Education, Health and Care Plans

What is an Education, Health and Care Plan and who is it for?

An Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is a plan written by the Local Authority (the Council) to make special educational provision to meet the special educational needs of a child or young person, to secure improved outcomes for them across education, health and social care and, as they get older, prepare them for adulthood.

To get an EHCP a child or young person will have special educational needs which are severe and complex and significantly greater than people of the same age. 

What you can expect to happen during this process?

Before a child or young person is referred to the Multi- Agency EHCP Panel for an assessment they will already have had a significant period of interventions which have been reviewed and evaluated to see if they have been effective.

Once referred, a panel of professionals will consider all the evidence provided about your child and decide if the assessment will go ahead. Click here for information about the Multi- Agency EHC Panel and to find out who can request an EHC Plan.

Who can support you during this process?

If it is agreed that the assessment can proceed the family (or young person if over 16 years of age) will be given a key contact along with a named SEN Caseworker who will be your contacts throughout the process. Their job will be to make sure that we have all the information that we need and that your views are included in the assessment. We will write to people involved with your child in education, health and social care for advice and information. 

SENDIASS can also provide independent information, advice and support for you about the EHCP process tel. (01254) 503049 www.communitycvs.org.uk/sendiass Click here

How are parents and young people involved in developing the plan?

It is vital that your views and aspirations are included in the assessment and EHCP and parents and young people should take advantage of any opportunities offered. As part of the multi-agency SEND Support Meeting, prior to a request being made to the EHC Panel, you and your child will be asked to complete their One Page Profile and your views on your child's special educational needs and the outcomes you want for them will be gathered. 

How long should the process take?

The process from referral to the issuing of an EHCP should be completed within 20 weeks. If it is decided not to issue an EHCP you must be told within 16 weeks from the date of the referral being received.  To see a timeline of the process open the document in the downloads box.

What must be in an Education, Health and Care plan?

All EHC Plans have to have eleven sections labelled A – K. The sections describe the child’s or young person’s:

  • Interests and aspirations
  • Their special needs in education
  • Health and social care
  • The outcomes being sought for them
  • The provision needed to meet their education
  • Health and care needs
  • The place where their needs can be met
  • The details of a Personal Budget, if there is one
  • Details of the advice and information considered in the assessment.

Click on the downloads to see an example of an EHC Plan.

You will be sent a draft version of your child’s EHC Plan. This will not be the final version of the EHC plan and you can ask for changes to be made to it. You can discuss the changes you want making to the plan with us and we will meet with you to discuss further if necessary, before we issue a final plan. Click here for information about choosing a school.

What is a personal budget?

As part of the process you will be asked if you want a personal budget for education, health or social care purposes. For further information about personal budgets click here

Reviewing the EHC Plan

The EHC Plan must be reviewed at least once a year. The meeting will look at how your child is doing and their progress towards the outcomes in the plan. You will be invited to the review and asked to contribute your views about your child’s progress. Click here to find out more about the annual review.

Click here and here to watch videos about the EHCP process.

Narrow by category

List your service/activity