Skip over main navigation
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
(IPSEA) Independent Provider of Special Education Advice
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
Donate
Menu
  • Get information and support
    • Free legal guides, resources and template letters
    • Our helplines and services
    • Services for professionals
    • Case studies
  • Book training
    • Learn about and book SEND law training
      • For parents and carers
      • For parent groups, schools and charities
      • For local authorities
      • For SEN professionals and private organisations
    • Subscribe to our legal updates
    • Contact the training team
  • Policy work
    • Learn about our policy work
      • Why the law matters for children and young people with SEND
      • Our national policy priorities
      • Our local policy work
      • Our responses to consultations
      • Our policy partnerships and alliances
      • How you can get involved
    • Policy blog
    • SEND Improvement Plan: what you need to know
    • SEND Change Programme: what you need to know
  • Get involved
    • Donate
    • Fundraise for us
      • Challenge 40
      • Events
      • Fundraising ideas
      • Set up your fundraising page
      • Contact our fundraising team
    • Volunteer
      • Ways to volunteer
      • How to apply
      • Volunteer stories
    • For organisations
      • Corporate support
      • Trusts and foundations
    • Other ways to give
  • About us
    • What we do
    • 40 years of support and influence
    • News
    • Work for us
    • Our annual reports
  • Contact
    • Contact us
    • Press enquiries
  • IPSEA Legal Resources Portal
  • Admin
    • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
  • What an EHC plan contains
  1. Get information and support
  2. Free legal guides, resources and template letters
  3. Education, Health and Care plans
  4. What an EHC plan contains

What an EHC plan contains

Education, health and care (“EHC”) plans can be long and complicated. They are required by law to contain certain sections, and it is important to ensure your EHC plan matches the legal requirements. If it doesn’t, it could make it difficult to enforce.

(If you’re not sure what an EHC plan is, or need advice on how to ask for an EHC plan, click here.)

The 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.

An EHC plan does not have a fixed format – each local authority (“LA”) can develop its own ‘style’ – but legally they must contain a number of separate sections.

You can also use our EHC plan checklist to see whether your EHC plan complies with the law.

What sections should an EHC plan have?

What should be in the sections relating to education (Sections B and F)?

What can I do if I’m not happy about the contents of the EHC plan?

Published: 19th March, 2018

Updated: 10th February, 2023

Author: Emma Brock

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Latest

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

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

    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

  • EHC plan masterclass - Obtaining a plan: 19th March

    EHC plan masterclass - Obtaining a plan: 19th March

    A training day for parents, carers and supporting family members of children with SEND, developed to guide families through the process of obtaining an Education, Health and Care plan

  • SEND law and young people (post-16): 25th April

    SEND law and young people (post-16): 25th April

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

  • Complaining when the local authority fails to comply with the statutory deadlines for action following the conclusion of mediation: Model letter 23

    Complaining when the local authority fails to comply with the statutory deadlines for action following the conclusion of mediation: Model letter 23

    Use this letter to complain when the local authority fails to comply with the statutory deadlines for action following the conclusion of mediation

Related

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • Enforcing your EHC plan

    Enforcing your EHC plan

    What to do if your child or young person has an EHC plan but the provision set out in it is not being made

  • 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’

  • 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

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

    Download and make changes to our model letters to fit your situation

  • Advice Line

    Advice Line

    Book an appointment for free and independent legal information, advice and support on any educational issue that is a result of a child or young person’s SEND

  • 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

  • The annual review process

    The annual review process

  • Contact us

    Contact us

  • 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

Donate Fundraise

Published: 19th March, 2014

Updated: 28th November, 2022

Author:

Sign up to receive regular email updates from IPSEA

The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy policy
  • Complaints policy
  • Login
  • My details
  • Log out

IPSEA is registered charity number 327691
Limited company 2198066

Registered office: IPSEA, 2A Stansted Courtyard, Parsonage Road, Takeley, Bishop’s Stortford, CM22 6PU

Donate
Manage Cookie Preferences