SEND IASS - Education Health and Care Plans (EHCP) factsheet

An EHCP is a legal document which describes a child or young person's educational needs, the support needed to meet their need and the outcome they would like to achieve. An EHCP also includes any health or care needs that have been identified and provision that is needed.

The special educational provision described in an EHCP must be provided by the child or young person's local authority. This means an EHCP can give a child or young person extra educational support. It can also give parents and young people more choice about which school or other setting the child or young person can attend.

An EHCP can only be issued after a child or young person has gone through the process of an EHC needs assessment.

The SEND Code of Practice states:

The purpose of an ECH plan is to make special educational provision to meet the special educational needs of the child or young person, to secure the best possible outcomes for them across education, health and social care and, as they get older, prepare them for adulthood. (9.2)