What is an Education Health and Care plan?
An Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan is a legal document that explains a child or young person's special educational needs (SEN), and any health or social care needs linked to them.
The plan sets out the extra help and support they need to learn and make progress at school, college or another educational setting.
It is designed to help children and young people overcome the difficulties they may face in their learning.
When might an Education Health and Care plan be needed?
An Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan may be needed if a child or young person aged 0 to 25 needs more help, or a different type of help, than nurseries, schools or colleges usually provide.
Before deciding whether an EHC Plan is needed, the local authority must look at whether the child or young person may have special educational needs and may need extra support through an EHC Plan.
This is why an EHC Needs Assessment is carried out. It helps the local authority understand the child or young person's needs and decide what support they may need.
The test is: -
- Has or may have special educational needs or a disability
- And that they may require special educational provision in the form of an EHC plan.
This test is set out in Part 3, Section 36(8) of the Children and Families Act 2014
You do not need to have any of the following before asking for an EHC Needs Assessment:
- A diagnosis of a medical condition or disability.
- Two cycles of the school's Assess, Plan, Do, Review process.
- Proof that the school has spent its £6,000 SEND budget.
- Reports from outside professionals, such as an Educational Psychologist.
While it can be helpful to have information from assessments or professionals, these are not legal requirements.
What is most important is showing that your child or young person may have special educational needs and may need extra support to learn and make progress.
EHC needs assessment and plans FAQs | (IPSEA) Independent Provider of Special Education Advice
What are the sections of an education health and care plan?
An EHC Plan has different sections. Each section gives important information about a child or young person's needs and the support they need.
You can find out more about what should be in the different sections of an EHC plan through the link below.
What happens to EHC Plans for young people aged 19 – 25?
Some young people with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) may need extra time in education or training to help them reach their goals and prepare for adult life.
When a young person turns 19, their EHCP does not automatically continue. North Yorkshire Council will decide whether the plan is still needed.
They will think about how the young person is progressing towards the four Preparing for Adulthood areas:
- Getting a job or moving on to further or higher education.
- Living as independently as possible.
- Making friends, building relationships and being part of their community.
- Staying healthy and looking after their wellbeing.
If the EHCP continues after age 19, it must be reviewed at least once every year.
The plan should include goals that help the young person complete their education or training and move successfully into adult life.
Every young person is different. Some may no longer need an EHCP before they turn 25, while others may need it for longer. If needed, an EHCP can stay in place until the end of the school or college year in which the young person turns 25.
When an EHCP is going to end, North Yorkshire Council should help make sure the right support is in place through adult services.
If a young person has both an EHCP and an adult care and support plan, services should work together. This helps make sure support is joined up and means the young person does not have to attend lots of separate meetings or give the same information more than once.
For more information visit our preparation for adulthood section.
What if I move to a new area and my child has an EHC Plan?
If your child has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and you move to a different local authority area, there are rules to make sure support continues.
What should parents and carers do?
- Tell your current local authority that you are moving.
- Contact the SEND team and give them your new address and the date you plan to move.
Letting them know early can help make the transfer of your child's EHCP go more smoothly.
What will the current local authority do?
- They must send your child's EHCP and any important information to the new local authority.
- If an EHC Needs Assessment is already taking place, they must send all the information they have collected to the new local authority.
What will the new local authority do?
Once the EHCP has been transferred, the new local authority becomes responsible for the plan and the support written in it.
Your child will usually continue to attend the school named in the EHCP. If this is not practical, for example because the school is now too far away, the new local authority must arrange a suitable temporary school or setting.
The new local authority may:
- Review the EHCP sooner than planned.
- Decide to carry out a new EHC Needs Assessment.
Within 6 weeks of the transfer, they must tell you:
- When they will review the EHCP, or
- Whether they plan to carry out a new assessment.
The EHCP must be reviewed:
- Within 12 months of the last review, or
- Within 3 months of the transfer to the new local authority,
whichever date is later.
What if an EHC Needs Assessment is already in progress?
If you move while an EHC Needs Assessment is taking place, the new local authority must look at the information sent by the previous authority and decide whether an assessment is needed.
They must let you know what they decide.
Useful resources
Moving to a new local authority | (IPSEA) Independent Provider of Special Education Advice