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  • education-health-and-care-plans
  1. How we help
  2. Get support
  3. Education, Health and Care plans

Education, Health and Care plans

An Education, Health and Care plan (“EHC plan”) is a legal document which describes a child or young person’s special educational needs, the support they need, and the outcomes they would like to achieve.

The special educational provision described in an EHC plan must be provided by the child or young person’s local authority (“LA”). This means an EHC plan can give a child or young person extra educational support. It can also give parents and young people more choice about which school or other setting the child or young person can attend.

An EHC plan can only be issued after a child or young person has gone through the process of an Education, Health and Care needs assessment.

Follow the links below for more information on how to ask for an EHC plan, how to change an existing EHC plan, and how to challenge a decision by the LA which you disagree with.

If you already have an EHC plan but the provision set out in it is not being made, you will need to make a complaint against your LA.

EHC needs assessments

EHC needs assessments

An EHC needs assessment is an assessment of a child or young person’s education, health and care needs Read more

Published: 21st March, 2018

Updated: 1st May, 2018

Author: Emma Brock

What an EHC plan contains

What an EHC plan contains

An EHC plan should be written in a way that makes it clear, to parents, young people, schools, colleges and LAs, who is required to do what, when it has to happen and how often it should be reviewed Read more

Published: 19th March, 2018

Updated: 1st May, 2018

Author: Emma Brock

Personal budgets and direct payments

Personal budgets and direct payments

Once a child or young person has an EHC plan, the local authority must ensure the support set out in the plan is made for the child or young person Read more

Published: 17th March, 2018

Updated: 1st May, 2018

Author: Emma Brock

Changing an EHC plan

Changing an EHC plan

Once an EHC plan is in place for a child or young person, it is unlikely to remain the same over time - as they grow up, it may become out of date, and they may move to a different school or college Read more

Published: 10th March, 2018

Updated: 23rd April, 2018

Author: Emma Brock

If your LA takes away your EHC plan

If your LA takes away your EHC plan

When a local authority decides to take away, or end, an EHC plan, this is called ‘ceasing to maintain’ Read more

Published: 9th March, 2018

Updated: 24th April, 2018

Author: Emma Brock

Appealing to the SEND Tribunal

Appealing to the SEND Tribunal

The SEND Tribunal is an independent national tribunal which hears parents’ and young people’s appeals against LA decisions about the special educational needs of children and young people Read more

Published: 8th March, 2018

Updated: 20th May, 2022

Author: Emma Brock

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Showing 10 of 6

Latest

  • SEND Review: how you can respond to the Government’s proposals for reforming the SEND system

    SEND Review: how you can respond to the Government’s proposals for reforming the SEND system

    We encourage you to tell the Department for Education what you think and what your experiences are

  • SEND law- a practical guide for colleges: 28th September

    SEND law- a practical guide for colleges: 28th September

    This one day training is designed specifically for college staff, providing an overview of the special educational needs and disability (SEND) legal framework, as well as other related areas of the law

  • SEND law for SENCos: 2nd November

    SEND law for SENCos: 2nd November

    Our one day training, designed specifically for SENCos, provides an overview of the special educational needs and disability (SEND) legal framework, and will equip you with the knowledge required to overcome the challenges of your role

  • SEND law and young people (post-16): 9th September

    SEND law and young people (post-16): 9th September

    A one-day training session designed specifically for parents, carers and supporting family members of children who are approaching or above compulsory school age

Most read

  • Asking for an EHC needs assessment

    Asking for an EHC needs assessment

  • EHC needs assessments

    EHC needs assessments

    An EHC needs assessment is an assessment of a child or young person’s education, health and care needs

  • Making a request for an EHC needs assessment: Model letter 1

    Making a request for an EHC needs assessment: Model letter 1

  • Model letters

    Model letters

    IPSEA model letters are available to download and amend for your own purposes

  • Advice Line

    Advice Line

    Book an appointment on our Advice Line for legally based information and next step advice on any educational issue that is the result of a child’s special educational needs or disability

  • What happens in an EHC needs assessment

    What happens in an EHC needs assessment

  • Choosing a school/college with an EHC plan

    Choosing a school/college with an EHC plan

  • Contact us

    Contact us

  • The annual review process

    The annual review process

  • Appealing to the SEND Tribunal

    Appealing to the SEND Tribunal

    The SEND Tribunal is an independent national tribunal which hears parents’ and young people’s appeals against LA decisions about the special educational needs of children and young people

How you can help IPSEA

How you can help IPSEA

Have you found the information on our website helpful today? If so, please consider donating! At IPSEA, we rely on your donations and fundraising efforts to help keep our vital services running. Read more

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Published: 19th March, 2014

Updated: 11th March, 2020

Author:

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IPSEA is registered charity number 327691
Limited company 2198066

Registered office: IPSEA, 24-26 Gold Street, Saffron Walden, CB10 1EJ

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