Getting an EHCP in West Sussex
Most of the families I work with come to me already deep in the EHCP process. They're waiting for an assessment, checking a draft plan, or trying to work out what a plan actually means for their child's school day. I'm not a solicitor or a caseworker, but I've sat alongside enough parents through this process, and delivered enough EHCP provision myself, to know where people usually get stuck. This is the plain version of how it works in West Sussex, with links to the council's own pages so you can check the current detail yourself.
What an EHCP is, and what it isn't
An Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is a legal document for children and young people up to the age of 25. It sets out a child's special educational needs, the support they need, and the outcomes they're working towards. It's only issued after an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA). West Sussex County Council is clear that not every EHCNA results in a plan, and not every request for an EHCNA is agreed to in the first place. You can read the council's own overview on the West Sussex Local Offer.
Before you request an assessment
West Sussex expects you to have discussed your child's progress with their current school or setting first. Most mainstream schools can meet special educational needs through what's called SEN support. This is extra help identified and reviewed through an "Assess, Plan, Do, Review" cycle, without needing an EHCP at all. A request for an assessment is appropriate when that support hasn't led to progress.
Who can request an assessment
A parent carer can request an assessment on behalf of their child. A young person aged 16 to 25 can request one for themselves. And anyone else who thinks an assessment might be needed, including a doctor, health visitor, teacher, or family friend, can also make the request.
How to request one
Requests go to the council's Special Educational Needs Assessment Team (SENAT) by email, at [email protected]. Include your child's name, date of birth and home address, your contact details, the reason for the request, and any supporting evidence. A letter from a GP, paediatrician, or other professional carries weight. Full details are on the council's how to request an EHCP page.
The 20 week timeline
By law, the whole process, from the council receiving your request to a final plan being issued, should take no longer than 20 weeks. West Sussex breaks this into four stages:
- Weeks 1 to 6 The council's panel decides whether to carry out an assessment.
- Weeks 7 to 12 If agreed, it gathers advice from your child's school, an educational psychologist, health services, and social care.
- Weeks 13 to 16 It decides whether to issue a plan, and must tell you by week 16 if it's decided not to.
- Weeks 17 to 20 If a plan is going ahead, it consults on the school named in it and issues the final EHCP by week 20.
A few things can pause the clock. A missed appointment, a child being away from the area for four weeks or more, or a school closed for a similar period are exceptions, not the rule.
Where West Sussex stands today
It's worth being straightforward about this, because it shapes what to expect.
An Ofsted and Care Quality Commission inspection of the West Sussex area partnership, carried out between 27 November and 1 December 2023, found that its arrangements led to "inconsistent experiences and outcomes" for children and young people with SEND, and that too many EHC needs assessments were not being completed within the statutory timescale. You can read the full inspection report for the detail. The council's own figures, reported to its Children and Young People, Learning and Skills Scrutiny Committee, showed that in March 2025 only 14.3% of EHCPs were finalised within 20 weeks, with plans taking an average of 38 weeks over the preceding three months. In March 2026 the council launched a new SEND Strategy 2026 to 2030, developed with families, schools and health services, aimed at earlier support and better timescales. I'd encourage you to check the council's current published performance rather than rely on these figures alone. They're a snapshot, not a guarantee of what your family will experience.
If you disagree with a decision
You have a right of appeal at several points. This includes if the council refuses to assess, decides not to issue a plan, or you disagree with the needs and provision described in a final plan. Most appeals need a mediation certificate first. The appeal itself must reach the SEND Tribunal within two months of the decision letter, or one month of the mediation certificate, whichever is later. The exception is if you're only appealing the school or type of school named in the plan. In that case you can go straight to the tribunal without mediation.
Where to get free, independent help
West Sussex SENDIAS (SEND Information, Advice and Support Service) gives free, impartial advice on SEN support, assessments, EHCPs, annual reviews and appeals, independent of the council's own SEND service. You can reach them on 0330 222 8555 or [email protected]. Their factsheets on requesting an EHCNA, checking a draft plan, and lodging an appeal are worth reading before you make any decision. You can find them via the SENDIAS website.
Questions parents ask
What is an EHCP?
An Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is a legal document for children and young people up to the age of 25. It sets out their special educational needs, the support they require, and the outcomes they're working towards. It's only issued after an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA), and not every EHCNA results in a plan.
Who can request an EHC needs assessment in West Sussex?
A parent carer can request one on behalf of their child. A young person aged 16 to 25 can request one for themselves. Anyone else who thinks an assessment may be necessary, including a doctor, health visitor, or teacher, can also make a request to West Sussex County Council.
How do I request an EHCP assessment from West Sussex County Council?
Email the Special Educational Needs Assessment Team at [email protected] with your child's name, date of birth and address, your contact details, the reason for the request, and any supporting evidence from a relevant professional. It's worth discussing the request with your child's school first.
How long does the EHCP process take in West Sussex?
By law it should take no more than 20 weeks from request to final plan. In practice, West Sussex's own figures reported to its scrutiny committee showed only 14.3% of plans were finalised within 20 weeks in March 2025, with an average of 38 weeks over the preceding three months. A new SEND Strategy launched in March 2026 aims to improve this, so it's worth checking the council's current published performance.
What can I do if the council refuses to assess or won't issue a plan?
You have a right of appeal. Most appeals need a mediation certificate first, and must reach the SEND Tribunal within two months of the decision letter or one month of the mediation certificate, whichever is later. If you're only appealing the school named in the plan, you can go straight to the tribunal without mediation.
Where can I get free, independent advice about EHCPs in West Sussex?
West Sussex SENDIAS (SEND Information, Advice and Support Service) offers free, impartial advice on SEN support, assessments, EHCPs, and appeals. You can reach them on 0330 222 8555 or by email at [email protected].
Where tuition fits in
Once a plan is in place, my work is usually about the outcomes written into it. That means helping a child make the progress the plan describes, whether that's through direct one to one tuition or provision commissioned by the local authority through a specialist provider such as Targeted Provision. An EHCP describes what a child needs. It doesn't deliver it on its own, and that's where I come in.
If you're partway through this process and want to talk through what a plan might mean for tuition, get in touch. There's no charge for a first conversation.
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