What is an EHCP and who is it for?
An Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is a legal document which sets out information about your needs and support you may require to get the most from school, college or education setting. An EHCP is issued by the local authority after a needs assessment.
Young people can apply for a needs assessment and parents, carers and schools/college staff can help you with this.
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An education, health and care (EHC) needs assessment is an assessment of a young person’s education, health and care needs. It is the first step to getting an Education Health and Care (EHC plan). An EHCP can result in additional support and funding for a young person with special educational needs (SEN).
Our Education, health and care needs assessment webinar looks at routes to assessment, timescales involved and possible outcomes.
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A review of an EHCP must take place at least once a year. This is to make sure:
the plan describes the young person’s needs in an accurate way, and
the right support for them is in place.
A meeting is held as part of the review process.
The young person’s school or college arranges the annual review in most cases. They will ask relevant professionals to attend or send up to date information about the young person.
You will be asked to give your views as part of the review. You can do this in writing if you want. You will also be invited to the review meeting and you can ask for a parent, carer or advocate to support you in this.
Any reports about the young person must be sent out at least two weeks before the meeting. This includes those sent in by young people parents and carers.
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At the end of the annual review, the local authority can make the decision to take away the EHCP.
This is called a 'Cease to Maintain' decision. This means that the EHC plan will come to an end and the local authority will no longer have the legal duty to make sure that the special educational provision is received by the young person.
You will have rights of appeal and can find more information about what your options are here (mediation appeals page link)
What are the benefits of an EHCP?
An EHCP lets everyone around you know what support you need. It is legally binding which means that your education provider (school or college) must stick to it and make sure everything in the plan is being given to you.
An EHCP can also help ensure you are ready for adult life. From Year 9 onwards, your plan should include information about how adults around you are going to help you prepare for adulthood.
The SEND guide for parents and carers explains how parents can ask for one of these schools or special post-16 institutions to be named in their child’s education, health and care plan.
What happens if I go to university?
Your education, health and care plan will cease if you go to university. This is because universities have their own systems for supporting students with SEND.
Most universities have a student support hub where you can speak to advisors about the support you need.
Click the buttons below to find out more about the support you can get at both the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam