Parent Carer Engagement Sessions: Session 2

Parent Carer Engagement Sessions:

Improvements to the information and request form for families when requesting an assessment to determine whether a child may need an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP)

Have you (or your child or young person's school) recently made a request for an assessment to determine if your child or young person may need an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP)? Or

has your child or young person recently been through the Education Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA) process?

We need your help and lived experience to shape the information avaliable to parent carers on the Local Offer website and improve the request form for parent carers and young people to use when making a request for an Education Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA).

An EHCNA is formal, legal process in England, conducted by a local authority, to determine if a child or young person (aged 0–25) requires a statutory Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)

Invitation to parents and carers

We would like to invite parents and carers to take part in a small series of online engagement sessions focused on improving how the Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA) process is explained in the Local Offer and how the EHCNA request form works for families.

These sessions are an opportunity to review, test and improve:

• The updated EHCNA and EHCP information on the Local Offer website
• The draft EHCNA parent/carer/young person request form

Your feedback will directly inform changes before these improvements are finalised.

Who can take part?

• Parents and carers of children and young people with additional needs and disabilities
• Ideally you will have had experience of the EHCNA process, either in the past or currently. However, you do not need to have requested an EHCNA to take part
• You are welcome to attend one, two or all sessions

No preparation is needed – we are interested in your views and lived experience.

Session Dates and Focus:

Session 1 – Local Offer content review (EHCNA process)

Wednesday 6th May 12.30pm-2pm Via Zoom

This session will focus on the updated EHC needs assessment information on the Local Offer website.

We will:

• Walk through the EHC needs assessment process step by step
• Explore how clear and accessible the information feels
• Discuss where more explanation, visuals or guidance would be helpful

We will ask questions such as:

• Is it clear what happens at each stage of the EHCNA process?
• Are timescales and decision points easy to understand?
• Does the language make sense and feel supportive?
• Would tools like checklists, flowcharts or timelines help?

Session 2 – EHCNA request form review

Wednesday 20th May 12pm-1.30pm Via Zoom

This session will focus on the draft EHCNA request form for parents, carers and young people.

We will:

• Share feedback already submitted through an online form
• Review the draft form together
• Discuss how easy it is to understand and complete

We will explore:

• Are the questions clear?
• Are there any barriers for parents or carers?
• What additional guidance would be helpful?

Final session – Feedback, reflection and next steps

Tuesday 9th June 12.30-2pm Via Zoom

This session brings everyone back together after half term.

We will:

• Share how your feedback from earlier sessions has been used
• Review the updated Local Offer content and revised request form
• Sense-check any remaining changes

We will also explain:

• What will happen next
• When updated information will go live

Practical Information

• Sessions are online
• Each session lasts 90 minutes
• You can contribute in whatever way feels comfortable (speaking, chat, or listening)
• Sharing personal experiences is optional