THE EHCP - Education Health & Care PlanThis page contains general information about Education, Health and Care Plans. If you would like more specific information about applying for an EHCP Needs Assessment and the EHCP process in Bexley, please click here: If you prefer to watch a video, we have 3 You Tube videos from the Council for Disabled Children on EHCP, please click here.
The EHCP (Health, Education and Social Care Plan) came into force in September 2014 as part of the Children and Families Act. They have replaced 'Statements of Education'.
It has forced education, health and social care services to plan services together by law - so when their children are assessed, parents will be assured they will get full provision to address their children’s needs.
Not all children and young people will require and EHCP. There is now SEN Support in place in all schools to ensure that children who do not meet the criteria for an EHCP, will still have the right to have their individual needs met. |
Click on the pictures below to download two excellent EHC Plan example guides by the Council For Disabled Children.
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What is an EHCP?
An EHCP may be offered to children and young people with significant difficulties. It is a document setting out the child's special educational/health and social care needs and the help the child should receive. This provision is funded by the Local Authority. An EHCP may be issued when a school has done all it can be expected to do, and the child is still not progressing satisfactorily. An EHCP is a legal document and, as such, non-compliance can be legally challenged. The Local Authority is responsible for the implementation of a EHCP.
An EHCP may be offered to children and young people with significant difficulties. It is a document setting out the child's special educational/health and social care needs and the help the child should receive. This provision is funded by the Local Authority. An EHCP may be issued when a school has done all it can be expected to do, and the child is still not progressing satisfactorily. An EHCP is a legal document and, as such, non-compliance can be legally challenged. The Local Authority is responsible for the implementation of a EHCP.
The main elements are:
- Replacing SEN statements and separate learning difficulty assessments (for older children) with a single, simpler birth to 25 years assessment process and education, health and care plan from 2014.
- Parents with the plans would have the right to a personal budget for their support.
- Providing statutory protections to up to 25-years-old in further education - instead of there being a ‘cliff edge’ when it is cut off at 16, to help young people into employment and independent living.
- LAs and health services will be required to link up services for disabled children and young people - so they are jointly planned and commissioned.
- Introducing mediation for disputes and giving children the right to appeal if they are unhappy with their support.
What does an EHCP look like?
There is no national standard format for the EHC plan. However it must have certain sections that are clearly labelled. The sections are:
The different sections may at first seem like a confusing alphabet soup. It can help to understand that there are three sections on needs (i.e. your child's difficulties) that are matched by corresponding provision (the help your child will get) to meet those needs:
More information on the sections:
Section A can be useful in providing a quick summary of your child. It should be based on information given by you and your child or young person. Section A is not legally binding, so the main detail of the plan should not be in here.
Section B describes your child's special educational needs i.e. what your child has difficulty with. The SEND code of practice defines four broad areas of SEN. Many local authorities structure the educational sections of the EHC plan in this way, but there is no obligation to do so. These areas are:
Section C contains any health care needs related to your child's condition or SEN. This can be physical or mental health difficulties, for example difficulties with eating, severe anxiety, or a medical condition such as epilepsy.
Section D contains any social care needs related to your child's special educational needs or disability. For example support to join in with activities outside home and school.
Section E contains the outcomes anticipated for your child. The outcomes describe what your child will be able to do as a result of getting the extra help in the EHC plan. Outcomes can be about reaching a particular educational level, or they can be things that are important to your child, such as being able to take part in an out of school activity.
Section F contains details of the help your child will get in school. This section must be specific and quantified. It should be very clear how much help, how often and who will give it. Therapies such as speech and language therapy must normally be in section F.
Section G is the healthcare provision required, for example medication, equipment such as a wheelchair, nursing support, monitoring seizures.
Section H is social care provision. This might be short breaks, out of school activities or support for the family at home.
Section I names the school or other institution your child attends. In a draft EHC plan this must always be left blank, because this is when you can tell your local authority what school you want your child to go to.
If you have requested a personal budget, Section J will contain information about this. A personal budget is not extra money but a more flexible way of using the funding allocated to your child. See separate information on personal budgets.
Section K contains all the reports gathered as part of the assessment process.
There is no national standard format for the EHC plan. However it must have certain sections that are clearly labelled. The sections are:
- A: The views, interests and aspirations of you and your child.
- B: Special educational needs (SEN).
- C: Health needs related to SEN.
- D: Social care needs related to SEN.
- E: Outcomes - how the extra help will benefit your child
- F: Special educational provision (support).
- G: Health provision.
- H: Social care provision.
- I: Placement - type and name of school or other institution (blank in the draft plan (link to info about draft plan))
- J: Personal budget arrangements.
- K: Advice and information - a list of the information gathered during the EHC needs assessment.
The different sections may at first seem like a confusing alphabet soup. It can help to understand that there are three sections on needs (i.e. your child's difficulties) that are matched by corresponding provision (the help your child will get) to meet those needs:
- "Section B: Special educational needs" are met by "Section F: special educational provision".
- "Section C: Health care needs" are met by "Section G: health care provision".
- "Section D: Social care needs" are met by "Section H: social care provision".
More information on the sections:
Section A can be useful in providing a quick summary of your child. It should be based on information given by you and your child or young person. Section A is not legally binding, so the main detail of the plan should not be in here.
Section B describes your child's special educational needs i.e. what your child has difficulty with. The SEND code of practice defines four broad areas of SEN. Many local authorities structure the educational sections of the EHC plan in this way, but there is no obligation to do so. These areas are:
- Cognition and learning.
- Communication and interaction.
- Social emotional and mental health.
- Sensory and physical.
Section C contains any health care needs related to your child's condition or SEN. This can be physical or mental health difficulties, for example difficulties with eating, severe anxiety, or a medical condition such as epilepsy.
