{"id":197326,"date":"2026-08-03T10:00:36","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T09:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/camhs\/?page_id=197326"},"modified":"2026-08-04T09:37:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T08:37:13","slug":"ehcps","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/camhs\/bucks\/neurodiversity\/ehcps\/","title":{"rendered":"Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>SEND Support and Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)<\/h2>\n<p>Most children with SEND get the help they need through in their early years, school or college setting through the provision of <a href=\"https:\/\/familyinfo.buckinghamshire.gov.uk\/send\/education-and-send\/send-support-in-education\/\">support in all schools for children with SEND.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"SEND Parent\/Carers: Understanding SEND and support available in Buckinghamshire\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/sMqedpqg0g0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Settings can request support and advice from a range of professionals such as Inclusion Specialist Teachers, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists<\/li>\n<li>An <strong>EHC needs assessment<\/strong> is considered when this support is <strong>not enough<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>How to apply for an EHC needs assessment<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>It is recommended that you talk to the school\/setting (e.g. SENCo) before requesting an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk\/schools-libraries-and-parks\/bucks-sendias-service\/support-for-send\/ehc-needs-assessments-and-plans\/\">EHC needs assessment<\/a><\/li>\n<li>An <a href=\"https:\/\/familyinfo.buckinghamshire.gov.uk\/send\/education-and-send\/education-health-and-care-plans\/requesting-an-ehc-needs-assessment\/\">assessment is requested<\/a> through your local authority and can be made by a parent\/carer, young person or professional &#8211; you can speak to your child\u2019s school SENCO for this.<\/li>\n<li>It is a legal process that includes gathering evidence from different people including teachers, health care professionals, parents and your child or young person<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>\u00a0What is an EHCP?<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>An EHC plan describes your child, their needs, outcomes, and the support required to achieve these outcomes.<\/li>\n<li>It is written using evidence from education, health and care providers<\/li>\n<li>It is a legal document- schools and authorities must follow it.<\/li>\n<li>You do not need a formal diagnosis for an EHCP as the EHCP is based on need not diagnosis.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"What is an Education, Health and Social Care (EHC) plan? (updated 2019)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/axMjmY1-7WU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>We understand how important it is to feel supported when navigating the EHCP journey. While we don\u2019t 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\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n<h2>SENDIAS<\/h2>\n<p>You can get support from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk\/schools-libraries-and-parks\/bucks-sendias-service\/\">Buckinghamshire Special Educational Needs and Disability Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIAS)<\/a>,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.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>EHCP myth busters<\/h2>\n<details class=\"nhsuk-details\">\n                    <summary class=\"nhsuk-details__summary\">\n                        <span class=\"nhsuk-details__summary-text\">Does my child need a diagnosis for an EHCP?<\/span>\n                    <\/summary>\n                    <div class=\"nhsuk-details__text\">\n<p>No formal diagnosis is necessary; however, evidence of Special Educational Needs (SEN) is required.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n                <\/details>\n<details class=\"nhsuk-details\">\n                    <summary class=\"nhsuk-details__summary\">\n                        <span class=\"nhsuk-details__summary-text\">Does my child need to be under achieving to request an EHCP?<\/span>\n                    <\/summary>\n                    <div class=\"nhsuk-details__text\">\n<p>An ECHP does not specifically target a child\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n                <\/details>\n<details class=\"nhsuk-details\">\n                    <summary class=\"nhsuk-details__summary\">\n                        <span class=\"nhsuk-details__summary-text\">Is an EHCP the only way to support my child?<\/span>\n                    <\/summary>\n                    <div class=\"nhsuk-details__text\">\n<p>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 \u2018delegated funding\u2019.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n                <\/details>\n<details class=\"nhsuk-details\">\n                    <summary class=\"nhsuk-details__summary\">\n                        <span class=\"nhsuk-details__summary-text\">Is an EHC needs assessments funded by school?<\/span>\n                    <\/summary>\n                    <div class=\"nhsuk-details__text\">\n<p>They are funded by the Local Authority.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n                <\/details>\n<details class=\"nhsuk-details\">\n                    <summary class=\"nhsuk-details__summary\">\n                        <span class=\"nhsuk-details__summary-text\">Can only the education setting apply for an EHCP?<\/span>\n                    <\/summary>\n                    <div class=\"nhsuk-details__text\">\n<ul>\n<li>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.<\/li>\n<li>It is always a good idea to talk to the early years setting or school before asking for an EHC needs assessment. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk\/schools-and-learning\/bucks-sendias-service\/\">Buckinghamshire SENDIAS Service<\/a> can help you make your request.<\/li>\n<li>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.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n                <\/details>\n<details class=\"nhsuk-details\">\n                    <summary class=\"nhsuk-details__summary\">\n                        <span class=\"nhsuk-details__summary-text\">Will my child be given 1:1 support with an EHCP?<\/span>\n                    <\/summary>\n                    <div class=\"nhsuk-details__text\">\n<p>The provision for each child or young person will vary and depends on the individual\u2019s 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<\/p>\n<\/div>\n                <\/details>\n<details class=\"nhsuk-details\">\n                    <summary class=\"nhsuk-details__summary\">\n                        <span class=\"nhsuk-details__summary-text\">Will my child\u2019s EHCP remain the same throughout their educational journey?<\/span>\n                    <\/summary>\n                    <div class=\"nhsuk-details__text\">\n<p>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\u2019s progress over the previous 12 months and consider whether amendments need to be made to the child\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n                <\/details>\n<details class=\"nhsuk-details\">\n                    <summary class=\"nhsuk-details__summary\">\n                        <span class=\"nhsuk-details__summary-text\">I don\u2019t have an EHCP, does this mean I can\u2019t prove that my child has additional needs?<\/span>\n                    <\/summary>\n                    <div class=\"nhsuk-details__text\">\n<p>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<\/p>\n<\/div>\n                <\/details>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":627,"featured_media":0,"parent":197303,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-197326","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/camhs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/197326","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/camhs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/camhs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/camhs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/627"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/camhs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=197326"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/camhs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/197326\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":197357,"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/camhs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/197326\/revisions\/197357"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/camhs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/197303"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/camhs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=197326"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}