What is an EHCP?
An Education, Health and Care Plan is a legal document for children and young people with significant SEND needs. This guide explains what it covers, who it is for, and why it matters.
After reading this guide you can:
- Understand what an EHCP is and what it legally contains
- Know whether your child might be eligible
- Understand the difference between an EHCP and SEN Support
An Education, Health and Care Plan — usually called an EHCP — is a legal document produced by your local authority. It describes your child's special educational needs and the provision that must be made to meet them.
Who it is for
An EHCP is for children and young people aged 0 to 25 who have special educational needs or a disability that means they need more support than a school can provide from its own resources.
Not every child with SEND needs an EHCP. Many children are supported well at the SEN Support level (sometimes called SEND Support or School Action). An EHCP is for children whose needs are more complex or whose current support is not working.
Note
An EHCP is a legal document. The provisions written into Section F (the educational provision) are legally binding — the local authority must ensure they are delivered.
What an EHCP contains
EHCPs are divided into sections A through K:
- Section A — your child's views, interests, and aspirations
- Section B — your child's special educational needs
- Section C — your child's health needs related to their SEN
- Section D — your child's social care needs related to their SEN
- Section E — outcomes: what the plan is working towards
- Section F — the educational provision required to meet the needs in Section B
- Section G — health provision
- Section H1 and H2 — social care provision
- Section I — the educational placement (school or setting)
- Section J — personal budget (if applicable)
- Section K — the evidence used to inform the plan
The most important sections for parents to focus on are B, E, and F. These define what needs your child has, what outcomes are expected, and exactly what support must be in place.
EHCP vs SEN Support
| | SEN Support | EHCP | |---|---|---| | Legal status | No legal protection | Legally binding | | Who decides provision | School | Local authority (must fund Section F) | | Review frequency | As needed | Annually (minimum) | | Right of appeal | No | Yes — to SEND Tribunal |
If your child is on SEN Support and not making progress, or if their needs are significant enough that the school cannot meet them without extra funding, it is worth considering whether to request an EHCP assessment.
What an EHCP means in practice
Once an EHCP is in place:
- The local authority is legally responsible for ensuring the provision in Section F is delivered
- Your child has a named school or setting in Section I
- The plan is reviewed at least once a year
- If you disagree with the content or a decision, you have the right to appeal to the SEND Tribunal
Tip
Keep a copy of every version of your child's EHCP. Compare them at each annual review to check whether needs and provision have been updated — not just copied and pasted from the previous year.
What to do next
- 1
Read your child's current EHCP if they have one
Focus on Sections B, E, and F. Does the provision in F specifically address each need in B?
- 2
If your child does not have an EHCP, consider whether they might need one
If current support is not working, or needs are complex, read our guide on requesting an assessment.
- 3
Store your EHCP documents in SENVault
Upload every version you have, named clearly with the date.