Education, health and Care plans

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.

The special educational provision described in an EHC plan must be provided by the child or young person’s local authority. 

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

EHC plans can be complicated documents. They are required by law to contain certain sections, with each section having a different purpose. These include information about the child, their educational needs, their health needs, any social care needs, outcomes, provision, personal budget information, and the name and type of setting. EHC plans set out exactly what the child needs to support them, who is expected to do it, and in what timeframe. 

At least once a year, the EHC plan should be reviewed by the LA and the school or college, working together with the parents or the young person (this is called an annual review). However, if a review is needed earlier, because something has changed or has happened (for example, the child is at risk of exclusion), an interim (early) review can be called.

Bolton IAS can support you if you have just received a draft plan, and are unsure of what to look for. We can also offer you a place on a free legally based workshop if you want to better understand your childs EHC plan or the annual review process.