Education, Health and Care Plans (EHC Plans)
Email this pageAn Education, Health and Care plan (EHC plan) describes your child’s special educational needs (SEN) and the help they will get to meet them. An EHC plan also includes any health and care provision that is needed. It is a legal document written by the local authority and is intended to ensure that children and young people with an EHC plan receive the support they need.
EHC plans replaced Statements of Special Educational Need and Section 139 Learning Difficulty Assessments (LDA) on 1 September 2014.
EHC plans are for children and young people who need more support than their school or other setting can provide. The plans can start from a child’s birth and continue into further education and training.
The SEND Code of Practice says:
The purpose of an EHC plan is to make special educational provision to meet the special educational needs of the child or young person, to secure the best possible outcomes for them across education, health and social care and, as they get older, prepare them for adulthood.
(9.2)
Good examples
Also in this section:
What should I expect to see in a Draft EHC plan
Guidance on what should be in the draft EHC Plan.
Choosing a school with an EHC plan
Guidance on choosing and naming a school on an EHC plan
Finalising the EHC Plan
You should receive a final EHC plan within a maximum of 20 weeks of the initial request.
Mediation
Mediation is a way to try to settle a dispute and involves meeting with different parties to try to reach an agreement.
Education Otherwise
A parent may need to educate their child at home because there is no viable alternative due to their child’s particular needs, whether medical or otherwise.
Changing a school placement with an EHC plan
The EHCP is unlikely to remain the same and may become out of date or the child/young person may move to a different school or college.
Moving to a new Local Authority with an EHC Plan
If you are moving to a new Local Authority area, the EHC plan will need to transfer to the new local authority.