Education, health and care plan
Whether to issue a plan?
EHC plans will only be considered for children/ young people where we have agreed to conduct an EHC needs assessment. The decision on whether to issue an EHC plan will be made at our special educational needs and disability multi-agency panel.
The panel decision will be informed by the information and evidence that has been gathered through the EHC needs assessment process. The decision will be made in line with the special educational need and disability code of practice. The decision will be communicated to the parent/ young person and the referrer within 16 weeks of receiving the EHC needs assessment request.
Draft education, health and care plan
The draft EHC plan will be sent to the parent/young person and they will be given 15 calendar days to give their views and make comments on the content. They will also be asked to express a preference for an educational institution. if they wish to request a personal budget they should also seek agreement at this stage.
Following the expression of preference by the parent/ young person we must consult with the governing body, principle or proprietor of the educational institution and consider their comments very carefully before deciding whether to name it in the child or young person's EHC plan. The institution should respond within 15 calendar days.
We must comply with parental/ young person preference and name the school or college in the EHC plan unless:
it would be unsuitable for the age, ability, aptitude or SEN of the child or young person, or
the attendance of the child or young person there would be incompatible with the efficient education of others or the efficient use of resources.
Finalised EHC plan
Where changes are suggested to the draft EHC plan by the child's parent/young person and agreed by us, the draft plan should be amended and issued as the final EHC plan. Where changes suggested by the child's parent/young person are not agreed, we can still issue the final EHC plan. The final EHC plan will be signed and dated by us.
Content of an EHC plan
We co-produce our plans in partnership with schools, health, social care, parents forum and representatives. However, as a statutory minimum, EHC plans must include the following sections:
Section A: The views, interests and aspirations of the child and his or her parents or the young person.
Section B: The child or young person's special educational needs.
Section C: The child or young person's health needs which are related to their SEN.
Section D: The child or young person's social care needs which are related to their SEN or to a disability.
Section E: The outcomes sought for the child or the young person.
Section F: The special educational provision required by the child or the young person.
Section G: Any health provision reasonably required by the learning difficulties or disabilities which result in the child or young person having SEN.
Section H1: Any social care provision which must be made for a child or young person under 18 resulting from section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970.
Section H2: Any social care provision reasonably required by the learning difficulties or disabilities which result in the child or young person having SEN. This will include any adult social care provision being provided to meet a young person's eligible needs under the Care Act 2014.
Section I: The name and type of the school, maintained nursery school, post-16 institution or other institution to be attended by the child or young person and the type of that institution (or, where the name of a school or other institution is not specified in the EHC plan, the type of school or other institution to be attended by the child or young person).
Section J: Where there is a personal budget, the details of how the personal budget will support particular outcomes, the provision it will be used for including any flexibility in its usage and the arrangements for any direct payments for education, health and social care. The special educational needs and outcomes that are to be met by any direct payment must be specified.
Section K: The advice and information gathered during the EHC needs assessment must be attached (in appendices). There should be a list of this advice and information.
In addition, where the child or young person is in or beyond year 9, the EHC plan must include (in sections, F, G, H1 or H2 as appropriate) the provision required by the child or young person to assist in preparation for adulthood and independent living, for example, support for finding employment, housing or for participation in society.