📌 Our Goals for This Page
To help you understand the purpose, criteria and process for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) for young people aged 11–16.
By the end of this guide, you will understand what an EHCP is, when it is appropriate, and how decisions are made.
📄 What is an EHCP?
An EHCP is a legal document for children and young people who need more support than a typical school can provide through its standard day-to-day provision (called Ordinarily Available Provision, or OAP).
To qualify, a pupil must have severe, complex and long-term needs that cannot be met through mainstream school support alone.
EHCP Checklist: Is vs. Is Not
✅ An EHCP IS…
- A legal document for 0–25 year olds
- For severe and complex needs
- A plan for long-term support
- Focused on your child's specific outcomes
- Jointly created by education, health and social care professionals
❌ An EHCP IS NOT…
- Required for every student with SEND
- A quick fix for short-term problems
- Automatically granted because of a diagnosis
- Just for classroom learning
- Only the school's responsibility
⚖️ SEN Support vs. EHCP: What's the Difference?
| Feature | SEN Support (School Level) | EHCP (Statutory Level) |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Meet needs through school-based resources | For students with complex, long-term needs |
| What's involved | Quality First Teaching, small group interventions (literacy/numeracy), IEP reviewed termly | Legal assessment by the Local Authority; specific additional funding |
| Who manages it | SENCo and class teachers, reviewed termly | Local Authority; involves multi-agency health and care input |
| Duration | Ongoing while at school | Legal document valid up to age 25 |
📘 Case A — SEN Support
A student has difficulty with working memory. They use visual checklists, receive extra time in tests and attend a weekly social skills group. These needs are met within the school's OAP.
📕 Case B — EHCP Assessment
A student has severe, complex physical disabilities and communication needs requiring specialised equipment and 1:1 medical support throughout the day. Their needs exceed what OAP can provide.
🎯 Criteria for an EHCP Assessment
An EHCP assessment may be appropriate where a young person has:
- Severe and complex learning difficulties that impact multiple areas of life
- A requirement for intensive, specialist or highly individualised 1:1 support
- A persistent lack of progress despite documented, high-quality interventions
- Needs that require significant additional funding for specialist equipment or staff
- A need for a more specialised environment to access the curriculum
🙋 Who Can Request an Assessment?
Any of the following can request an assessment:
- Parents or carers
- Young people aged 16–25
- The school (usually the SENCo)
- Other professionals (doctors, social workers)
The school's role:
CBSC builds a picture of need using the "Assess, Plan, Do, Review" cycle. We document what has been tried, the outcomes achieved, and why further support may be necessary.
📅 The Assessment Process & Timeline
Once a request for an EHC needs assessment is submitted to the Local Authority, the following statutory timeline applies:
💬 If You Remain Concerned
If you feel your child's needs are not being met, please follow these steps:
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
- Does my child need a medical diagnosis to get help?
- No. School support is based on educational need and removing barriers to learning — not just a clinical label.
- Will SEN support mean my child is separated from his peers?
- Our goal is inclusion. Most support takes place within the classroom through adapted teaching and resources. Withdrawal is used sparingly and purposefully.
- Can I request an EHCP assessment myself?
- Yes. Parents have the legal right to request an EHC needs assessment from the Local Authority at any time.
- What if the LA decides not to issue an EHCP?
- You have the right to appeal the LA's decision through the SEND Tribunal. The SIASS service can provide free, impartial advice to support you through this process.
📞 Contact Information
SEND Team at CBSC
Paul Farr
Assistant Principal & SENCo
sen@carshaltonboys.org
Emma Morris
Deputy Principal for Inclusion
Additional Support Services
SIASS — SEND Information & Advice Support Service
siass.co.uk
Local Authority SEND Local Offer
sutton.gov.uk/local-offer