Applying for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)

An Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is a legal document that outlines the special educational, health, and social care support a child or young person with additional needs requires to help them achieve their full potential.

Applying for an EHCP can feel daunting, but understanding the process step by step makes it much more manageable. This guide explains who can apply, what’s involved, and what to expect at each stage.

Who Can Apply for an EHCP?

Anyone who believes that a child or young person may need more support than their school or college can currently provide can request an EHCP assessment.
This includes:

Parents or carers
Young people aged 16–25 (if they’re able to apply themselves)
Schools, nurseries, or colleges (with the family’s consent)

You do not need a diagnosis to apply — what matters is whether the child’s needs require additional, coordinated support to help them progress.

Step 1: Requesting an EHC Needs Assessment

The first step is to request an Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment from your local authority.

You can make this request in writing — many councils provide a form on their website, or you can write your own letter or email. The request should include:

Your child’s details and date of birth
The school or setting they attend
A description of their needs and current support
Any professional reports or assessments (if available)
Reasons why you believe an EHCP is needed

Once the local authority receives your request, they have 6 weeks to decide whether to carry out an assessment.

Step 2: The EHC Needs Assessment

If the local authority agrees to assess, professionals from education, health, and social care will be asked to provide reports about your child’s needs.
This may include:

The school SENCo or class teacher
An educational psychologist
Health professionals (e.g., paediatrician, speech and language therapist, occupational therapist)
Social care (if involved)

Parents and the young person will also have the opportunity to share their views and wishes through a Parent Contribution or All About Me section.

This stage usually takes up to 6 weeks.

Step 3: Decision on Issuing an EHCP

Once all reports have been collected, the local authority reviews the information to decide whether an EHCP is needed.

They have a total of 16 weeks from the original request to make this decision.

If they agree, they will draft an EHCP and send you a copy to review.
If they refuse, they must give written reasons — and you have the right to appeal the decision.

Step 4: Reviewing the Draft EHCP

If the local authority decides to issue an EHCP, they’ll send you a draft plan. This draft sets out:

Your child’s needs (Section B)
The support required (Section F)
The school or setting proposed (Section I)

You’ll usually have 15 days to check the draft and request changes, including the choice of school or placement. It’s important to review the plan carefully — make sure all needs are clearly described and every provision is specific, measurable, and detailed.

Step 5: Issuing the Final EHCP

After any amendments, the local authority will issue the final EHCP. This must happen within 20 weeks of the original request for assessment.

Once the plan is in place:

The named school or setting becomes responsible for delivering the support.
The EHCP is reviewed every 12 months (or every 6 months for children under 5) to make sure it remains up to date.

If Your Request is Refused

If your local authority refuses to assess or issue an EHCP, you have the right to appeal to the SEND Tribunal. You’ll need to contact a mediation service before appealing, but mediation is voluntary.

Charities such as IPSEA, SOS!SEN, and SENDIASS offer free guidance and template letters to help you through this process:

Top Tips for Parents and Carers

Keep copies of all correspondence and reports.
Be clear and specific when describing your child’s needs and challenges.
Ask for professional evidence early — schools, therapists, and paediatricians can help strengthen your request.
Use your parental views form to highlight daily struggles, not just academic issues.
Remember: an EHCP is about ensuring your child gets the right support, not just extra hours of help.

Useful Resources

Summary

Applying for an EHCP can take time, but it’s one of the most important steps in ensuring your child gets the support they need to thrive at school and beyond. Understanding the process, knowing your rights, and staying organised can make the journey smoother — and lead to a plan that truly meets your child’s individual needs.