1. New System – What is an EHC Plan? From 1 September 2014 statements of special educational needs and Learning Difficulty Assessments will be replaced by Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans. EHC plans can be issued for a child or young person aged between 0-25. The new system focuses more on what is important for children and young people and what they and you want to achieve now and in the future. The new process is based around, OUTCOMES.

2. Key Principles: Key principles in the Children and Families Act 2014 There should be a ‘tell us once’ approach. The Act promotes the participation of parents and young people in decision-making about SEN Outcomes Children, young people and families should be asked for their views. It focuses on outcomes and improving progress for children and young people with SEN. The need to support the child or young person, and the child’s parents, The Act requires a joint approach across all agencies Education, Health and Social Care will be required to co-operate at a local level.

3. Key Principles continued Information, advice and support must be available to families. Young people over 16 must have access to separate information advice and support. EHC Plans will extend from birth 0 to 25, where necessary, replacing the Learning Difficulties Assessment for young people leaving school.

4. Key Principles continued Changes in assessment and planning School Action and School Action Plus will be replaced by SEN support. Local offer The Local Offer will set out what all local agencies are expected to provide including what schools are expected to provide from their delegated budget, their ‘notional SEN budget’.

5. Note on school funding Academies will be covered by the same statutory requirements as maintained schools. From this funding, mainstream providers will be expected to contribute the first £6,000 of the cost of additional educational support required by a high needs pupil.

6. Note on school funding Delegated SEN funds do not “follow the child” !

7. Education and Health Care Plan An EHC plan is a legal document which describes: A child or young person’s special education, health and social care needs The help that will be given to meet those needs, and What the young person will be able to achieve as a result of the support. The plan is drawn up by the local authority after a formal assessment process called an EHC Needs Assessment

8. EHC Assessments What is an EHC needs assessment? The legal definition of an EHC needs assessment is contained in Section 36 (2) of the Children and Families Act 2014: “(2) An “EHC needs assessment” is an assessment of the educational, health care and social care needs of a child or young person.” It is the local authority which carries out the EHC needs assessment, and to do so it must seek the following advice and information: about the needs of the child or young person; about what provision may be required to meet such needs; about the outcomes that are intended to be achieved by the child or young person receiving that provision.

9. When should I request an EHC needs assessment? Whenever a child or young person has a learning difficulty or a disability which is holding them back at school or college; and The parents of the child or the young person (or the young person themselves) believe that the school or college is not able to provide the help and support which is needed. You can do this at any time. For children under 16 the parent makes the request. In the case of a young person (over 16 and up to 25) they can make the request themselves if they understand it sufficiently well themselves – otherwise the parent can make the request on a young person’s behalf.

10. Requesting Remember you can only ask for an EHC needs assessment if the child or young person has or may have educational needs – it does not apply where there are only health and/or care needs no matter how severe. Should I speak to the school or college first? Yes, definitely. What if the school or college offers to write on my behalf? ?????

11. Requesting an assessment Who should I write to? Write to the top person at the LA, usually called the Director of Education or Head of Children’s Services. When should I hear back? The LA must reply within six weeks.

12. Content of an EHC Plan The format of an EHC plan will be agreed locally, EHC plans must include the following sections, which must be separately labelled from each other using the letters below. The sections can be in any order but they must demonstrate how provision will be integrated, and the sections need to be separately labelled.

13. Sections of the EHC Plan EHC plans will look different depending on which local authority you live in. However, they must contain the following sections. A) Your views and hopes for the future What do you want to do in the future? B) A description of your special educational needs (SEN) Your deafness and how it affects you. Also, details of any other SEN C) Your health needs (linked to your SEN) These must be linked to your SEN

14. Sections of EHC Plan D) Your social care needs These could be about equipment you need in the home such as flashing-light doorbells or about support you receive from a social worker. E) Your Outcomes Outcomes are things that happen so that you are able to achieve the things you want in the future. F) The SEN Provision required This section will give details of what needs to happen and what support you need to achieve your outcomes. G) Health provision The support the health services need to provide to help you achieve your outcomes. This could be getting your hearing aids checked out at your audiology clinic every three months. H) Social care provision The support social services need to provide to help you achieve your outcomes e.g. supporting you to mix with other deaf young people.

15. Sections of EHC Plan. I) Your school or college placement This is left blank until the rest of the plan is agreed. You will be able to say which school or college you think is best for you. J) Your Personal Budget If you have asked to receive a Personal Budget then info about this will go into your EHC plan. E) Your outcomes This is a very important section of your plan. Outcomes are the things that need to happen so that you are able to achieve the things you want in the future. F) The SEN provision required Earlier, your plan will have shown what outcomes or goals you want to achieve. This section will show the details of what needs to happen and what support you need to achieve your goals.

16. Sections of EHC Plan Section K: The advice and information gathered during the EHC needs assessment must be attached (in appendices). There should be a list of this advice and information. Personal Budget For those children and young people who have an EHC plan the LA can be required to identify a personal budget.

17. Basic Timeline for EHC Plan Request Decision to Assess Assessment / 15 Day Parent Consultation with Evidence Gathering Consultation Schools/College Week 0 Week 1-6 Week 7- 16 Week 17- 18 Week 18- 20

18. Outcomes Outcomes in Education Health and Care Plans Benefit or difference made to an individual as a result of an intervention Personalised - not expressed from a service perspective. Something over which those involved have control and influence. Specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time bound (SMART). Usually set out what needs to be achieved by end of a phase or stage of education. Not a description of the service being provided. Y9 onwards, outcomes should reflect the need to ensure young people are preparing for adulthood.

19. Preparing 4 adulthood Outcomes: Preparing for adulthood Higher education and/or employment, including exploring different employment options, such as support for becoming self-employed and help from supported employment agencies Independent living – Young person having choice, control and freedom over their lives and the support they have, their accommodation and living arrangements. Participating in society - having friends and supportive relationships, and participating in, and contributing to, the local community Being as healthy as possible in adult life

20. Info and Support INFORMATION ADVICE AND SUPPORT Each local authority must provide children and young people with SEN and disabilities and parents/carers with impartial information and advice SEN and disability including health and social care and about personal budgets Local authorities should involve parents/carers, children and young people in the design or commissioning of information and advice services Independent supporters from the private and voluntary and community sectors to help families through the Education, Health and Care needs assessment process.