What is an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and who is given one?

An EHCP is given to individuals with significant and/or complex needs. It outlines the individual’s Special Educational Needs (SEN) and the requirements for the individual’s education in terms of placement and curriculum adjustments that are required.

An EHCP is given to individuals who are either needing a placement at a specialist resource provision (special school) or need significant adjustments to the curriculum and/or significant amounts of 1:1 support in a mainstream school. An EHCP can be given at any age from birth and lasts until the individual is 25 years old.

Individuals with EHCPs usually have needs in more than one area and it is extremely rare for an EHCP to be awarded to a child who has dyslexia and no other challenges. Their academic performance would need to be significantly behind their peers. For example, a child in year 5 or 6 would need to be working at the level of a child in Reception/Year one therefore approx. 5 years behind.