How often does your council refuse a request for an EHC needs assessment? Select it below to see the Department for Education's own figures, compared with the England average of 26.4%.
Figures are Department for Education statistics for requests for an EHC needs assessment, published under the Open Government Licence v3.0. A refusal rate is context, not a verdict on any individual case. General information, not legal advice — free specialist advice is available from IPSEA and your local SENDIASS.
What the number means
A council must carry out an assessment if a child may have special educational needs and may need provision through an EHC plan. That is a low legal threshold. A high local refusal rate usually reflects where a council has set its internal bar, not the strength of the individual cases — which is why the SEND Tribunal that hears an appeal is independent of the council and decides on the evidence in front of it.