Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance he provides to local authorities on the time they should take to make an Education, Health and Care needs assessment.

The Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Code of Practice sets out the statutory timescales and decision points for the process of education, health and care (EHC) needs assessment and plan development (paragraphs 9.39 to 9.44 in the attached document).

The maximum time for the whole assessment process to be completed is 20 weeks. There are limited exceptions to this timescale, for example if exceptional personal circumstances affect the child or young person or their family, or if the child or young person is absent from the area for at least four weeks.