Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
What is an EHCP
An EHCP is a legally binding document for children and young people aged 0 - 25 who need more support and whose special educational needs cannot be met through the school or setting's core offer or SEN Support offer.
It sets out:
- the help your child needs from nursery, school or college / health services / children’s services
- what your child’s special educational needs and disabilities are
- the extra help they need at nursery, school, or college – including the school they should go to
- targets for the end results your child should reach in their education, health, and the care they need – these are called ‘outcomes’
Before applying for an EHCP
Before applying for an EHCP, please take the time to review the information in the links below:
- What is the Local Offer
- Parenting support from Family Help
- Help and support for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
- Inclusive Practice Toolkit
An EHCP application is a long process, therefore it could be of value to ask the school if they can apply for additional funding whilst the assessment process is being followed.
If you have any further questions related to an EHCP, please approach the school SENCO in the first instance or contact the SENA service. If we are unable to answer your question, we'll forward it to a professional case manager who will be in contact with you as soon as possible.
Applying for an EHCP
You'll need to apply for an assessment to SENA, which may lead to an EHCP or to useful information about your child's SEND and advice to their school about how to further support them.
The request for assessment can be made by education providers, parents, young people, or other professionals, and the process usually takes up to 20 weeks.
Annual reviews
The school or college will review your child’s EHCP annually. They’ll invite you to the review.
We will respond to this review within 4 weeks from the date we receive it, then you will receive a proposed plan which you have the opportunity to review the content of, indicate any necessary amendments, and name a preferred school or setting. Please note: this doesn't automatically mean that this is the school that the pupil will be allocated.
An early annual review can be requested if there are significant changes to the needs of the pupil, meaning that the current plan can no longer meet the needs of the pupil if there is a risk of a placement breakdown or a change of setting is being considered.
Find out more about the annual review process, tips for conducting an effective annual review and answers to some frequently asked questions:
Disagreeing with our decision
If you disagree with any of the decisions / outcomes resulted in the process, please refer to your letter that accompanied your final plan or your assessment decline letter as this information is contained on these.
Alternatively, you can appeal to the First Tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability)
Moving home
If you move home, you must inform us so we can update the young person's contact details.
Transport
Transport arrangements are dealt with by transportassessments@leics.gov.uk. They will require a final plan, naming the school, before they make any arrangements.
Changing school during your term-time
Your child’s EHCP will go with them when they move to another school or into further education.
Transition Year
This is a natural educational phase, but doesn't necessarily mean a chosen change of school.
The school should automatically conduct this review - this is an opportunity for you to state your preferred next placement. When you have a final EHCP, you don't go through the standard admissions process - your transfer is done through SENA.
If, however, you haven't got a final EHCP and are still in the assessment phase, you'll also need to contact admissions for a school place