What Evidence Do I Need for an EHCP Needs Assessment?
Updated: Oct 11
Parents frequently search, “What evidence do I need for an EHCP?” A useful evidence bundle explains the child or young person’s needs, the barriers those needs create, the support already tried, and why provision through ordinary SEN support may not be enough. Quality matters more than volume.
The direct answer: show needs, action and impact
Evidence should help a reader who does not know the child understand what happens across an ordinary week. Describe frequency, duration, intensity, triggers, recovery, supervision, lost learning, attendance, communication and the effect on family life where relevant.
The SEND Code of Practice applies in England and sets the statutory framework. Parents, young people, schools and colleges have rights to request an EHC needs assessment. Local forms can organise the request, but they do not replace the legal test or the importance of clear evidence.
The child or young person’s strengths, views and aspirations
Specific education, health and social-care needs
Barriers to access, participation, learning and independence
Support, adjustments and interventions already tried
What changed, what did not and how progress was measured
Professional advice and reports already available
The provision thought necessary: what, how often, for how long and by whom
Turn general statements into usable evidence
“Struggles at school” is difficult to assess. A stronger description might record how often the child leaves lessons, what demands or sensory conditions precede this, how long recovery takes, what adult support is required, and the learning missed. Use neutral language and distinguish observation from interpretation.
Include evidence from different contexts where needs vary. A child who masks in school may show distress before or after attendance. A child who appears settled in a highly supported placement may still have significant needs; explain the support that makes participation possible.
Use a graduated-response record
Create a short table or chronology showing assess, plan, do and review. For each support strategy, record the intended outcome, start date, frequency, responsible person, review evidence and next decision. Include adjustments that worked as well as those that did not.
Attendance, exclusions, reduced timetables, incident logs and pastoral records can be relevant, but explain what they mean. Raw figures without context may not show whether absence relates to unmet need, health, anxiety, bullying, transport or placement difficulty.
Common EHCP evidence mistakes
Avoid waiting for every diagnosis before describing functional need. A diagnosis can provide context, but support should be tied to identified needs and barriers. Also avoid making the bundle so long that the central case is hidden.
Unnumbered attachments with no index
Repeating labels without describing day-to-day impact
Listing support without showing frequency or outcome
Leaving the child or young person’s views out
Focusing only on crisis and omitting strengths or successful adjustments
Requesting vague help rather than specifying the provision required
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a diagnosis to request an EHC needs assessment?
A diagnosis can be useful evidence but the focus is on special educational needs and the provision that may be necessary. Describe functional needs and impact even when assessment or diagnosis is pending.
Can parent evidence be included?
Yes. Parent and carer evidence can explain needs, history, distress, home impact, communication and support across settings. Keep it specific, dated and linked to observable examples.
Does Looking Glass Care provide legal representation?
No. Looking Glass Care offers independent evidence-organisation resources and review support, not legal representation or a guaranteed local-authority or tribunal outcome.
Put this into practice: explore the relevant collection below and check each listing for its audience, contents, format and current price.
Useful resources for this topic
If you would like a practical record to use alongside this article, the resources below explain their scope, format and price. Choose only the material that fits your circumstances; a completed template is a starting point for action and review.
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