What Is an EHCP? A Parent’s Complete Guide

If your child has special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), you may have heard the term EHCP. This guide explains what an Education, Health and Care Plan is, who’s eligible, how to apply, and what your rights are — in plain English.

What Is an Education, Health and Care Plan?

An Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)is a legally binding document issued by your local authority. It describes a child or young person’s special educational needs and the support they must receive.

EHCPs were introduced by the Children and Families Act 2014, replacing the old system of Statements of SEN. They cover children and young people from birth up to age 25 and bring together education, health, and social care into one plan.

Who Qualifies for an EHCP?

Your child may be eligible for an EHCP if they have significant special educational needs that cannot be met through normal school support (SEN Support). Specifically:

• They have a learning difficulty or disability that makes it significantly harder for them to learn than most children of the same age
• They need special educational provision beyond what the school can normally provide
• Their needs require a coordinated approach across education, health, and/or social care

Common conditions covered by EHCPs include autism spectrum conditions (ASC), ADHD, dyslexia, speech and language difficulties, physical disabilities, sensory impairments, social/emotional/mental health (SEMH) needs, and learning disabilities.

How to Apply for an EHCP

Step 1: Request an EHC Needs Assessment

Anyone can request an assessment — you as a parent, the child’s school, a health professional, or the young person themselves (if aged 16–25). Write to your local authority’s SEND team and ask for an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment.

Include in your letter:

• Your child’s name, date of birth, and school
• A description of their difficulties and how these affect learning
• What support has already been tried and why it’s not enough
• Any professional reports (educational psychologist, speech therapist, paediatrician)

Step 2: The Local Authority Decides (6 weeks)

The local authority has 6 weeks to decide whether to carry out an assessment. They must consider whether your child may have SEN, and whetherspecial educational provision may be necessary via an EHCP. If they refuse, you have the right to appeal to the SEND Tribunal.

Step 3: Assessment (up to 16 weeks)

If the assessment goes ahead, the local authority gathers advice from at least six sources: the school, an educational psychologist, a health professional, social care, the parent, and anyone else relevant. This evidence forms the basis of the plan.

Step 4: Draft EHCP & Consultation

The local authority writes a draft EHCP and shares it with you. You have 15 days to comment and to request a specific school or setting. The LA must then consult with that school.

Step 5: Final EHCP Issued (20 weeks total)

The entire process from request to final plan must take no more than 20 weeks. Once issued, the EHCP names a school placement and the specific support your child must receive.

What’s in an EHCP? (The Sections)

An EHCP contains the following sections:

• Section A — The child’s views, interests, and aspirations
• Section B — Special educational needs (SEN)
• Section C — Health needs related to SEN
• Section D — Social care needs related to SEN
• Section E — Outcomes sought — the goals for the child
• Section F — Special educational provision (legally binding)
• Section G — Health provision (legally binding)
• Section H — Social care provision (H1 = statutory, H2 = discretionary)
• Section I — Placement — the named school or setting
• Section J — Personal budget details (if applicable)

Your Rights as a Parent

• Right to request an assessment at any time
• Right to appeal to the SEND Tribunal if the LA refuses to assess, refuses to issue an EHCP, or you disagree with the content
• Right to choose a school — the LA must comply unless it would be incompatible with the efficient education of other children and there are no reasonable steps to prevent this
• Right to an annual review — the EHCP must be reviewed at least once a year
• Right to mediation — free, independent mediation before going to Tribunal
• Right to a personal budget to manage some or all of the provision yourself

How Trisende Helps

Trisende is the UK’s SEND platform — built to make this process less overwhelming. With Trisende you can:

• Store and manage your child’s EHCP documents in one secure place
• Use our AI-powered EHCP to ISP converter to prepare for the 2026 transition
• Search 24,600+ schools by SEND specialism
• Find 24,700+ specialist services near you
• Connect with 59,000+ charities offering SEND support

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