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Education, health and care plans (EHCP)

Most children and young people with additional needs can be supported without an EHCP. 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.  This is called SEN support.   

Find out more about SEN support

If, in spite of the additional support, your child is still not making expected progress, your child may need a statutory education, health and care (EHC) assessment to work out what extra help they need and, if necessary, to record this extra help in a legally binding education, health and care plan (EHCP).

Need to contact us?

We have outlined who you should contact for matters relating to the education, health and care plan process. This includes how to contact us depending on what stage of the process you are at, and what to do next if you don't hear back from us.

Who should I contact about my child's EHCP?

What is an Education, Health and Care plan? (EHCP)

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

  • sets out all of the extra help and support they will need to overcome barriers to learning

  • identifies meaningful education and other outcomes they would like to achieve as they prepare for adult life.

A child who has special educational needs may also have additional health and social care needs. These can be included in the plan so long as they relate to education. 

Our easy-read EHCP factsheet

Factsheet (PDF 490kb)

The EHCP process

1. Requesting an EHC assessment

This is usually done in partnership with your child or young person's educational setting, or if your child does not attend one, you could speak to your GP or health visitor.

The Statutory Assessment Team oversees the assessment process. If you have a query that your SENCo is unable to answer, you can contact them at:

ehcneedsassessment@hertfordshire.gov.uk.

2. What happens during the EHC assessment

Professionals such as teachers and health professionals provide information for the assessment. If it is concluded that additional special educational provision is needed to meet your child's needs, an EHCP will be issued.

 

 3. Reviewing the EHCP

You will be offered a review of the EHCP at least once a year to ensure it stays up-to-date and continues to provide the best support your child or young person needs.  There are different types of review, if your child is aged between 0-5 for example, or if there's been a change in your circumstances such as changing schools.

Once you have a final EHCP, you will be given a named EHC Coordinator from one of five teams at the council. Find out who to contact about your child's EHCP. 


Support for the EHCP process

SENDIASS

Provide impartial and confidential information, advice and support to parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

EHCP good standards guidance (pdf 182kb)

The EHCP Good Standards document has been created for families so that they can see what a good EHCP should look like. It draws upon good quality practice and offers an overview of the information that should be included in an EHCP.

IPSEA

Free and independent legal information, advice and support to help get the right education for children and young people with all kinds of special educational needs and disabilities.

If you're not happy with a decision about your child or young person's EHCP

Find out what you can do if you're unhappy with a decision made about your child or young person's EHC needs assessment, or EHC plan.

SOS! SEN

Free, friendly independent and confidential telephone helpline for parents and others looking for information and advice on special educational needs and disabilities.

Mediation

An independent and impartial advisor can help you to resolve disagreements in the EHCP process.