The Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is a legal document that outlines the educational, health, and social care support required for children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) in England. An EHCP is designed to provide personalized support so that the child can thrive academically as well as socially and emotionally. The process of getting an EHCP can seem complicated, but breaking it down step-by-step can make it more manageable for families. Here are the key stages involved:
Identification of Needs
The EHCP process typically starts when a child is identified as potentially having SEND. This may happen through observations and assessments by teachers, exams, parental or medical professional input, or other means. The specific needs of the child are considered in areas like cognition and learning, communication and interaction, sensory and physical abilities, social and emotional development, or health and care requirements. If the child’s needs cannot be met through standard school resources and they require extra support, the EHCP process may be initiated.
Request for Assessment
The first official step is for a request for assessment to be submitted to the local authority’s Special Educational Needs team. This request can come from a variety of sources including parents, a young person over the age of 16, school staff, doctors, health visitors, or nurses. The request should include information on the child’s areas of need, how it impacts their education and development, steps already taken to support them, and why an EHC assessment is necessary. Providing as much detail and evidence as possible can strengthen the assessment request.
Decision on Assessment
Once the request is received, the local authority will determine whether a statutory assessment is required within six weeks. They will consider existing information about the child’s needs and progress, including medical information, views of parents and teachers, exam results, and previous extra support provided. If they decide an EHC assessment is needed due to the child’s complex persistent learning difficulties, they will move forward with the assessment process. If they determine the assessment is unwarranted, they must notify the parties involved and provide reasoning.
EHC Assessment
If the local authority grants the assessment request, they will appoint an EHC coordinator to manage the process. They have up to 20 weeks to complete the EHC needs assessment. This involves gathering in-depth information about the child including:
- Parental views on the child’s history and needs
- Teacher input on academic performance and goals
- Medical, psychological, or other specialist assessments
- The child’s own thoughts and opinions if appropriate
A variety of professionals will likely contribute to this process including SEN experts, educational psychologists, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, and more. The goal is to develop a full profile of the child’s needs and challenges.
Drafting the EHC Plan
Once the assessment is complete, the local authority must decide whether an EHCP is necessary. If so, they will develop a draft EHC plan within 14 weeks of the initial assessment request. This plan outlines:
- The child’s background, strengths, interests, and areas of difficulty
- Specific and measurable goals for the child’s progress
- Educational provision like learning support, therapies, or assistive technology
- Health and care support like nursing, mental health services, or respite care
- Recommendations for school placement if specialist provision is needed
The draft plan should capture the child’s unique needs while also maximizing their potential.
Consultation
Before finalizing the EHC plan, the local authority must share it with the child’s parents or guardians and allow 15 days for feedback. Consultation at this stage ensures parental input is considered and included in the final plan. The child can also provide their opinion. The school may also review the draft plan to ensure they can provide the support outlined. Professionals who contributed to the needs assessment may also be consulted.
Final EHC Plan
The local authority will then finalize the EHCP taking into account the consultation feedback. This final legally binding plan should detail the education, health and care support the child will receive, as well as short term goals and longer term aspirations for the future. Once finalized, the local authority must send the plan to the child’s parents and the educational institution identified in the plan within 20 weeks of the initial request.
Decision on the EHC Plan
In some cases after completing the EHC assessment, the local authority may decide an EHCP is unnecessary if the child’s needs can be met through existing school resources and SEN support. If so, they must notify the child’s parents and provide reasoning for their decision within 16 weeks of the initial request. Parents then have a right to appeal this decision if they wish through mediation and tribunal processes.
Implementing the EHC Plan
After the EHCP is approved and finalized, the next step is implementation. The educational institution must use the recommendations in the plan to deliver personalized support to the child. This includes input from teachers, school staff, specialists, therapists, counsellors, and any other professionals needed to address the child’s needs. Annual funding is provided through the local authority to enable delivery of the plan’s provisions.
Annual Reviews
The EHCP is not a static document; it should evolve as the child develops. There is a mandatory requirement for it to be reviewed annually to assess the child’s progress and whether their outcomes are being met. The parents, child, and school will be invited to participate in this review process. Based on progress made and any changes in the child’s circumstances, the EHCP may be updated and amended. New targets and support approaches can be implemented through this review process.
Transition Planning
In addition to annual reviews, the EHCP must be reviewed whenever the child is approaching a key transition point in their education. This commonly occurs when moving from primary to secondary school, but can also happen when transitioning between other schools or moving from school to post-16 settings. These transition reviews ensure the EHCP is adapted to align with the child’s next educational stage. New options are considered, goals are adjusted, and support is put in place to facilitate a smooth transition.
Monitoring and Evaluation
Ongoing monitoring and evaluation is crucial for ensuring the EHC plan remains relevant and impactful. Teachers, parents, and specialists track the child’s progress on short and long-term goals and share observations on the effectiveness of the support in place. The local authority will also monitor whether the educational institution is fulfilling its duty in implementing the plan. Through sustained monitoring and feedback, the quality of EHCP implementation can continuously improve.
Discontinuation or Appeals
In some instances, the local authority may decide the EHCP should be discontinued if evidence shows the child no longer requires special education provision. However, parents have the right to appeal this decision. Mediation services are available to resolve disputes between parents and local authorities regarding EHCP decisions. If that fails, parents can pursue formal appeals through the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal. Parents can also appeal parts of the EHC plan they are unhappy with.
Post-16 Transition
The EHCP process does not stop at age 16. The local authority must continue supporting young people with SEND up to age 25 if needed through annual reviews and transition planning. The EHCP is updated to focus on preparing for adulthood including higher education, employment training, independent living skills, participation in the community, and health/social care support. These post-16 plans ensure a young person’s needs continue being met as they gain independence and embark on their career pathway.
In summary, while lengthy, the EHCP process is designed to fully address a child’s needs through close collaboration between families, schools, and professionals. By providing individualized support early on, EHC plans aim to remove barriers to learning so the child can thrive scholastically and socially. With consistent reviews and updates, the plan adapts over time to equip each child with the skills and preparation needed to maximize their potential now and into adulthood. For families and schools, understanding the staged approach helps demystify what can initially seem like a complex process.
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