An Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is a legal document that describes a child or young person’s special educational needs, the support they need, and the outcomes they are working towards.

It brings together support from education, health, and social care all in one place, and is designed to help children and young people from birth to 25 years old who need more help than schools or settings can usually provide on their own. 

An EHCP is for children and young people who:

• Have significant and long-term needs.
• Require specialist support to learn, communicate, or stay safe in school or college.
• Are not making expected progress, even with extra help in school (called SEN Support).

You don’t need a diagnosis to apply - what matters is how much support your child needs to achieve their best. 

An EHCP contains:

• Information about your child’s needs.
• The help they should get in education, health, and social care.
• Their goals or outcomes.
• Details of the school or college they will attend.

EHCPs are reviewed at least once a year to make sure the plan is still right for your child.

For children under 5 years old, the plan should be reviewed every 6 months, as their needs may change more quickly during early development.

You’ll be invited to these review meetings to share how things are going and talk about any changes needed. 

Croydon offers a range of services to help families through the EHCP journey:

• Croydon SEND Team (0-25 Statutory Service) – manages EHCP requests, reviews, and placements.
• Croydon SENDIASS - provides free, confidential advice to help you understand your rights and complete forms.
• Your school or nursery’s SENCo - can support you with gathering evidence and working with the local authority.
• Croydon Local Offer website - gives up-to-date information, downloadable forms, and local guidance.
• Education Psychology and Therapy Services - support assessments and ongoing advice.

To apply for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) in Croydon, you can initiate a request for an EHC needs assessment (EHCNA) if you believe that a child or young person aged 0–25 requires support beyond what is ordinarily available in their educational setting. This request can be made by a parent, a young person over 16, or a professional such as a SENCO or healthcare provider. 

Applying for an EHCP can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. In Croydon, there are people and services ready to support you and help your child get the help they need to succeed and thrive.

Please see the information below for further guidance on the EHCNA and Annual Review process. 

Education, Health and Care Plan Template