06.02 Is there a prescribed form of EHCP?

There is no on way an Education, Health and Care Plan ("EHCP") has to look, but it must include certain pages with important information like what you’re good at, what you need help with and how people are going to help you.

Summary in simple English

An EHCP is not completed on any official or standardised form that every local authority in England must use. Local authorities can create their own versions, but they do all have to include the same important sections (labelled A to K) as set out below. These sections cover things like the child or young person’s needs, the support they need, and the outcomes they’re aiming for.

Whilst the format of EHCPs may differ from one local authority to another, they must all follow the same structure and include the cover the same content.

Draft technical answer

The Children and Families Act 2014 does not prescribe a particular statutory or nationally recognised form. However, each EHCP must contain specified content set out in the relevant legislation and guidance. These content requirements are mandatory and must be included regardless of how the plan is formatted or presented.

Legal framework and guidance

The Children and Families Act 2014 section 37(2) states that the Education, Health and Care Plan must specify:

(a) the child or young person’s special educational needs (SEN);

(b) the outcomes sought;

(d) and any health care provision reasonably required by the learning difficulties or disabilities which result in the child or young person having SEN;

(e) where the child is under 18, any social care provision which must be made available by the local authority under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970; and

(f) any social care provision reasonably required by the learning difficulties or disabilities which result in the child or young person having SEN.

The Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014 (regulation 12(1)) prescribes the specific sections (A to K) that must appear in every EHCP:

Section A: Views, interests and aspirations of the child and their parents, or the young person

Section B: The child or young person’s special educational needs

Section C: Health care needs related to the SEN

Section D: Social care needs related to the SEN

Section E: The outcomes sought for the child or young person

Section F: Special educational provision required

Section G: Health care provision reasonably required

Section H1: Social care provision under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970

Section H2: Any other social care provision reasonably required

Section I: The name and type of school or institution (to be specified in final plan)

Section J: Details of how a Personal Budget (if there is one) will be used

Section K: Attach the advice and information gathered during the assessment

Key point

While there is no single official template mandated by law, any EHCP which fails to include these statutory sections or which does not follow the required structure is non-compliant within the legal framework. Local authorities may use different styles or formatting but must ensure all required content (Sections A - K) is present.

Answers from the No-nonsense Guides

Noddy No-nonsense Guide to SEN law
>06.02 Is there a prescribed form of EHCP?... ?
There is no prescribed form. Local authorities can use their own format. But the plan must have the statutory sections A-K and must contain the information required by the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEN and Disability Regulations 2014. These are mandatory requirements.

Relevant Statutes, Regulations, Codes and Case Law

Children and Families Act 2014, section 37

Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014, Regulation 12

SEND Code of Practice 2015, paragraphs 9.61–9.69

Alicia Cranston

12 Jun 2025

This is helpful

Comment

14 Feb 2022

Yes

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Simple

Yes. The required contents of an EHCP is set out in CFA2014 s37, Regs2014 r12, and COP2015 #9.62-9.76. An EHCP must set out:

section A views, interests and aspirations of the child and his parents or the young person
section B CYP’s special educational needs
section C CYP’s health care needs which relate to their special educational needs
section D CYP’s social care needs which relate to their special educational needs or to a disability
section E outcomes sought for him or her
section F special educational provision required by the CYP
section G any HCP reasonably required by the learning difficulties or disabilities which result in CYP having special educational needs
section H1 any SCP which must be made for the CYP as a result of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 s2
section H2 any other SCP reasonably required by the learning difficulties or disabilities which result in the CYP having special educational needs
section I name of the school, maintained nursery school, post-16 institution or other institution to be attended by the child or young person and the type of that institution or, where the name of a school or other institution is not specified in the EHCP, the type of school or other institution to be attended by the child or young person
section J where any special educational provision is to be secured by a direct payment, the special educational needs and outcomes to be met by the direct payment.

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SenateUser 72

14 Feb 2022

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