Information for parents regarding concerns over a child's progress or education, health and care plans can be found in I'm a parent.
The vast majority of children and young people who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) will not need a referral to the EHC pathway because their needs can be met through the provision made through our graduated approach to SEND. This graduated approach expects schools and other providers to identify where a child or young person is experiencing difficulties in their learning. The provision made will depend on the significance of their difficulties and previous levels of support provided.
Education, health and care pathway
The EHC pathway describes the process of assessment and planning for any child or young person needing “exceptional support”. They may have special educational needs which are long term, complex and require additional support to access the educational opportunities available from early years providers, schools and post 16 institutions. If appropriate, the assessment will lead to the development of an education health and care plan by making a referral for an EHC needs assessment.
What is an education, health and care (EHC) plan?
An EHC plan looks at all the needs that a child or young person has within education, health and care that are identified as a barrier to their learning. The child or young person, with their family and other professionals, will consider what outcomes they would like to achieve. This plan identifies what is needed to achieve those outcomes. The Children and Families Act 2014 made EHC plans statutory from 1st September 2014.
An EHC plan can only be issued after the child or young person has gone through the EHC needs assessment process and the council have decided that an EHC plan is required to meet your child or young person’s SEN in line with the criteria outlined in the SEND code of practice.
What does an EHC plan look like?
Every EHC plan is personalised to meet the needs and outcomes for each child or young person. We have provided a blank EHCP template for you to reference too. To find out more about how plans are personalised and the option of a personal budget please see our personalisation and personal budgets page.