What is an EHCP?
An Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP) is a legal document in England for children and young people aged 0 to 25 who need more help with their special educational needs than their school or nursery can normally give.
What an EHCP does
An EHCP describes your child's needs, the outcomes everyone is working towards, and the support that must be put in place to meet those needs. The council (local authority) has a legal duty to make sure the special educational provision in the plan is delivered.
Most children with special educational needs are supported through SEN Support at school, which does not need a plan (see SEN Support vs EHCP). An EHCP is for children whose needs cannot reasonably be met from the resources a school normally has.
Who can get an EHCP
A child or young person can get an EHCP if they have special educational needs and need special educational provision to be made through a plan. It is based on needs, not a diagnosis. A child does not need a diagnosis of autism, ADHD or anything else to be assessed.
Parents can ask the council for an assessment directly. You do not need the school's agreement. Read how to request an EHC needs assessment, which includes a template letter.
What is in an EHCP
Every plan has the same lettered sections:
| Section | What it covers |
|---|---|
| A | Your child's views, interests and aspirations, and yours |
| B | Special educational needs |
| C | Health needs related to their SEN |
| D | Social care needs related to their SEN or disability |
| E | Outcomes: what the support should help your child achieve |
| F | Special educational provision: the support they must get |
| G | Health provision |
| H1 and H2 | Social care provision |
| I | The school or setting named in the plan |
| J | Personal budget, if there is one |
| K | The advice and reports used to write the plan |
Why section F matters most
Section F is the part the council must legally secure. It should be specific and quantified: who will give the support, what it is, and how often. "Access to speech and language therapy as needed" is vague. "A 30-minute session with a speech and language therapist once a week, plus a daily 15-minute programme delivered by a trained teaching assistant" is specific. Our guide to checking section F shows what to look for.
How long it takes
- 6 weeks from the request: the council decides whether to carry out an EHC needs assessment.
- 16 weeks: the council decides whether to issue a plan, and sends a draft if it will.
- 15 days to comment on the draft and ask for a particular school (see what to do with a draft EHCP).
- 20 weeks from the request: the final plan is due.
Some exceptions apply. Use the EHCP deadline calculator to see your own dates.
After the plan is issued
An EHCP must be reviewed at least once every 12 months. See our guide to the EHCP annual review. If the council refuses to assess or to issue a plan, you can appeal. See EHCP refused: what to do next.
Outside England
EHCPs exist in England only. Wales uses Individual Development Plans, Scotland uses Coordinated Support Plans, and Northern Ireland uses statements of special educational needs.
Common questions
Does my child need a diagnosis to get an EHCP?
No. An EHCP is based on a child's special educational needs, not on a diagnosis. Many children are assessed and get a plan without one.
Can parents apply for an EHCP themselves?
Yes. Parents can ask the council for an EHC needs assessment directly. You do not need the school's permission.
How long does an EHCP take?
The usual legal limit is 20 weeks from the request to the final plan, with a decision on whether to assess within 6 weeks.
Does an EHCP cost anything?
No. Assessments and plans are free. Independent advice from IPSEA and your local SENDIASS service is free too.
Keep a record as you go
EHCPlog is a 30-second daily diary for parents. Your notes become a dated evidence pack for the council, the school or a tribunal.
Start your diary freeJoin the waitlist Get the free template
Related guides
This guide is general information about the law in England, not legal advice. Practice varies between councils. For advice on your situation, contact IPSEA or your local SENDIASS service. Both are free and independent. Last reviewed 1 November 2026.