What is an EHC plan?
An Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), who need more support than mainstream educational settings can normally provide through their special educational needs support, often referred to as universal or targeted provision.
If your child receives SEN support and has not made the progress expected in one or more of the four broad areas of need set out in the SEND Inclusion Guidance then they may benefit from an Educational, Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA) to understand the nature of their needs and the type of support they require. These broad areas of need ensure consideration is given to all aspects of a child or young person’s learning, including their social and emotional development.
The statutory process, from the point of referral to the finalising of an EHCP if appropriate, takes 20 weeks to complete. A range of professional advice, liaison with parent carers and settings also takes place during this period to ensure we have all the relevant information we need to make a fully informed decision on whether an EHCP is appropriate. View further information and detail on the EHC assessment process
An EHCP is a legal document which describes a child or young person’s special educational, health and care needs and must also describe the provision required to meet those needs and the identified outcomes. It is reviewed annually, or every six months for children under five, and updated at least at the end of each key stage. Agreed changes will be documented as amendments to the EHCP. Planning for adulthood should be included in the EHCP from year 9, or age 14, onwards.
The work carried out to support EHCNA requests and EHCP’s is coordinated by the SEND Assessment and Review Team (SENDAR). SENDAR assess, make decisions and coordinate and maintain the processes related to EHC Plans and reviews. SENDAR will liaise with parents, educational settings, and other professionals to ensure your child gets the best possible provision to support their educational needs.
What is an EHCP and who is it for?