The final Education, Health and Care Plan (EHC Plan) must be issued 20 weeks from the date the Local Authority received your assessment request.

Where there are exceptional circumstances, it may not be reasonable to expect local authorities and other partners to comply with the time limits, we will inform you of any reasons for delay.

What does an Education, Health and Care Plan look like?

Every EHC Plan is personalised to meet the needs and outcomes for each child or young person. The local authorities template will give you an idea of what the plan looks like. View a blank template of an EHC Plan.

The plan looks at all the aspirations and needs that a child or young person has within education, health and care. Professionals and the family together through a co-ordinated single assessment decide what outcomes are required, and through joint working identify what is needed to achieve those outcomes.

All EHC Plans must include:

A: family views and aspirations
B: any special educational needs (SEN)
C: any health needs that are related to SEN
D: any social care needs
E: what outcomes you’re hoping to achieve, including your long-term hopes for your child/young person's adult life
F: what special educational provision they require
G: what health care provision they may require
H: what social care provision or support they may require
I: the name of your child or young person's school or other placement, and what kind of institution it is
J: the personal budget, if you have one, and how it may be used to meet any outcomes
K: appendices (advice and information collected during the EHC needs assessment)

Your draft EHC Plan

If the local authority has decided to issue an EHC Plan, then a draft EHC Plan will be shared with you.

You will receive a draft plan and will be given 15 days to:

  • Approve the draft EHC Plan
  • Express a preference for a particular school or setting
  • Request a personal budget if you would like one

A follow up meeting will be arranged with you, the local authority, school/setting and other professionals to discuss the draft EHC Plan.

The local authority must consult with schools/settings before naming them in the EHC Plan. The school/setting has 15 days to respond.

Final EHC Plan

Following consultation with the parent/young person, the draft plan is amended where needed and the final plan is issued. (The Local Authority will let the parent/young person know about their rights to appeal.)

Who to speak to when moving area with an EHC Plan

Your child's EHC Plan will need to be transferred to your new local authority. There's information and advice about moving to a new area on the IPSEA website.

In the case that you are moving out of Wolverhampton, you will need to contact the SENSTART Team.