Education, Health and Care Plans
An Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is a legally binding document that describes all of the special education, health and care needs of the child or young person which relate to their disability. It sets out all of the extra help and support they will need to overcome barriers to learning and identifies meaningful education and other outcomes they would like to achieve as they prepare for adult life.
Most children and young people with additional needs can be supported without an EHCP under SEN support. Schools have a duty to assess a child's needs, put support in place to make sure pupils with additional needs are learning and developing along with their classmates, and monitor and review the impact of this support. However, a small number of children and young people may not make progress in spite of additional support, and they may benefit from a statutory EHC needs assessment.
Detailed information about applying for an EHC needs assessment can be found on The Grid for professionals and the Local Offer for families.
Schools can also access recent training from the SEND academy on:
- Making an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment Request
- Person Centred Approaches, This is Me and the golden thread
- Educational Advice training
- Annual Review and outcomes training
This Is Me
As part of the EHCNA process, all children and young people should be supported to complete the 'This is Me' form. This is intended to support young people to tell their story. The form and guidance was co-produced with children and young people. Complete forms should be sent to ehcpassessment@hertfordshire.gov.uk.
PRiSM
Before applying for an EHC needs assessment, schools can request a Proactive Implementation and Support Meeting with the Ask SALI team. Schools in DSPL7 should contact Thelma Mugovera, the SISO for our area.
Annual Reviews
If, following the EHC Needs Assessment an EHC Plan is agreed, it will be reviewed every year. It will stay in place until it is no longer required, such as a young person moving on to higher education or seeking employment, or having reached their outcomes and the special educational provision is no longer required. The EHC Plan can remain in place until the age of 25 so long as the young person remains in education or training.
There is documentation to use when reviewing the EHC plan. Guidance on what happens during the annual review of an EHC plan alongside some tips for schools and the new EHCP Good Standards document can all be found on The Grid.