EHCP Assessments & Timelines - Birmingham

Education England 4 Minutes Read · published February 11, 2026 Flag of England

Introduction

In Birmingham, England, a request for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) starts with gathering evidence and contacting the local authority. This guide explains who can request an assessment, the statutory timelines the local authority follows, where to send evidence in Birmingham, and practical next steps if the authority refuses or misses a deadline. It summarises official local and national sources so parents, carers and professionals know the claims, appeals and complaint routes available to them.

How to request an EHCP assessment

Anyone can ask Birmingham City Council to carry out an EHCP needs assessment for a child or young person that may need long-term, specialist support in education. Requests should include recent educational, health and social care evidence, and are normally submitted to the city council SEN/Inclusive Education team as described on the council website Birmingham City Council SEND information[1].

  • Who can request: parent, young person (over 16 in most cases), a school, or a health/social care professional.
  • Evidence to include: recent school reports, specialist assessments, health professional letters, and records of interventions.
  • Where to submit: the SEN/Inclusion team at Birmingham City Council; see the council contact page for the current submission route and email address.
Start by asking your child’s school for a copy of the most recent assessments and targets.

Assessment timeline and statutory deadlines

National rules set the key statutory time limits that local authorities must follow when an EHCP needs assessment is requested. The local authority must decide within six weeks whether it will carry out an assessment, and where it decides to assess, there is a 20-week statutory period from request to issue the final plan in most cases. These timescales and the assessment steps are described in national guidance on EHC needs assessments and plans Education, health and care (EHC) plans guidance[2].

  • Decision to assess: usually within 6 weeks of the request.
  • Assessment and plan issue: usually within 20 weeks from the request to final plan.
  • Extensions/exceptions: specific exceptions are set out in national regulations and guidance (for example, where assessments are paused to obtain information).
Keep copies of all emails and reports; the timeline runs from the date the council receives the request and evidence.

Penalties & Enforcement

Statutory duties for EHCP assessments flow from national legislation and guidance rather than local bylaws; specific monetary fines for missed EHCP deadlines are not specified on the cited pages. Enforcement and redress typically use administrative and legal remedies rather than fixed municipal fines. Relevant statutory instruments and national guidance set duties and timescales for local authorities; where monetary penalties or fixed fines are mentioned in law they are specified on the primary legislation or regulations, but the EHCP process itself does not set routine fixed fines on parents or the council on the cited pages Children and Families Act 2014[3].

  • Primary enforcer: Birmingham City Council (SEN/Inclusion team) is responsible for carrying out assessments and issuing plans.
  • Inspection and complaints: parents can complain to the council’s complaints procedure, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, or apply to the First-tier Tribunal (SEND) for enforcement or appeals.
  • Fine amounts: not specified on the cited page.
  • Appeals and time limits: appeals to the First-tier Tribunal (SEND) must be lodged within the statutory timescales set out in the Tribunal rules and guidance; time limits vary by case and should be checked on the tribunal and council guidance pages.
  • Defences/discretion: the council may refuse an assessment where submitted evidence does not meet the legal threshold; the council must explain reasons and parents may appeal or request mediation.

Applications & Forms

Birmingham City Council’s SEND pages describe how to contact the SEN/Inclusion team for a request and the local forms or evidence the council expects; a specific national standard form is not mandated on the cited council page, so if no local form is published the request may be made in writing with the supporting evidence Birmingham City Council SEND information[1].

  • Form name/number: not specified on the cited Birmingham page; follow the council guidance for submission.
  • Fees: none stated for requesting an assessment on the cited pages; EHCP assessments are a statutory local authority function and not a fee-based application.
  • How to submit: contact the SEN/Inclusion team as detailed on the council SEND page.
If the council refuses to assess, ask for the written reasons and note the date to calculate appeal deadlines.

Action steps

  • Step 1: Gather up-to-date school reports, specialist assessments and health letters.
  • Step 2: Submit a written request with evidence to Birmingham City Council’s SEN/Inclusion team.
  • Step 3: Note the date of submission and track the 6-week decision and 20-week plan issue windows.
  • Step 4: If refused or unhappy, consider mediation and lodging an appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (SEND).
Record all contact and ask schools to provide written reports promptly to support the request.

FAQ

Who can request an EHCP assessment?
Parents, young people (subject to age rules), schools and certain health or social care professionals can request an assessment; see Birmingham City Council SEND guidance for contact details.[1]
How long does an assessment take?
The local authority aims to decide whether to assess within 6 weeks and to issue a final EHCP within 20 weeks of the request in typical cases, following national guidance.[2]
What if Birmingham City Council refuses to assess?
You have the right to ask for written reasons, use the council complaints procedure, request mediation, and apply to the First-tier Tribunal (SEND) under the statutory appeal routes.[3]

How-To

  1. Collect current school reports, specialist assessments and health letters.
  2. Write a clear request for an assessment addressed to Birmingham City Council SEN/Inclusion team and attach evidence.
  3. Submit by the council’s published route (email/post) and retain proof of submission.
  4. Track the statutory timetable and, if refused, ask for written reasons and consider mediation or tribunal appeal.

Key Takeaways

  • Statutory timescales: decision to assess usually 6 weeks; plan usually issued within 20 weeks.
  • Contact the Birmingham SEN/Inclusion team early and submit clear evidence.
  • Enforcement: use complaints, mediation and the First-tier Tribunal (SEND) if required.

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