EHCPs Explained: A Parent’s Step-by-Step Guide
1st July 2025
Applying for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) can feel overwhelming, especially when you are already juggling the daily challenges of supporting your child. This guide will break the process down into simple steps, explain what an EHCP is, and highlight what you need to know to make the journey smoother.
What is an EHCP?
An EHCP is a legal document that sets out the education, health and social care support a child or young person with special educational needs (SEN) requires. Unlike school-based SEN Support, an EHCP places legal duties on the Local Authority (LA) and ensures that provision is properly funded and monitored.
The plan should cover:
Your child’s strengths and needs
Specific support and provision required
Long-term outcomes and goals
Details of placement (school or alternative provision)
Step 1: Requesting an EHC Needs Assessment
Any parent or school can make a request for an EHC Needs Assessment. This is the starting point. Write to your Local Authority’s SEN team and keep a copy of your request. The LA must respond within six weeks, either agreeing to assess or explaining why they will not.
Tip: Don’t be put off if the school is reluctant. Parents have the right to make the request directly.
Step 2: The Assessment Process
If agreed, the LA will gather evidence from:
You and your child
The school or setting
Educational psychologist
Health professionals (speech and language, CAMHS, paediatrics etc.)
Social care, if relevant
This should be a collaborative process, where your views and your child’s views are central.
Step 3: Drafting the Plan
If the LA decides to issue an EHCP, they must send you a draft. This is your chance to check whether your child’s needs and provision have been described clearly and specifically. Avoid vague wording like “access to” or “opportunities for.” Good EHCPs use clear, measurable language such as “30 minutes of 1:1 speech and language therapy weekly.”
Step 4: Finalising the Plan
You have 15 days to comment on the draft. At this stage, you can:
Request changes to the wording
Ask for a particular school or type of placement
Submit any extra evidence
Once agreed, the LA must issue the final EHCP within 20 weeks of the initial request.
Step 5: Keeping the Plan Relevant
EHCPs are not a one-time document. They must be reviewed annually through an Annual Review meeting. This ensures support keeps pace with your child’s changing needs.
Tip: Keep records of progress, challenges and professional input throughout the year. These will strengthen your case at the review.
Why an EHCP Matters
An EHCP is more than just paperwork. It is a powerful tool that ensures your child gets the right support in school and beyond. It also gives you, as a parent, a framework to hold the school and LA accountable if support is not delivered as agreed.
