Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP)
Eligibility
Most children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) can have their needs met by their local school / setting.
If your child needs long term support which cannot be provided through universal or targeted support, they may need an EHCP.
Plans are produced for children and young people who are aged 0-25 years, and:
- need more support than their school / setting can fund on a long term basis (1 year or more), or
- need long term (1 year or more) specialist support
If you apply for a plan, you should demonstrate that the child / young person has had universal and targeted support and that this is not closing the gap in their learning.
Eligibility for a plan may change as your child / young person's needs change.
This means that it is not always necessary for the plan to remain in place until they are 25 years old.
Who decides who is eligible
The SEND Panel looks at whether a plan is needed.
They do this through an Education Health and Care needs assessment.
The SEND Panel is made up of professionals from Education, Health and Care.