Education, Health & Care (EHC) plans

What is an EHC plan?

An EHC plan is designed to address the educational, health and care needs of a child or young person (up to 25 years of age) with special educational needs or disability (SEN or SEND). An EHC plan is necessary and helpful when the child or young person hasn’t made satisfactory progress in their school environment, and the school isn’t able to fully support all of their needs. 

What does the EHC needs assessment involve?

The EHC needs assessment involves your psychiatrist or psychologist compiling information from you and your family, your child and any other relevant parties to determine what support and assistance the young person requires for their educational development. The report will also explain the steps needed to achieve these outcomes.

What does the EHC needs assessment evaluate?

When creating an EHC plan, we’ll focus on:

• Academic progress or achievement to date, including developmental milestones.
• Information about the symptoms and severity of the learning difficulties or disability your child is experiencing.
• What action the school or educational setting they are enrolled in has taken to date.
• Evidence of any additional interventions or support above what is usually provided by the school or educational setting.
• Assessment of your child’s emotional well-being, physical health and social development (informed by clinicians and other health professionals).
• What more needs to be done to ensure your child’s emotional wellbeing, physical health and social development are met.

What are the signs my child needs an EHC plan?

Generally, there are some red flags that could indicate your child is experiencing difficulties that make it more challenging for them to learn:

• Problems with reading, writing or mathematics.
• Difficulty with attention and focus.
• Falling behind other children of a similar age.
• Behavioural problems that disrupt learning.
• Physical disabilities.
• Other neurodevelopmental conditions or disabilities (ADHD or Autism Spectrum Disorder).

How do I get an EHC plan?

You can only request an EHC assessment and plan if your child has or may have special educational needs (SEN), due to a learning disability or learning difficulty. An EHC plan must involve an educational component, as it’s not applicable if the child only requires health and social care. If you’re unsure whether your child qualifies for an EHC plan, you can reach out to our friendly team to discuss the criteria.

What are the benefits of an EHC plan?

An EHC plan is designed to improve the future of the child or young person with learning difficulties or disabilities. It recognises that the support they have received so far needs to be improved upon and sets out clear recommendations for improving support. An EHC plan is a legally binding document, which means the recommendations in the report must be provided by the child’s school or educational setting by law. Having an EHC plan will legally protect your childs and support their education, emotional well-being, physical health and social development. The views and hopes of the young person and their family are central to the process. 

Why request an EHC plan privately?

The turnaround time for private EHC plans is much faster and responsive compared with requesting EHC plans through your local authority or the SEN coordinator at your child’s school, which can take upwards of 20 weeks for the report to be produced. Our team has extensive experience in conducting EHC needs assessments and writing EHC plans, and we understand that you also require support during this difficult process.

Why choose the London Psychiatry Clinic for your EHC plan?

At the London Psychiatry Clinic, you will have the benefit of selecting an unbiased educational psychiatrist or psychologist with the right qualifications who understands that children with learning difficulties need and deserve additional support to flourish. We have extensive experience working with children and their families, and liaising with school boards. Our goal is to make the process as simple and straightforward as possible for you. While carrying out the assessment, our educational specialists will ensure your child feels relaxed and comfortable. For example, we often use principles of play therapy to make the assessment more enjoyable and less stressful for children. 

We will take into account your hopes and goals for your child, as well as your child’s unique needs and preferences. We’ll be able to support you throughout the assessment, including submitting the report and if needed, challenging any unfair verdicts. The result will be a detailed and comprehensive report that includes your child’s difficulties and strengths, learning strategies and recommendations for further support. 

How much does an EHC plan cost?

To find out more information about the process or fees, or to simply get started, contact our friendly medical secretaries for more information. They can begin managing the process and put you in direct contact with an educational specialist who will help your child to reach their full potential.

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