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Education Health and Care Plans

Guide for Young People

Some children and young people, who need extra help for learning, may have an Education, Health and Care Plan, often known as an EHC plan or EHCP.

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How might an EHC plan give me the support I need?

An EHC plan puts in writing your goals for life, what help you need to achieve these and what support you need from school, college or other people that work closely with you to help you make steps towards achieving these. The EHC plan will be used by those who support you to make sure that what is provided is right for you.

What does an EHC plan look like?

Everyone’s plan will be different because it is just about you and everyone has different strengths and difficulties.

It will include things about you and why you are unique:

  • How you like to communicate
  • What you want to achieve in life
  • What you need help with
  • What kind of support and how much support you need
  • Whether you need help with all tasks or just some things
  • What you are good at and like doing
  • If you are at school or college, which one you go to

Why might I need and EHC plan?

If you need more support in learning than your school or college can give, without additional funding from the Local Authority, you can request an EHC assessment anytime up to your 25th birthday.

If after an EHC needs assessment you get an EHC plan

If after an EHC needs assessment you get an EHC plan:

  • You must be given a copy of it
  • You can say what information you want in your plan and who can see it
  • It will be given to people that support you so that they can understand what support you need and works best for you

How long will the plan be in place?

EHC plans will only end:

  • When you reach your 25th birthday
  • You go to university or get a job
  • The Local Authority think you no longer need one – this decision will be made by your local Special Educational Needs and Disability Team (SEND Team) within your local authority. In Kirklees this team is called SENDACT. In Calderdale it is called the SEN Team.

What if I don’t agree with any parts of my EHC plan?

You can tell the SEND Team and they must listen to your views about what you need and what you disagree with. This might include:

  • The decision not to give you an EHC plan
  • What is written in the EHC plan
  • The decision to end the EHC plan

How can I get an EHC plan?

The first step is to ask for an EHC assessment from your local SEND Team. This can be done by you, your parent or carer or your school or college.

At Kirklees Independent Advice Service (KIAS) and Calderdale SENDIASS we can give free, legally based, confidential, impartial advice and support including:

  • Advice on SEN support at school / college aged 0 - 25 years
  • Explain the EHCP assessment process and your rights
  • Support in Annual reviews and meetings
  • Support in mediation and appeals
  • Advice on school exclusions

We would be happy to hear from you on:

KIAS – (Kirklees enquiries)
Telephone: 0300 330 1504
SENDIASS – (Calderdale enquiries)
Telephone: 01422 266141