What an EHCP is, and how to get one for your child.

An Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is a legal document, issued by your local authority, that describes the special educational, health and care needs of a child or young person aged up to 25, and exactly what support must be put in place to meet them. Unlike ordinary SEN Support at school, the provision in an EHCP is legally enforceable: the local authority has a duty to deliver what the plan says. It usually follows an 'EHC needs assessment', which gathers evidence from you, your child's school and relevant professionals.

An EHCP is for children whose needs are greater than the support a school can provide through SEN Support alone. Many children do brilliantly with SEN Support and never need a plan. But if your child's needs are significant or complex, if progress has stalled despite the school doing what it can, or if you're worried the right help simply isn't there, it may be time to consider an assessment. You don't need a formal diagnosis to request one, and you don't need the school's permission: a parent can ask the local authority directly.

First, talk to your child's school or SENCO and put your concerns in writing. Second, send a written request for an EHC needs assessment to your local authority. A parent, the young person, or the school can do this. Be specific about your child's needs and why current support isn't enough, and attach any reports or evidence you have (letters from teachers, therapists, doctors). Keep a dated copy of everything you send. The local authority must then decide whether to carry out an assessment and let you know.

There are legal deadlines designed to protect you. The local authority has 6 weeks to tell you whether it will carry out an assessment. From your initial request to a final EHCP being issued, the whole process must take no more than 20 weeks. In practice, timescales can slip and many families experience delays, so it helps to keep a clear record of dates and to follow up in writing if a deadline passes. Knowing the timescales means you can hold the process to account rather than wait in the dark.

A 'no' is not the end of the road, and many decisions are overturned when parents challenge them. If the local authority refuses to assess, refuses to issue a plan, or you disagree with what's in the final EHCP, you have the right to appeal to the SEND Tribunal, an independent body that reviews these decisions. You can also ask for mediation first. There are time limits for appealing, usually within a set number of weeks of the decision letter, so it's important to act promptly and gather evidence of your child's needs.

Little Steps gives you the exact letters and templates for each step: requesting an assessment, responding to the local authority, preparing for an annual review, and appealing a refusal, all written in plain English and reviewed against current SEND law and the SEND Code of Practice for England. The smart SEND guide points you to the right one for your situation, the step-by-step submission notes tell you who to send it to and by when, and the community is there when you simply want to talk to a parent who's been through it.