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EHC plans

Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) Explained

The majority of children with special educational needs and disabilities will have their needs met within School settings. Needs can be met through School based interventions or with additional advice with external agencies. It’s expected that most young people will make expected progress however in a small number of case where progress isn’t being made despite the “Plan, Do, Review” process of continuous assessment then Schools or parents may consider requesting a statutory assessment. This education, health and care needs based assessment will help determine whether a EHCP is required. The EHCP is a legal document that enables provision that is additional to and different from what is ordinarily available in a mainstream setting. The EHCP replaces the previous legal document which was known as a statement of special educational needs and the learning difficulties assessment (LDA). The EHCP is for young people with the most complex needs that the local authority has to consider from the age of 0-25 years.

Existing statements remain in place until they are converted to EHCP. They will be completed by April 2018.

The education, health and care needs assessment will identify whether or not a child or young persons needs can be met within Schools resources or whether the child requires something additional to or different from what is available within School. Therefore an Education, Health and Care needs assessment will not always lead to an EHCP. However if a plan is not issued the assessment should help the School and professionals working with the child or young person by identifying the support required. If an EHCP is issued the plan will include the following:

  • the views, interests and aspirations of the children and young people and their parent/carer
  • an outline of the child or young person’s special educational need
  • outcomes covering education, health and social care
  • the special educational provision to the support the child or young person
  • the name and type of current education setting
  • resource attached to the plan
  • personal budget information if applicable

It should not take more than 20 weeks from requesting an assessment to a final EHCP being issued.

If you would like more information about this process please contact the StART (SEN Statutory Assessment and Review Team) on 0121 704 6690.

The Threshold Levels for EHC Assessment

The Process for Assessment

Requests that come from schools must have all the information necessary for us to make a decision about whether it is appropriate to carry out an assessment or not.

The information we need to make that decision is:

If a request comes without the school information then a decision to assess cannot be made.

Parents, Carers or Young people themselves may also request an EHCP assessment by contacting the SEN Assessment Team (StART). Their email address is sen@solihull.gov.uk, telephone 0121 704 6690. A request form is available and should be returned to StART at Elmwood Place, 37 Burtons Way, Smiths Wood, Solihull B36 0UG. It is recommended that before making such an application for an EHCP assessment, the issues should be discussed with the special needs co-ordinator (SENCO) at the setting the pupil attends. Remember we cannot make a decision without clear evidence of needs.

If we decide not to assess then we will explain why we have made that decision and tell you about other available support.

If we do decide to assess, the Guide to the EHC Assessment Process will show you what will happen.

Advice, Information and Support for parents/carers and young people

Solihull SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs and Disability Information Advice and Support) are here to support children and young people with SEND and their parents/carers.

Our aim is to enable children and young people and their parents/carers to make informed decisions about their child’s education. Information, advice and support for children and young people with SEND and their parents/carers will be impartial.  The service is free to access, confidential and provides accurate, comprehensive, understandable information.

Personal Budgets

For Information about Personal Budgets for children and young people with special education needs and /or disabilities please view the Solihull Council Personal Budget factsheet.

Details of the review processes

We have published a timetable for conversion amended September 2016.

For more information click here 

For more information on the single route of redress please click here.

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