflects the legal test that an LA must assess where a child/young person may have SEN and may need special educational provision via an EHCP. Use the result to inform your decision and your request letter.

Age & participation

Is your child/young person aged 0–25 and currently in, or seeking, education or training?

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Does your child/young person have, or may have, SEN that create barriers to learning/access?

Provision required

Do their needs likely require provision beyond what a mainstream school/college can ordinarily provide from its own resources (SEN Support)?

Indicators (tick any that apply)
Evidence so far

Has school/college tried Assess-Plan-Do-Review (APDR) cycles and recorded outcomes?

APDR isn’t a legal prerequisite to request an EHCNA, but it often helps evidence need.

Optional: build your request letter

Legal test: LA must carry out an EHC needs assessment if a child/young person may have SEN and may need special educational provision to be made via an EHCP. If in doubt, request the assessment.

Disclaimer & Data Protection

The information and tools provided on this website, including the EHCP / EHCNA eligibility checker, are for general guidance only. They are not legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information, edvocat accepts no responsibility for any loss or damage arising from reliance on the content of this site. If you require legal advice, you should consult a qualified solicitor.

By using this website, you agree that any information you enter (such as names, dates of birth, or details about your child) is provided voluntarily and at your own discretion. The eligibility checker runs entirely in your web browser: we do not collect, store, or transmit this data to our servers.

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