What is an Education Health and Care Plan?

A group of professionals in a classroom setting observing a physical therapy demonstration as part of training or support discussion.

An Education, Health and Care plan (EHC plan) is a legal document which describes a child or young person’s aged up to 25 special educational needs, the support they need, and the outcomes they would like to achieve.

The special educational provision described in an EHC plan must be provided by the child or young person’s local authority. This means an EHC plan can give a child or young person extra educational support. It can also give parents and young people more choice about which school or other setting the child or young person can attend.

An EHC plan can only be issued after a child or young person has gone through the process of an Education, Health and Care needs assessment.

How do you request an EHC plan assessment?

You can ask your local authority to carry out an assessment if you think your child needs an EHC plan. A young person can request an assessment themselves if they’re aged 16 to 25. A request can also be made by anyone else who thinks an assessment may be necessary, including doctors, health visitors, teachers, parents and family friends.

Is there guidance on how to write a good EHC plan?

Yes, the Council for Disabled Children has produced two resources to support the development of skills in writing good quality EHC plans that meet both the letter and the spirit of the Children and Families Act 2014. These can be found at: 

Source: https://councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk/about-us-0/networks/information-advice-and-support-programme/useful-resources-publications/what-2