Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)

SEND Support and Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)

Most children with SEND get the help they need through in their early years, school or college setting through the provision of support in all schools for children with SEND.

  • Settings can request support and advice from a range of professionals such as Inclusion Specialist Teachers, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists
  • An EHC needs assessment is considered when this support is not enough.

How to apply for an EHC needs assessment

  • It is recommended that you talk to the school/setting (e.g. SENCo) before requesting an EHC needs assessment
  • An assessment is requested through your local authority and can be made by a parent/carer, young person or professional – you can speak to your child’s school SENCO for this.
  • It is a legal process that includes gathering evidence from different people including teachers, health care professionals, parents and your child or young person

 What is an EHCP?

  • An EHC plan describes your child, their needs, outcomes, and the support required to achieve these outcomes.
  • It is written using evidence from education, health and care providers
  • It is a legal document- schools and authorities must follow it.
  • You do not need a formal diagnosis for an EHCP as the EHCP is based on need not diagnosis.

We understand how important it is to feel supported when navigating the EHCP journey. While we don’t have the authority to create or enforce these plans, we are committed to help you understand your rights, explore your options and feel confident in advocating for your child’s needs.

SENDIAS

You can get support from Buckinghamshire Special Educational Needs and Disability Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIAS),who provide free, confidential, impartial information, advice and support on all matters relating to special educational needs and disability for children and young people aged 0 to 25 and their parents/carers.

 

EHCP myth busters

Does my child need a diagnosis for an EHCP?

No formal diagnosis is necessary; however, evidence of Special Educational Needs (SEN) is required.

Does my child need to be under achieving to request an EHCP?

An ECHP does not specifically target a child’s intellectual ability. If a child cannot access a school environment due to sensory processing, emotional or behavioural needs, the child is still entitled to the relevant adjustments. A child needs to be able to access learning and if school cannot meet their needs using adjustments or SEND support, an EHCP might be needed to support the child regardless of intellectual ability.

Is an EHCP the only way to support my child?

Schools can provide SEN support and put into place adjustments without the need for an EHCP. In fact, the vast majority of children with SEND are supported in this way, via ‘delegated funding’.

Is an EHC needs assessments funded by school?

They are funded by the Local Authority.

Can only the education setting apply for an EHCP?
  • A parent and carer can apply for an EHC needs assessment independently from the school. It is worth remembering that the local authority will need to ask for evidence from the school or setting (where a child is attending one) to decide whether a need assessment is needed. A young person over the age of 16 but under the age of 25 can also apply.
  • It is always a good idea to talk to the early years setting or school before asking for an EHC needs assessment. The Buckinghamshire SENDIAS Service can help you make your request.
  • Other people such as your doctor or a health visitor can tell the local authority that they think your child may have additional support needs in education.
Will my child be given 1:1 support with an EHCP?

The provision for each child or young person will vary and depends on the individual’s needs. The provision described in the EHCP should be specific and whenever possible, quantified (stating how much/how often). It should be based on the advice of practitioners working with the child or young person, gathered during the EHC needs assessment. Often, a child or young person with a high level of need will require a high level of support. The EHCP itself however should be outcome focused, with flexibility in how the young person will be supported to achieve these outcomes

Will my child’s EHCP remain the same throughout their educational journey?

All EHCPs are reviewed at least once a year. A meeting will be held with parents, the child (if appropriate), the school and all the professionals involved to discuss the child’s progress over the previous 12 months and consider whether amendments need to be made to the child’s EHCP. Contributions to this meeting may be made in person or writing. The review will focus on the outcome and target section of the EHCP and decide whether any amendments need to be made to the outcomes, needs, or provision. An EHCP may also be ceased if the support is no longer required.

I don’t have an EHCP, does this mean I can’t prove that my child has additional needs?

No, an EHCP is designed to assess whether a child needs additional and legally defined support to access education. Parents and school can still access valuable support, including SEND support plans, targeted interventions and external support services, even if an EHCP is not required

Page last reviewed: 4 August, 2026