What is an education, health and care plan
If your child has or may have special educational needs (SEN), they will get support from their education setting. They will work with you to agree the best support for your child.
Before you ask for an education, health, and care (EHC) needs assessment, check what support your child can get from:
- their education setting
- a Health Visitor
- a GP (doctor).
This means that most children with SEN do not need an EHC plan. Watch this video about the EHC planning process from Council for Disabled Children.
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Read the what is an education, health and care (EHC) plan video transcript.
Education, health, and care needs assessment
If your child isn't making the progress you expect, even with support put in place, your school or nursery may suggest an assessment. This is known as an education, health, and care needs assessment (EHCNA).
It will check the current help your child gets and any extra that can be given. If needed, this may result in an education, health, and care (EHC) plan.
An EHC plan
- is written by us
- sets out clearly the yours, your child or the young person’s views and aspirations for the future
- includes information and advice from the education, health, or social care professionals who know or are working with the child or young person
- describes the child or young person’s special educational needs and their strengths
- states the outcomes that the EHC plan will support the child or young person to achieve
- sets out clearly the support to be given to enable the child or young person to achieve the outcomes that are written in their EHC plan
- is a legal document issued by the local authority that the education setting must follow
- prepares the child or young person for adulthood.
Still undecided if an education, health, and care needs assessment (EHCNA) is right for your child? Read these helpful parent leaflets from Information Advice and Support Kent (IASK):
- What is an EHC needs assessment?
- What is an EHC plan?
- How to get the right kind of support (easy read).
Request an education, health, and care needs assessment
A EHCNA can be requested either by:
- parents, carers or guardians
- your child's education setting
- you (if you're over the age of 16).