How to Get an EHCP
Navigating the process of obtaining an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) can feel daunting for many parents, especially when you’re already juggling assessments, school meetings, and everyday life. Yet securing an EHCP is often a crucial step for children and young people with additional needs—such as autism, ADHD, or other learning and developmental conditions—to access the right support and services.
An EHCP is a legal document that describes a child or young person’s special educational needs (SEN), the support required, and the outcomes expected over time. In England, it covers individuals from birth (or diagnosis of need) up to age 25, as long as they are still in education. When a child’s needs can no longer be met through the support already in place at school, an EHCP can ensure that extra resources, specialist provision, and tailored planning are secured and formalised.
The EHCP is structured into specific sections (A through K) encompassing the child’s background, their educational needs, health and care needs, outcomes, provision, placement, and, where applicable, personal budget. It is not just a paperwork exercise—it forms a legally binding plan that local authorities must ensure is delivered in full.
The process begins long before any formal request is made. Parents, carers, school staff, or health professionals may notice that the child is not making expected progress, despite reasonable adjustments or targeted support. Perhaps the child is struggling to keep up academically, their behaviour shows signs of overwhelm in class, or their needs cross over across education, health, and social care. Often, the child is already receiving SEN Support (sometimes called “My Plan” or “My Plan Plus”) and it becomes apparent that this level of intervention is insufficient.
During this stage, gathering evidence is vital. School reports, behaviour logs, therapy notes, medical records, and any professional opinions help build a picture of sustained need. This foundation becomes critical throughout the subsequent stages.
When you believe your child requires more support than current arrangements can offer, you can formally request an EHCP needs assessment from your local authority (LA). You—in most cases the parent or carer—can make the request, as can the young person themselves (if over 16), the school or educational setting (with your knowledge), or any health or social care professional involved.
A written request should be sent to the LA’s SEN department. In that request, you should explain why you believe your child needs an EHCP, and include supporting evidence from professionals, schools, and assessments. It’s helpful to clearly refer to how current SEN support is insufficient and how a formal plan would make a difference.
Once the request is received, the LA must decide within six weeks whether to carry out a full assessment. They look at the evidence, whether the child has SEN, whether the school can meet needs through its own resources, and whether additional support would be justified.
If the request is refused, the LA must provide a written explanation, inform you of your rights to mediation or dispute resolution, and outline how to appeal to the SEND Tribunal.
If the LA agrees to carry out the assessment, the investigation phase begins. The local authority gathers information from multiple sources: you as the parent or carer, the child or young person, their school or educational setting, educational psychologists, health professionals (e.g. speech and language therapists), social care, and any other relevant experts.
This phase involves structured assessments, interviews, observations, and specialist reports. Each contributing professional will comment on the individual’s strengths, challenges, and how needs manifest across settings. The goal is to produce a holistic, multi-disciplinary understanding of the child’s educational, health, and social needs.
This part of the process must conclude within 16 weeks of the initial referral. If evidence supports that the child’s needs require formalisation in an EHCP, the LA will prepare a draft plan.
When the draft EHCP is ready, the LA sends it to you for review. You typically have 15 days to respond. During this time, you can propose changes, express preferences for particular schools or settings, or challenge sections where you disagree. It's vital to engage actively in this consultation—often changes or clarifications can be made before the final plan is issued.
Meanwhile, the LA consults with any schools or educational settings named in the draft to confirm admission feasibility and cost. This stage bridges planning with practical implementation.
At the end of the consultation period, the LA finalises the document and issues the EHCP—ideally within 20 weeks from the original referral. The final version includes all agreed sections: the child’s background and views, detailed statements of need (educational, health, social care), the outcomes to be achieved, the required provision, the named placement, and—if applicable—the personal budget.
Once issued, the plan becomes legally binding, and the named school or setting must admit the child. All provisions must be delivered, and the LA must monitor implementation closely.
With the EHCP active, the focus shifts to putting it into practice. The educational setting, health, and care services must deliver the support as outlined. Progress should be reviewed at least once every 12 months through an annual review, where you, the child (or young person), the school, and professionals reflect on outcomes, what’s working, and what needs adjustment. If the child’s needs change significantly—especially through transitions like moving to secondary school or into further education—you can request re-assessment or modifications.
The EHCP stays in place until one of several events: when the LA deems it is no longer necessary, the young person starts higher education, enters paid employment, or reaches age 25 (in most cases).
Many parents find parts of the EHCP journey frustrating, especially when dealing with delays, disagreements over content (often in Sections B, F, or I: needs, provision, or placement), or refusals to assess. It is essential to keep all letters, emails, reports, meeting notes, and records of conversations. You should not hesitate to seek mediation or appeal decisions through the SEND Tribunal if necessary.
Throughout, maintaining a collaborative yet assertive approach can make a difference. Be clear about your child’s needs, the evidence supporting them, and why a particular school or type of provision is necessary. Reach out to SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Service) for independent guidance, and consider connecting with local parent carer forums or support groups to share experience and advice.
EHCPs provide the means to secure consistent, legally backed support across education, health, and social care in a way that ordinary SEN support cannot. For families exploring diagnoses for autism or ADHD, having an EHCP in place can be transformative. An accurate assessment, detailed diagnostic report, or evaluation from a specialist may feed into the EHCP process—helping to demonstrate the level of need, the required support, and how a child’s condition impacts their learning.
That’s where Atypically comes in. By helping parents access timely, high-quality private autism or ADHD assessments, we help generate the professional evidence needed to support EHCP applications. A robust diagnostic report can become a critical component of your request for an EHCP, reinforcing the case for formal assessment and planning.
Securing an EHCP can feel like a long, complex journey—but it is one of the most powerful tools available to ensure children with additional needs receive the support they deserve. Understanding each stage—from recognising need, requesting assessment, gathering evidence, consulting on a draft plan, issuing the final document, and reviewing it—is essential for success. As a parent or carer, your role in advocating, gathering evidence, and engaging constructively can make a meaningful difference.
If you’re navigating this path and also seeking professional assessments as part of the evidence base, Atypically is ready to support you. With the right assessment, a clear plan, and a committed approach, you can maximise the chance of a well-structured EHCP that works in practice, not just on paper.
Written by Ben Friedman, Founder of Atypically.
Ben has years of first hand experience as a father of an autistic son and a SEND advocate. All content is thoroughly researched to help parents to be as informed as possible when navigating private assessments and meaningful interventions for their neurodiverse children. Ben also holds a CPD Accredited Certification in the Treatment and Management of Additional Needs Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders.
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