Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP)

What is an EHCP?

An Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is a document that supports children and young people with special educational needs in education.

Most mainstream schools, settings, and colleges will be able to meet your child's special educational needs. However, if your child needs more support than the school can provide, they may need an EHCP.

EHCP, EHC, or EHP are abbreviations for Education, Health, and Care Plans.

They were previously known as 'statements' although this term is no longer used, and all statements have now been converted to EHCP.

Who needs an EHCP?

An Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is for children and young people who may need additional support in a mainstream school.

An EHCP is also required if the child or young person needs to attend a specialist education provision.

Schools should use the graduated approach to identify the level of need and involve other professionals. The child's needs may be met by other interventions and adjustments via their school.

A 'Team Around Me' (TAM) meeting should form part of the graduated approach to work with parents, professionals, school and specialist support to identify the correct support. It is at these meetings that it will be decided if applying for an EHCP is needed.

What does it mean to have an EHCP?

The Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is a statutory document and contains information about a child's specific needs.

Targets have been put in place to support their additional needs. This document is co-produced with the school, parents, professionals, and child and is reviewed on an annual basis.

The EHCP is banded depending on the needs of the child, and the school will receive funding to help support the additional needs of the child.