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Education, Health and Care plans

Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans are a vital tool that help many autistic children and young people unlock the support they need at school and beyond.

They were introduced by the Children and Families Act 2014 and are for children and young people aged up to 25 who need more support than is available through special educational needs (SEN) support.

An EHC plan is a legally-binding document that sets out the needs of a child or young person and also outlines the different types of support they will receive at school or in their education provision.

Parents, schools or professionals working with a child or young person can apply for an assessment and young people aged 16-25 can request an assessment themselves. 

 

Further information about the Education, Health and Care process 

Read a comprehensive guide to the EHC plan process in our parent toolkit.  

Independent Parental Special Education Advice (IPSEA) offers free and independent legally based information about EHC plans.