What is an Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP)?
An Education, Health and Care plan ("EHC plan") is a legal document which describes a child or young person's special educational needs, the support they need, and the outcomes they would like to achieve. An EHC Plan looks at all the needs that a child or young person has within education, health and care. Professionals and the child, young person and their family together consider what outcomes they would like to see for the child or young person by the end of a key stage and the plan identifies what is needed to achieve those outcomes.
The Nottinghamshire Local Offer
Before making a request please read the information within Nottinghamshire's Local Offer which includes information about the EHC Process www.nottinghamshire.sendlocaloffer.org.uk
Additional Support and Guidance
All education settings have a member of staff who lead on supporting children and young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN). For example, in schools this is the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO). Some children also have involvement from a member of the Education Learning & Skills Services i.e. a specialist teacher in the communication & interaction team. You should discuss the EHC process with these members of staff before making a request.
Information, Advice and Support Services (IASS) offer free, impartial and confidential information, advice and support to disabled children and young people, and those with SEN from birth to 25, and their parents / carers. In Nottinghamshire the service is provided by Ask Us.
Their helpline operates Mon, Weds & Fri 9:00 - 13:00. Tues & Thurs 13:00 - 17:00.
Tel: 0800 121 7772 or email: enquiries@askusnotts.org.uk
The local authority's Integrated Children's Disability Service (ICDS) Statutory EHC Assessment Team coordinates the EHC process. If you have any other questions they can be contacted on (please note that the email address will depend on which district you live in):
- NEWARK, SHERWOOD & BASSETLAW
- icdsehcBandNSlocality@nottscc.gov.uk
- MANSFIELD AND ASHFIELD
- icdsehcMandAlocality@nottscc.gov.uk
- BROXTOWE, GEDLING AND RUSHCLIFFE
- icdsehcBGRlocality@nottscc.gov.uk
- Tel: 0115 804 1275
What is an Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP)?
Should I speak to the school or college first?
Yes, definitely. Speak to your child's teacher, SENCO and/or the headteacher, or to the SEN lead and/or principal of the College about your worries before contacting the local authority. This often helps families to understand the level of support already in place and what other steps can be taken prior to requesting an EHC needs assessment. To support you, we have an EHC guidance and checklist form that you should use to aid this discussion; this is available via Nottinghamshire's Local Offer www.nottinghamshire.sendlocaloffer.org.uk. We would be asking the education setting to upload this completed checklist if you make a request for an EHC needs assessment.
What if the school or college offers to make the request on my behalf?
Anyone acting on behalf of an education setting is able to request an EHC needs assessment. They are often best placed to make the request as they will need to provide the local authority with specific information.
When should I request an EHC needs assessment?
Whenever a child or young person has a learning difficulty or a disability which is holding them back at school or college they should have access to support. If the parents of the child or the young person (or the young person themselves) believe that the school or college is not able to provide the necessary help at SEN Support, they can consider asking for an EHC needs assessment.
SEN Support (i.e. an EHCP is not necessary) includes:
- Sharing of expertise within the education setting, led by the SENCO or SEN lead
- Training for staff
- Funding for schools, place funding (up to £6000), 'Additional Family Needs' or 'High Level Needs' funding
- Funding for colleges, Element 1 (up to £5000), Element 2 or Element 3 (High Needs) funding
- Access to advice and support/intervention from specialist teachers or Educational Psychologists
- Asking for advice from health or social care professionals who are involved
For children under 16, the parent makes the request. This includes children from 0 to 5 where parents should make a request in preparation for attending school, if they believe they need help beyond SEN Support.
In the case of a young person (over 16 and up to 25) they can make the request themselves if they have the ability to understand what they are requesting. Otherwise, the parent can make the request on a young person's behalf in their best interests.
It is important to understand that an EHC needs assessment is only needed if the child/young person has or may have special educational needs that requires special educational provision over and above that not ordinarily available at SEN Support. It does not apply where there are only health and/or care needs, no matter how severe.
When should I hear back?
The LA must reply within six weeks and give their decision. They will always reply to you as a parent or young person – even where the request was made by the school or college.