EHCPs is an acronym commonly used, but frequently not clearly understood. As a Trust, our schools are perhaps more familiar than most with the terminology and what they are, as all children who attend a school that is part of Forward Education Trust will have an EHCP.
EHCPs are for children and young people aged up to 25 who need more support around their education, health and social needs. A child along with their parent/carer works closely with the Local Authority and a school to put together an EHCP and extra input might come from educational psychologists, health and other support services.
It’s important to note that an EHCP is a legal document and has various sections to it:
Section A – Talks about the views, interests and aspirations of a child and their parents. Children are supported so that their views are heard and in a good EHCP, you should be able to hear a child’s voice, in whatever way they can express themselves. It is about the person, not their disability.
Section B – Deals with the child or young person’s special educational needs. Each need should be articulated separately, so that it is easy to check that the provisions are there to meet each need.
Section C – Focuses on a child or young person’s health needs, using language that can be understood by a non-specialist. It’s important to focus on the practical implications of any health conditions or impairments.
Section D – Looks at the child or young person’s social care needs which are related to their SEN or to a disability. Needs might be met by teachers, social workers or other people providing support.
Section E – Is forward-facing, looking at the outcomes sought for the child or young person. This can include short-term targets as well as longer term aspirations as children get older, thinking about adult life and degrees of independence.
Section F – Is one of the most important sections for a school, as it deals with the educational provision. It talks about who is going to provide interventions, what degree of skill or qualification those people need and might include some detail about the time required for certain activities. Importantly, it might talk about the appropriateness of supporting the child or young person in either mainstream school, or in a specialist setting, like one of our schools.
Section G – Will look at any health provision reasonably required to address the learning difficulties or disabilities which result in the child or young person having SEN.
Sections H1 and H2 – Deal with social care provision.
Section I – Will name a school or type of school.
Section J – Carries details where a personal budget has been agreed.
Section K – Will detail any advice and information gathered during the assessment of needs and there may be appendices attached.
EHCPs offer numerous benefits for both schools and children. By providing clear guidance and resources, EHCPs enable schools to deliver effective support and ensure that children with special educational needs are fully included in school life. This ultimately leads to better outcomes for all students.