Education, Health and Care Plans
The SEN Code of practice says that the purpose Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan is to make special educational provision to meet the special educational needs of the child or young person, to secure improved outcomes for them across education, health and social care and, as they get older, prepare them for adulthood.
- An EHC is a legal document describing a child's needs, what should happen to meet those needs and the suitable educational placement
- The plan must be person-centred, focusing on the needs and hopes of the child
- The EHC plans will continue into further education and training and for some young people, in order to complete a course or qualification, up to the age of 25
- The child or young person is at the centre of the assessment of their needs and of the EHC plan
- Plans focus on the desired outcomes or results with a clear view of how resources will be allocated and used.
Content of Education, Health and Care Plans
As a statutory minimum, EHC Plans must include:
- The views, interests and aspirations of the child and his/her parents
- The child’s SEN
- The child’s health needs as they relate to their SEN
- The child’s social care needs as they relate to their SEN
- The outcomes sought for the child
- The special educational provision required
- Any health provision reasonably required
- Any social care provision that must be made under the Chronically Sick and disabled persons Act, or required by the SEN
- Name and type of school
- Details of a personal Budget where agreed
- Advice and information from the assessment
Council for Disabled Children's EHCP Film
The Department for Education and the Council for Disabled Children have produced an animation to help explain the EHCP process.