1. Czone
  2. SEND
  3. Education, Health and Care Plans

Education, Health and Care Plans

An Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), sometimes called a statutory plan, is a legal document. It sets out the:

  • child or young person's needs
  • outcomes for that child or young person
  • provision needed to meet their aspirations, needs and outcomes
  • most appropriate educational placement

EHCPs cover the age range 0 to 25 years. 

Your duties under the SEND code of practice

The SEND code of practice explains the duties of schools to provide for those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). This is under part 3 of the Children and Families Act 2014.

Schools are required to meet the special educational needs of the pupils that they support. Each school must do the following:

  • Ensure that the necessary provision is available for any individual who has SEND.
  • Ensure that all pupils have the opportunity to engage in activities alongside their peers.
  • Name a teacher to be the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO).
  • Inform parents when they are making special educational provision.
  • Help parents feel confident in the quality of the school's SEN provision.

Quality-first teaching and a graduated approach are embedded throughout the code. It states that SEN provision goes beyond the differentiated approaches and learning arrangements normally provided as part of high-quality personalised teaching.

The code calls for the use of appropriate evidence-based interventions. It states that SEN support in schools is based on the assess, plan, do and review cycle.

Schools should use the additional needs plan to support this process.

Guidance on SEN support

Those responsible for providing SEN support should read:

Best practice guidance: Use of delegated funding and the role of the SENCO [137.0 KB] [docx]

If you need this document in an alternative format, contact Assessment and Planning:

Phone: 01273 336740 

Email: sen.caseworkassistants@eastsussex.gov.uk

Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment

You can request an Education Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment for a child or young person if:

  • you think they need further support
  • they are not making progress despite high quality SEN support

An EHC needs assessment is also known as a statutory assessment.

Please look at the SEN Matrix guidance before completing a request for an EHC needs assessment. 

How to request an EHC needs assessment

All schools and settings

Early years settings

For help to assess and evidence the child’s level of need, you can use the Early years developmental journal | CDC

Guide for parents

Share these documents with the parents when you request an EHC needs assessment.

They provide an overview of and timescales for the assessment:

If you need these documents in an alternative format, get in touch:

Phone: 01273 336 740 

Email: sen.caseworkassistants@eastsussex.gov.uk

Consulting with education settings

If the Local Authority agrees to issue an EHC plan, consultations are sent out to ascertain the most appropriate educational setting. 

From Monday 29 April 2024, a consultation form [63.8 KB] [docx] will be used for statutory school-aged children. 

Consultation forms are currently in development for early years children and young people in post-16 education.

The consultation guidance document [609.0 KB] [docx] provides further details.

Annual review of EHCPs

Every child or young person who has an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) must have an annual review. The review checks how well they have met the outcomes in their plan.

By receiving support that meets their needs, the level of support should ideally reduce over time. If a young person has made good progress, you may discuss them moving from an EHCP to an additional needs plan.  

Guidance for schools

The 'Annual review guidance for schools' document is currently being updated. Once it has been republished it will be available on this page.

How to submit annual review forms 

Using secure email, send these documents within 2 weeks of the meeting date: 

  • Annual review report
  • Parent views
  • Child views
  • Other supporting documents

Email: AnnualReviewSEND@eastsussex.gov.uk

Forms and resources

Annual review forms

Preparing for adulthood annual review forms

Primary: pupil voice resources - to print

Secondary: Pupil voice resources - to print

Contact us

If you have a query:

When emailing, add ‘QUERY’ in the subject line to help us respond effectively.

Advice for families about EHCPs

The East Sussex Local Offer website has information for families about Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) including:

  • requesting an EHC needs assessment
  • annual reviews of EHCPs
  • phase transfer reviews of EHCPs
  • appeals and mediation 
  • finding a school
  • elective home education
  • funding and personal budgets 
  • moving into and out of East Sussex

The majority of children and young people do not need an EHCP to be supported in their educational setting.

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