For lots of parents of children with additional needs, they find themselves entering a whole new world of paperwork, processes and appointments. It can be pretty overwhelming. I can’t think of anyone who would choose to spend that amount of time wading through forms! One of these processes is centred around Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). Let’s cover some of the basics about EHCPs for those who are in the early stages of wondering whether their child might need one. 

What is an EHCP? 

An EHCP is a legally binding document which outlines a child’s special educational needs and the specific provisions required to meet those needs. Statements were replaced with EHCPs in 2014. EHCPs are intended to bring together the provision from the local education authority, health services (NHS) and social care services in one document. EHCPs support children and young people until they are 25 years old. 

How do I know if my child needs an EHCP?

Not all children with additional needs will need an EHCP. They are intended for children with long term, significant needs which cannot be resolved with short-term support. These children require support which is ‘additional to and different from’ what is usually provided for children in schools and needed for several years or more.

What do I do if I am concerned about my child?

It is a good idea to talk to someone about your concerns as soon as possible. The earlier the support is given, the more opportunity there is for this support to make a difference. Speak to your child’s nursery, childminder, health visitor or school as soon as you have a niggling worry about their development or progress. Speaking to a professional opens up a dialogue and can help you to feel that there is support on hand for both your child and yourself. 

It is often a good idea to set some initial small step goals that nursery / school staff will work on over the term to support your child’s development. 

How is an application for an EHCP made?

An application for ‘Statutory Assessment’ can be made by either an educational setting (school or nursery) or by a child’s parents. The application is usually made following a period of short-term goal setting and support at the point when it is felt that the short-term input has not been sufficient to meet the child’s needs and something longer term is needed. Both the parents and the education setting will fill in parts of the application which will include the child’s developmental history, progress at preschool/school and any other evidence of their needs (medical notes, speech therapy reports etc). 

Once the application has been submitted, the local authority will decide whether they feel there is sufficient evidence to demonstrate the need for further specialist support. If so, a 20-week period of assessment begins where professionals such as speech therapists, educational psychologists, occupational therapists or physiotherapists will visit your child and assess their needs. The professionals will often observe your child, perhaps undertake some formal assessment and write a written report outlining your child’s strengths, what your child is having difficulty with and how they can be supported. This evidence will be used to inform the provisions outlined in an EHCP. 

What do I do if my application is turned down?

If your application is turned down but you still feel your child has needs which are not being met, you can gather more evidence and appeal against the decision. There are some great charities which support parents through this process including IPSEA and SOS!SEN. Each local authority also has a parent partnership organisation which supports parents through this process. 

You can also choose to engage independent professionals (if you have the means to do so) to help you to gather more evidence to support your case. 

What should I do when I get a draft EHCP?

Check the document carefully to make sure that it is accurate and that information from all of the submitted evidence has been included in some way. Check with professionals that visited your child, that their recommendations have been included and are in the correct sections. If you can, get someone to check the document for you. This is an important opportunity to double-check everything to ensure your child will have access to the best possible support for them. 

If you would like support with navigating the EHCP application process email sarah@confidentkids.co for more personalised advice and support.