Coronavirus (COVID-19): EHC plans and assessments updates
We're continuing to process requests for assessments, write new plans and redraft existing plans.
Please note the following updates:
- We're holding EHC plan panels through video calls and group phone calls.
- We'll continue to work to legal deadlines, where possible, and let you know if there are any problems.
- We'll email you any documents as our access to printers is limited. If we're unable to email this we'll ring you.
- We're working with schools to help them hold annual review meetings online using applications such as Skype or Zoom.
An education, health and care (EHC) plan is for children and young people aged up to 25 who need more support than their school or college is normally able to provide.
EHC plans have replaced statements of special educational needs (SEN).
An
EHC plan will give a description of your child's special education, health and social care needs. It will also detail the support and provision your child should receive to support their needs and help them succeed.
Watch What is an Education, Health and Social Care (EHC) plan? video on YouTube (3mins 17 secs)
Will my child get an EHC plan?
Before your child can get an
EHC plan, they need to have been identified as having special educational needs. Your child will already be receiving
SEN support from their school.
My child isn't receiving
SEN support in school - if your child hasn't been identified as having
SEN or isn't being supported in their school, view the process for identifying special educational needs
My child is receiving
SEN support in school - if your child has been receiving
SEN support in school but aren't making adequate progress, then an
EHC plan might help to identify what specialist support they need. Your child will need to have an assessment to determine whether they need an
EHC plan or not.
Request an EHC needs assessment
We can assess your child's special educational needs to see if they need an
EHC plan. Usually your child's school or college would ask us to do this, however you can also make a request directly to us.
If you're between 16-25 years old, you can request an
EHC needs assessment yourself.
To make a request:
- Complete the
EHC needs assessment request form below.
- Email the form to us at the email address listed on the form.
- We'll get in touch with you about the next steps within 5 working days.
EHC needs assessment form (202kb pdf)
What will happen during the EHC needs assessment?
Your child's
EHC needs assessment may include interviews, observations, tests and a medical.
After the
EHC needs assessment, we'll decide whether your child needs to have an
EHC plan. If we decide not to give your child an
EHC plan, we'll let you know the reasons why and the support that will be provided.
What will happen if my child is given an EHC plan?
If we decide to give your child an
EHC plan:
- We'll give you a draft
EHC plan which outlines your child's needs and details the type of support they need to succeed.
- Schools provide
SEN provision in different ways. You'll be asked to choose preferences for a school or college you'd like your child to attend based on the support they need. This may be the school or college they currently attend.
- We'll contact your preferred schools or colleges to see if they can meet your child's needs.
- If necessary, we'll arrange for your child to attend your preferred school if the school agrees they can provide the support listed on the
EHC plan.
Appeal an EHC needs assessment or plan decision
You can appeal if we don't give your child an assessment, we decide not to give your child an
EHC plan following the assessment or you're not happy with the content of your child's
EHC plan.
If you'd like to appeal:
- Please contact us in the first instance using the contact details on this page. We can talk through our reasons for the decisions and you can tell us why you think the decision is wrong.
- If you're still not happy, you can appeal to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal.
Appeal against an EHC plan or assessment decision