The EHCP timeline
From the day a local authority receives a request for an EHC needs assessment, it has a statutory duty to complete the whole process within 20 weeks. Within that overall period there are key intermediate deadlines. Here is what should happen at each stage, and what you can do if your council is late. EHCPs apply in England.
Reviewed by SENlens. Last reviewed June 2026. Checked against GOV.UK, SEND Code of Practice and IPSEA.
Week 6: the decision on whether to assess
The clock starts on the day the local authority receives the request for an EHC needs assessment. By the end of week 6, the council must decide whether to carry out an assessment and tell you its decision. If it agrees to assess, it gathers advice and information from you and the relevant professionals. If it declines, that is a decision you can appeal. If the council does not respond within six weeks, you can chase the decision in writing, make a formal complaint, and seek advice from IPSEA about your next steps.
Week 16: the decision on whether to issue a plan
By the end of week 16, once the assessment is underway, the local authority must decide whether it is going to issue an EHC plan and tell you. A decision not to issue a plan can be appealed. If the council misses this deadline, you can put your concern in writing, escalate through the council's complaints process, and take free advice from IPSEA on how to press for the decision and protect your appeal rights.
Week 20: the final EHC plan
By the end of week 20, the local authority must issue the final EHC plan (where it has decided to issue one). Before the final plan, you should receive a draft and be given the chance to comment and to express a preference for a particular school or setting. Once the final plan is issued, the appeal window for its contents begins. If the 20-week deadline passes with no final plan, you can complain to the council, escalate to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, and seek advice from IPSEA.
When the clock can lawfully pause
There are limited, specific exceptions in which the statutory timescales may be extended, for example where appointments cannot reasonably be arranged in certain holiday periods, or where the council is awaiting particular information it has requested. These exceptions are narrow: a council cannot simply pause the clock because it is busy. If you are told a deadline has been extended and you are not sure it applies, check the position with IPSEA.
Where this sits in the wider process
Not sure how to get to week one in the first place? See how to apply for an EHCP, or read what an EHCP is for the bigger picture.
Check your own deadlines
Enter the date above to see your statutory deadlines.
Statutory timescales based on the law as of June 2026 (England, SEND Regulations 2014).