Education Health and Care Plans

What is an Education Health and Care Plan?

An Education Health & Care plan (EHCP) is a legal document that sets out the education, health and social care needs of a child or young person (0-25 years) and the support that is necessary to help them make progress and achieve their identified outcomes 

They are for children and young people who have complex additional or special educational needs (SEND) and need more help in an educational setting than most children or young people. 

Most children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities are supported successfully by the school (under SEN Support) without the need for additional support. However, for some children and young people more support is needed, and this is where an EHCP comes in. 

An EHC Plan

• Identifies educational, health and social needs. It sets out the additional support to meet those needs for a child or young person to achieve their best possible outcomes. 

• Is based on a child or young person’s needs and aspirations 

• Specifies how services will work together to meet a child or young person’s needs and achieve agreed outcomes 

• Is a legal document 

• Can start from a child’s birth (if appropriate) and can remain in place until a young person is 25 

• Is used to secure the provision which is assessed as being necessary and is above that provided at SEN support. 

The short animations below were developed by the Council for Disabled Children, to help explain the EHCP process and its important relationship with the Person - Centred Connection.

Useful Documents

EHCP Consultation

What To Include In Each Section Of The EHC Plan

2023 09 13 Final EHC Plan

Top Tips Professionals EHCP