What is an Education, Health and Social Care (EHC) plan?
Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)
Here you can find out information about the purpose of an EHCP, the assessment process and where to go if you need further assistance.
If your child is currently undergoing an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment, you can log in to the SEN Hub to check the progress of the assessment and obtain the information you need quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions about Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plans.
There is also an Easy Read guide for parents from GOV.UK
This short video provides and explanation of what an Education, Health and Care plan is.
The purpose of an Education, Health, and Care plan (EHCP) is to provide additional support for children and young people with special educational needs.
The EHCP will focus on things the child or young person wants to achieve (outcomes) and the steps to reach them.
It aims to:
- Ensure children and young people with SEND get the help and support they need in their education, health, and social care.
- Help children and young people with SEND achieve their goals and dreams.
- Prepare children and young people with SEND for adulthood and independence.
The plan brings together all the services they need to support their development and wellbeing, and it will state which nursery, school or college is best suited for the child or young person.
More information about the statutory assessment process, including how to request an assessment.
The purpose of an Education, Health, and Care plan (EHCP) is to provide additional support for children and young people with special educational needs.
The EHCP will focus on things the child or young person wants to achieve (outcomes) and the steps to reach them.
It aims to:
- Ensure children and young people with SEND get the help and support they need in their education, health, and social care.
- Help children and young people with SEND achieve their goals and dreams.
- Prepare children and young people with SEND for adulthood and independence.
The plan brings together all the services they need to support their development and wellbeing, and it will state which nursery, school or college is best suited for the child or young person.
More information about the statutory assessment process, including how to request an assessment.
Before a child or young person is given an EHCP, an assessment of their needs must be completed.
An assessment of need happens if the information given to the Local Authority shows that the child may have a special educational need and may need the support of an EHCP.
When completing an EHC needs assessment the Local Authority will gather professional advice as well as views from parents, carers, and the child or young person to understand what needs the child or young person has. The local authority use this information to decide if an EHCP is needed.
There is a statutory timeline for the EHC needs assessment of 20 weeks. View the statutory timeline for EHC needs assessment to EHC plan.
Before a child or young person is given an EHCP, an assessment of their needs must be completed.
An assessment of need happens if the information given to the Local Authority shows that the child may have a special educational need and may need the support of an EHCP.
When completing an EHC needs assessment the Local Authority will gather professional advice as well as views from parents, carers, and the child or young person to understand what needs the child or young person has. The local authority use this information to decide if an EHCP is needed.
There is a statutory timeline for the EHC needs assessment of 20 weeks. View the statutory timeline for EHC needs assessment to EHC plan.
- Before making a request for an EHC needs assessment, it is important to discuss the needs and support required for the child/young person with your education setting (nursery, early years provider, school, college) to understand what can be provided via ordinarily available provision or SEND support. The education setting should follow a process known as ‘assess, plan, do, review’ to evaluate and assess the impact of interventions in meeting the child or young person’s needs. Visit the ordinarily available provision and SEND support section for more information.
- Parents, carers and young people should jointly review, with their education setting, whether an Education, Health and Care needs assessment is the appropriate next step. You may like to review the information in our webpages found Special Educational Needs Pathway web pages.
- If following discussion with your education setting, you agree that the child’s needs cannot be met through ordinarily available provision or SEND support, an application for an EHC needs assessment can be made by the education setting, parent, carer or young person (aged 16-25) in the EHC Hub.
Whilst parents, carers and young people can apply for a needs assessment, it is important to discuss your intention to make a request for assessment with your child’s education setting as they will be able to help and advise you on the support available to help your child with their special educational needs. Education settings will have access to information and evidence about your child's needs and progress, including the outcomes of the ‘assess, plan, do, review’ process, which will help make the application accurate. The education setting should work together with the child or young person and their parents or carers to ensure that the application is thorough and accurately reflects the child or young person’s requirements.
- Before making a request for an EHC needs assessment, it is important to discuss the needs and support required for the child/young person with your education setting (nursery, early years provider, school, college) to understand what can be provided via ordinarily available provision or SEND support. The education setting should follow a process known as ‘assess, plan, do, review’ to evaluate and assess the impact of interventions in meeting the child or young person’s needs. Visit the ordinarily available provision and SEND support section for more information.
- Parents, carers and young people should jointly review, with their education setting, whether an Education, Health and Care needs assessment is the appropriate next step. You may like to review the information in our webpages found Special Educational Needs Pathway web pages.
- If following discussion with your education setting, you agree that the child’s needs cannot be met through ordinarily available provision or SEND support, an application for an EHC needs assessment can be made by the education setting, parent, carer or young person (aged 16-25) in the EHC Hub.
Whilst parents, carers and young people can apply for a needs assessment, it is important to discuss your intention to make a request for assessment with your child’s education setting as they will be able to help and advise you on the support available to help your child with their special educational needs. Education settings will have access to information and evidence about your child's needs and progress, including the outcomes of the ‘assess, plan, do, review’ process, which will help make the application accurate. The education setting should work together with the child or young person and their parents or carers to ensure that the application is thorough and accurately reflects the child or young person’s requirements.
If your child is currently undergoing an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment, you can log in to the SEN Hub to check the progress of the assessment and obtain the information you need quickly.
If your child is currently undergoing an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment, you can log in to the SEN Hub to check the progress of the assessment and obtain the information you need quickly.
The SEN Service Helpdesk is there to assist with general inquiries regarding a child’s or young person’s case progress. If the Helpdesk cannot answer a specific question, they will coordinate with the appropriate locality team to get the necessary information (details below).
Opening hours: 9:30am to 12:30pm, Monday to Friday
Phone number: 01329 316165
Email the SEN Helpdesk team: SENhelpdesk@hants.gov.uk
Email the appropriate team for your area of Hampshire (details below)
SEN Service teams
| Basingstoke & Deane | basingstoke.sen@hants.gov.uk |
| East Hants | easthants.sen@hants.gov.uk |
| Fareham & Gosport | fareham.gosport.sen@hants.gov.uk |
| Hart & Rushmoor | hart.rushmoor.sen@hants.gov.uk |
| Havant | havant.sen@hants.gov.uk |
| New Forest | newforest.sen@hants.gov.uk |
| Test Valley | testvalley.sen@hants.gov.uk |
| Winchester & Eastleigh | winchester.sen@hants.gov.uk |
The SEN Service Helpdesk is there to assist with general inquiries regarding a child’s or young person’s case progress. If the Helpdesk cannot answer a specific question, they will coordinate with the appropriate locality team to get the necessary information (details below).
Opening hours: 9:30am to 12:30pm, Monday to Friday
Phone number: 01329 316165
Email the SEN Helpdesk team: SENhelpdesk@hants.gov.uk
Email the appropriate team for your area of Hampshire (details below)
SEN Service teams
| Basingstoke & Deane | basingstoke.sen@hants.gov.uk |
| East Hants | easthants.sen@hants.gov.uk |
| Fareham & Gosport | fareham.gosport.sen@hants.gov.uk |
| Hart & Rushmoor | hart.rushmoor.sen@hants.gov.uk |
| Havant | havant.sen@hants.gov.uk |
| New Forest | newforest.sen@hants.gov.uk |
| Test Valley | testvalley.sen@hants.gov.uk |
| Winchester & Eastleigh | winchester.sen@hants.gov.uk |
