EHCP health or social care sections incomplete — what can you do?

Which sections to check

Section C covers health needs related to SEN. Section D covers social care needs related to SEN or disability. Section G covers health provision reasonably required because of the learning difficulties or disabilities that result in SEN. Sections H1 and H2 cover specified social care provision.

Health or social care provision that educates or trains the child or young person may need to be treated as special educational provision and placed in Section F instead.

What to compare against the draft

Read the health, therapy and social care advice gathered during the EHC needs assessment. Note every identified need and every recommendation for provision.

Check that the needs are reflected in the relevant needs sections and that matching provision appears in G, H1, H2 or, where it educates or trains, Section F.

Look for missing frequency, type of support, responsible service or other detail where the professional advice is more specific than the draft.

What to do today

• Create a short table with three columns: professional advice, where it appears in the draft, and what is missing.
• Send your requested changes to the local authority within the draft response period.
• If advice from an important service was never obtained, ask why and identify the professional or service you think should contribute.
• Keep the discussion focused on the individual child’s assessed needs rather than asking for a section to be filled simply because it is short.

Who to contact

Start with the local authority EHC case officer. You can also ask the relevant health professional, therapy service or social care professional to confirm whether the draft accurately reflects their assessment and recommendations.

For independent information and advice, look for your local SENDIASS through the local authority’s Local Offer.