Section D contains any social care needs related to your child's special educational needs or disability. For example support to join in with activities outside home and school.
Section E contains the outcomes anticipated for your child. The outcomes describe what your child will be able to do as a result of getting the extra help in the EHC plan. Outcomes can be about reaching a particular educational level, or they can be things that are important to your child, such as being able to take part in an out of school activity.
Section F contains details of the help your child will get in school. This section must be specific and quantified. It should be very clear how much help, how often and who will give it. Therapies such as speech and language therapy must normally be in section F.
Section G is the healthcare provision required, for example medication, equipment such as a wheelchair, nursing support, monitoring seizures.
Section H is social care provision. This might be short breaks, out of school activities or support for the family at home.
Section I names the school or other institution your child attends. In a draft EHC plan this must always be left blank, because this is when you can tell your local authority what school you want your child to go to.
If you have requested a personal budget, Section J will contain information about this. A personal budget is not extra money but a more flexible way of using the funding allocated to your child. See separate information on personal budgets.
Section K contains all the reports gathered as part of the assessment process.
An application for an EHCP can be made by a parent or the child's school.
The first stage of an application is called an 'EHCP Needs Assessment'. For more information about an application (by either the school or the parent) in Bexley, click here:
After an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) needs assessment has been carried out, if the local authority decides to issue your child an EHCP you'll first receive a draft EHCP.
There's a lot to consider at this stage and timing is crucial, so it's important to be prepared and act quickly.
You will need to check the draft plan carefully for mistakes and omissions. Does it:
Note that the name of the school, college or other education setting in section I of the draft EHC plan will be left blank. This is so that you can say which school or college you want to be named in the final EHC plan. Find out more about naming a school in a draft EHC plan.
The first stage of an application is called an 'EHCP Needs Assessment'. For more information about an application (by either the school or the parent) in Bexley, click here:
After an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) needs assessment has been carried out, if the local authority decides to issue your child an EHCP you'll first receive a draft EHCP.
There's a lot to consider at this stage and timing is crucial, so it's important to be prepared and act quickly.
You will need to check the draft plan carefully for mistakes and omissions. Does it:
- Accurately describe your child's difficulties?
- Have enough detail about the help your child will get?
- Include all the reports gathered in the assessment process?
Note that the name of the school, college or other education setting in section I of the draft EHC plan will be left blank. This is so that you can say which school or college you want to be named in the final EHC plan. Find out more about naming a school in a draft EHC plan.
EHCP Draft Timescales
You have at least 15 days from the date the draft was sent to respond. You could:
As a result of your representations the local authority may:
You have at least 15 days from the date the draft was sent to respond. You could:
- Tell the local authority about any changes you want made to the plan. This is called "making representations".
- Express your preference of school to be named in section I of the plan.
- Ask the local authority to arrange a meeting with you to discuss the draft plan.
As a result of your representations the local authority may:
- Issue a final plan with all or some of the changes you want.
- Issue an unchanged final plan.
- Make changes of their own and reissue the plan in a draft form.
What if i am not happy with the final EHC Plan?
When they send you the final plan, your local authority must also send you a letter informing you of your right to mediation and appeal.
If you disagree with all or part of the final plan there is a right to:
Mediation
This is where you try to reach a negotiated agreement with the local authority. The aim is to try to find a solution that is acceptable to both parties. Mediation will be facilitated by an organisation independent of the local authority. You can ask for mediation on any part of the EHC plan. You must make your request within two months of the final plan being sent to you.
Appeal to the First-Tier Tribunal (special educational needs and disability)
You can appeal to tribunal over the education parts of the plan, sections B, F and I. Any changes ordered by the Tribunal are binding on the local authority and they must make them. Find out more about appeals and tribunals.
Annual Review of the Plan
The plan must be reviewed at least once a year. At the end of the review the local authority may make changes to the plan, end it or leave it unchanged. Read more about annual reviews.
How long does an EHCP last?
The plan will remain in place until your child leaves education or the local authority decides that your child no longer needs the plan to help them in their education. If you move to another local authority the plan will be transferred. See more about a change in circumstances.
The plan must be reviewed at least once a year. At the end of the review the local authority may make changes to the plan, end it or leave it unchanged. Read more about annual reviews.
How long does an EHCP last?
The plan will remain in place until your child leaves education or the local authority decides that your child no longer needs the plan to help them in their education. If you move to another local authority the plan will be transferred. See more about a change in circumstances.
Where can i get more information and advice?
Contact the Bexley IASS service: https://www.bexleyiass.co.uk/
Visit the Bexley Local Offer website: http://www.bexleylocaloffer.uk/
Contact the Bexley IASS service: https://www.bexleyiass.co.uk/
Visit the Bexley Local Offer website: http://www.bexleylocaloffer.uk/
PARENT AND CARER 'MY GUIDES'
Bexley Voice are co-producing with Bexley LA a series of guides for parents and carers on various subjects on subjects such as SEN Support, requesting an EHCP Needs assessment and EHCP reviews. Click here to download your copies.
For information on what an EHCP involves and how to apply for one in Bexley, please click here:
For information on Bexley's Information, Advice and Support Service - IASS, please click here:
Please watch the video below for information on what an EHC Plan is:
Bexley Voice are co-producing with Bexley LA a series of guides for parents and carers on various subjects on subjects such as SEN Support, requesting an EHCP Needs assessment and EHCP reviews. Click here to download your copies.
For information on what an EHCP involves and how to apply for one in Bexley, please click here:
For information on Bexley's Information, Advice and Support Service - IASS, please click here:
Please watch the video below for information on what an EHC Plan is:
