EHC plans

4 mins read

This advice applies in England only. Read information for families in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales.

Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans are for children and young people who need more help than the SEN support that schools, early years and further education settings provide.

What is an EHC plan?

An education, health and care (EHC) plan is a legal document. It sets out the needs and support of children who require more help than a nursery, school or college can provide from its own resources.

The local authority has a legal duty to make sure the special educational provision detailed in the plan is provided. Section 42 of the Children and Families Act 2014 sets out this duty.

Who needs an EHC plan?

Your child may need an EHC plan if they require more support than can reasonably be provided through SEN Support . They can only get an EHC plan after the local authority has carried out an EHC needs assessment.

When your child has an EHC plan, they can attend a mainstream school or a special school, depending on their needs.

Any child or young person between the ages of 0 and 25 years is eligible for an EHC plan.

What does an EHC plan look like?

There is no national standard format for the EHC plan. Local authorities may present plans differently. However, every plan must include the same sections A to K. These sections are:

A: Your child’s views, interests and aspirations.
B: Your child’s special educational needs (SEN).
C: Health needs related to your child’s SEN or disability.
D: Social care needs related to your child’s SEN or disability.
E: The outcomes your child is working towards.
F: The special educational provision your child needs.
G: The health provision your child needs because of their SEN or disability.
H: The social care provision your child needs because of their SEN or disability.
I: The name and type of the nursery, school or college your child will attend. (This section is left is blank in a draft EHC plan.)
J: Details of any agreed personal budget.
K: A list of the advice and reports gathered during the EHC needs assessment.

Read our page on getting an EHC draft plan for more information about each section of an EHC plan.

How is the support in an EHC plan provided?

An EHC plan sets out the special educational provision (extra help) your child will get at nursery, school or college. Your local authority must make sure that the provision in section F is provided.

The support in your child’s EHC plan will depend on their individual needs. It might include support from nursery, school or college staff, or from professionals such as:

Speech and language therapists.
Occupational therapists.
Health or social care professionals..

Some support may be provided directly to your child. Other support may involve professionals advising or training school or college staff.

Your child’s progress, and the support in their EHC plan, must be reviewed at least once a year through the annual review process.

How do I ask for an EHC plan?

The first step towards getting an EHC plan is to ask the local authority for an EHC needs assessment. The local authority uses this assessment to decide whether it needs to issue an EHC plan.

Advice when your child has an EHC plan

When your child has an EHC plan you might need advice to ensure they continue receiving the support they need. You might find the pages below helpful.

Getting an EHC draft plan

After an EHC needs assessment, you'll first receive a draft EHC plan.

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Annual reviews

Your local authority must review your child's Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan at least once a year.

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Changes in circumstances

When your child's EHC plan might change, such as when you move to a different area, or end.

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Tribunal appeals

What to do if you disagree with a decision made by the local authority relating to your child’s special educational needs.

Do you need to talk to someone?

Our parent advisers can help with any questions you have about your child’s SEN support. You can call our free helpline, email us via our web form or contact us using Charlie, our chatbot, on our website.

You can also contact your local Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Services (SENDIAS). Every local authority must provide this impartial service. You can find details of your local service on our webpage Local advice and support organisations.

Related information

Parent guides and factsheets

Factsheet: Education, health and care plans

Download now

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Extra help at school

If your child has special educational needs (SEN), their school can provide extra help through a system called SEN support.

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Education beyond 16

On this page, we look at the different options available when your child reaches the end of compulsory education.

How can we help?