Emily Varley, a school special educational needs and disabilities coordinator (SENDCo) based in Leicestershire.
What is an education, health and care plan (EHCP)?
This legal document in England outlines the support a child or young person with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) will require and receive. Different plans are available in other UK countries: in Wales, you can get an individual development plan; in Scotland, an additional support plan; and in Northern Ireland, a statement of special educational needs.
How will it help my child?
Covering education, health and social care needs, it’s designed to ensure a child receives appropriate support to achieve their full potential. The personalised plan involves both the parents and the child/young person in the decision-making process about their education and required support. It outlines outcomes to be met within a given timeframe (for example, by the end of a key stage) as well as through transition periods (between key stages or into adulthood), to ensure continuity of support. The plan includes provisions to be implemented to achieve the outcomes and having an EHCP can also grant access to additional resources, like specialist teaching, therapies or equipment.
Who’s eligible?
Local authorities will consider a wide range of evidence, including:
- academic achievement (or developmental milestones in younger children) and rate of progress
- information about the nature, extent and context of the child or young person’s special educational needs (SEN)
- evidence of action already being taken to meet their SEN
- evidence that where progress has been made, it’s only been as the result of much additional intervention and support over what’s usually provided
- evidence of their physical, emotional and social development and health needs
What’s the application process?
A request for an EHCP assessment can be requested any time through your local authority. The request can be made by a parent, a young person over the age of 16 but under the age of 25, or a person acting on behalf of a school.
The whole process of EHC needs assessment and EHCP development, from the point when an assessment is requested (or a child or young person is brought to the local authority’s attention) until the final EHCP is issued, must take no more than 20 weeks. Local authorities must give their decision in response to any request for an EHC needs assessment within a maximum of six weeks from when the request was received. If a local authority decides, following the assessment, not to issue an EHCP, it must inform the child’s parent or the young person within a maximum of 16 weeks from the request for a EHC needs assessment, and the child’s parent or the young person must be given 15 calendar days to consider and provide views on a draft EHCP and ask for a particular school or other institution to be named in it.
Where can I get support in getting the EHCP?
If you’re a parent, speak to your child’s school SENDCo for information about interventions, assessment data and progress of your child. Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Service is a free, impartial and confidential service, available through your local authority, offering information to young people and their parents/carers. Independent Provider of Special Education Advice (IPSEA) is a charity that provides support with SEND law.
If your child isn’t eligible for an EHCP but still needs help, communicate openly with your child’s school and healthcare professionals to explore the available options to support your child’s needs.
From Contact magazine issue 103 | Summer 2024
