A guide to the EHCP

A guide to the EHCP

An Educational Health Care Plan is a legal document that outlines the requirements and entitlements of your fae for the coming academic year. It was previously known as a statement. As with the statement it is reviewed each year and any changes to requirements are updated and targets reassessed. In theory your child should make progress year on year so the review should allow for that progress to be built on. There are a lot of myths about this document, but it is very useful, and acts as evidence should the worst happen and you need to contest the educational provision or care that your child is receiving. 

First off, you as a parent CAN refer your child to be assessed for an EHCP. This does not mean that they will automatically be issued with one, but they WILL be reviewed for one. You need to have evidence (there’s that word again) to be successful: you will need to demonstrate that your child has needs above those of their peers; and that those needs are severe. 

To do this you will need to fill in the “parent’s advice form”. These can vary in outline from Trust to Trust, but typically they will ask you about your child’s likes and dislikes, their health and eating habits, and behaviour. 

Make sure you highlight if they have issues with food textures, or show any unusual hesitation around new foods. In the behaviours sections, mention if they show behaviours like stimming or sensory seeking. Do they react strongly to changes in routine? How do they react to crowds and loud noises? 

Make sure that you focus on their reactions, not how difficult that behaviour is for you to manage. 

Send copies of any supporting documents – you can use the same documentation as you used for the DLA, as well as the DLA itself. You can apply for the ECHP and the DLA concurrently. 

If your first application is unsuccessful, you can appeal. 

If you pass the first assessment, you will be called to a MAAT meeting. Here, a number of professionals that have contact with your child will attend to discuss them. Make sure that before that meeting, you take time to write notes on what you think are the most vital points to put forward beforehand, and speak up: your child is counting on you. Consider a checklist to make sure you get all the important points raised.

Whether your school/nursery supports your application or not, you may go ahead but you may find it harder. Sadly, I have heard from other parents that some schools may actually work against you especially if your child is good at masking. If you can afford a private educational psychologist assessment, that may help. Before spending the money, however, check with your Trust:  some will not accept reports written by non-NHS psychologists. It can be very frustrating, and make you feel like the deck is weighted against you, but it is worth persevering: without an EHCP, your chances of successful application to special educational provision (should that be your wish) is very low.

The process is slow, it takes months. In our Trust they only review applications every 3 months, and only go to panel to discuss whether applications will be successful every few weeks. Writing the EHCP once we were successful took another 3 months. So if you need it for the start of school, start the process as soon as possible. Read the draft as soon as you can after receiving it, the clock is ticking if there are any mistakes or things you disagree with on there.

If you’ve read this far please like, comment or share. Remember we are not alone in our struggles.