Most children and young people with special educational needs (SEN) will have their needs met from within an education setting’s own resources.  A small number of pupils will need additional support beyond what the setting would normally be expected to provide – in which case they may be eligible for an EHC Plan.

An EHC Plan is a legal document that describes a pupil's special educational, health and social care needs and the support they need to help them to get the best outcomes when they become adults.

To decide whether an EHC Plan is necessary, the pupil will need to undergo an EHC Needs Assessment. The EHC Needs Assessment is not normally the first step in the process for helping to meet the needs of the child or young person, but should be built on co-ordinated work that is already happening between families, educational settings and any other health or social care services who are involved. The process from request for an EHC Needs Assessment to issuing a Final Education, Health and Care Plan, if agreed can take up to 20 weeks.

An EHC Needs Assessment can be carried out for a child or young person between the ages of 0-25 who is in education or training.