Preparation of EHC Plans

When preparing a child or young person’s EHC Plan a local authority will:

• take into account the evidence received when securing the EHC needs assessment;

and

• consider how best to achieve the outcomes to be sought for the child or young person.

Format of the EHC plan

When preparing an EHC plan a local authority must set out:

Section A: the views, interests and aspirations of the child and his parents or the young person

Section B: the child or young person’s special educational needs;

Section C: the child or young person’s health care needs which relate to their special educational needs

Section D: the child or young person’s social care needs which relate to their special educational needs or to a disability

Section E: the outcomes sought

Section F: the special educational provision required by the child or young person

Section G: any health care provision reasonably required by the learning difficulties or disabilities which result in the child or young person having special educational needs. The health care provision specified in the EHC Plan must be agreed by the responsible commissioning body.

Section H1: any social care provision which must be made for the child or young person as a result of section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970(1)

Section H2: any other social care provision reasonably required by the learning difficulties or disabilities which result in the child or young person having special educational needs

Section I: the name of the school, maintained nursery school, post-16 institution or other institution to be attended by the child or young person and the type of that institution or, where the name of a school or other institution is not specified in the EHC plan, the type of school or other institution to be attended by the child or young person

Section J: where any special educational provision is to be secured by a direct payment, the special educational needs and outcomes to be met by the direct payment

Section K: The advice and information obtained in accordance with regulation 6(1) must be set out in appendices to the EHC plan

When will I receive a copy of the EHC Plan

Local authorities should ensure that they have planned sufficient time for each step of the process, so that wherever possible, any issues or disagreements can be resolved within the statutory timescales.

Wakefield LA will allow 15 calendar days for the child/young person/their parents to consider and provide views on a draft EHC plan and ask for a particular school or other institution to be named in it.

A final EHCP must be issued no later than 20 weeks from the start of the process (unless exemptions apply).

When sending a copy of the finalised EHC plan this will include your right to appeal matters within the EHC plan, the time limits for doing so, information concerning mediation, the availability of disagreement resolution services and advice and information about matters relating to the special educational needs of children and young people.