An Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is a legal document that sets out the support a child or young person with special educational needs must receive. To get one, you first ask your local authority for an EHC needs assessment. This guide explains who can ask, what the timeline looks like, and how to prepare.
This guide covers England only. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have different systems.
Who can ask for an EHC needs assessment?
- A parent can ask. You do not need the school's permission and you do not need a diagnosis.
- A young person aged 16 to 25 can ask for themselves.
- A school, college, doctor, health visitor, teacher or other professional can also ask, but many parents choose to make the request themselves so they control the process and the evidence.
Send your request to the special educational needs (SEN) team at your local authority. Ask for the local authority's named contact if you are not sure where to send it.
The EHCP timeline at a glance
The whole process should normally take no more than 20 weeks, though there are some exceptions.
| When | What should happen |
|---|---|
| Week 0 | The local authority receives your request. Keep proof of the date you sent it. |
| By week 6 | The local authority tells you in writing whether it will carry out an EHC needs assessment. |
| Weeks 6 to 16 | If it agrees, advice is gathered from education, health, social care and other professionals. |
| By week 16 | You are told whether an EHCP will be issued. If it will, you receive a draft plan. |
| After the draft | You have at least 15 days to comment on the draft and say which school or college you would like named. Follow the date given in your letter. |
| By week 20 | The final EHCP should be issued. |
What to include in your request
You can write a simple letter or email. It helps to include:
- Your child's name, date of birth, address and school or setting
- A clear sentence asking for an EHC needs assessment
- A summary of your child's difficulties and how they affect learning, communication, behaviour, health and daily life
- What the school has tried so far, and what has or has not worked
- Copies of any reports, such as from the GP, a paediatrician, speech and language therapist, occupational therapist or educational psychologist
- Your own views and your hopes for your child
Send it in a way that gives you proof of the date, such as email with a read receipt, or recorded delivery. Keep a copy.
If the local authority says no to assessing
You have the right to appeal. If you disagree with a decision, you normally have to contact a mediation adviser within 2 months of the decision letter, and obtain a mediation certificate before you can appeal to the SEND Tribunal. You do not have to take part in mediation to get the certificate. The decision letter must explain your rights and the time limits, so check it carefully and ask for advice early.
Checking the draft plan
The draft EHCP is divided into sections:
| Section | What it covers |
|---|---|
| A | The views, interests and aspirations of your child and family |
| B | Your child's special educational needs |
| C | Health needs related to the special educational needs |
| D | Social care needs related to the special educational needs or a disability |
| E | The outcomes sought |
| F | The special educational provision required |
| G | Health provision |
| H1 and H2 | Social care provision |
| I | The school, college or type of setting |
| J | Personal budget details, if one applies |
| K | The advice and information gathered |
Section F matters most, because it sets out the support your child must receive. Check that it is specific and measurable, rather than vague wording such as "access to" or "as appropriate". The local authority must arrange the special educational provision in Section F. Health and social care provision follows separate duties.
Annual reviews
An EHCP must be reviewed at least once every 12 months. After the review meeting, a written report must be prepared within 2 weeks and sent to everyone invited. The local authority then decides whether to keep the plan, amend it or stop it, and must tell you in writing within 4 weeks of the review meeting.