Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)
Working Together to Help Every Child Thrive
At Eaves Primary School, we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to achieve, feel included and experience success. For some children with more complex special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) may be required to ensure that their individual needs are understood and the appropriate support is in place.
We are committed to working closely with children, parents, carers and external professionals to ensure that EHCPs are meaningful, personalised and focused on helping every child flourish.
What Is an Education, Health and Care Plan?
An Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is a legally binding document for children and young people aged up to 25 who require special educational provision beyond what is ordinarily available through SEND support.
An EHCP identifies a child's individual needs, the outcomes they are working towards and the education, health and care provision required to support them.
EHCPs are issued and maintained by the local authority following an Education, Health and Care needs assessment.
How We Support Children with EHCPs at Eaves
At Eaves, we recognise that every child is unique. We aim to ensure that the support outlined in each EHCP is understood by the adults working with the child and translated into meaningful everyday practice.
This may include:
Personalised teaching and learning: Adapting teaching approaches, resources and classroom environments to support individual needs.
Targeted interventions: Providing additional programmes or specialist support where specified in a child's plan.
Appropriate adult support: Ensuring that support is provided in line with the child's identified needs and EHCP provision, while encouraging independence.
Specialist advice and involvement: Working with relevant external professionals to support the delivery of provision.
Access and inclusion: Making appropriate adjustments to enable children to participate in lessons, school activities, educational visits and enrichment opportunities.
Communication and wellbeing: Supporting children's communication, emotional wellbeing, confidence and relationships where these are identified areas of need.
The support provided will depend on the individual requirements set out in each child's EHCP.
Turning EHCP Provision into Everyday Practice
We believe that an EHCP should be more than a document. The provision outlined in a child's plan should be reflected in their daily experiences at school.
Our approach focuses on ensuring that:
Staff understand each child's individual needs, strengths and identified outcomes.
The provision specified in the EHCP is incorporated into classroom practice and individual support arrangements.
Teachers and support staff work together to provide consistent approaches.
Children's progress, participation and independence are regularly considered.
Support is reviewed and adapted where necessary, with any proposed changes to statutory provision addressed through the appropriate review process.
Our aim is to ensure that the support children receive makes a positive difference to their learning, confidence, wellbeing and school experience.
Monitoring Progress and Reviewing Support
At Eaves, we recognise the importance of regularly reviewing how effectively provision is meeting a child's needs.
Teachers, support staff and our Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) work together to consider children's progress towards their identified outcomes and the impact of the support they receive.
This includes considering:
Progress towards individual EHCP outcomes.
The effectiveness and consistency of support and interventions.
Children's engagement, participation and independence.
Feedback from pupils, parents, carers and staff.
Advice and recommendations from relevant external professionals.
Where concerns arise, we work collaboratively to identify appropriate next steps and ensure that the local authority is involved where changes to an EHCP may be needed.
EHCP Annual Reviews
Education, Health and Care Plans must be reviewed by the local authority at least every 12 months, with more frequent statutory review requirements for children under five.
As part of the annual review process, Eaves works with families, pupils and relevant professionals to consider the child's progress and whether the EHCP continues to accurately reflect their needs, outcomes and required provision.
The review provides an opportunity to:
Celebrate the child's achievements and progress.
Listen to the views, wishes and aspirations of the child.
Hear the experiences and priorities of parents and carers.
Consider progress towards the outcomes identified in the EHCP.
Review whether the provision remains appropriate.
Identify priorities and recommendations for the year ahead.
Following the review, the local authority is responsible for deciding whether the EHCP should remain unchanged, be amended or be ceased, in accordance with statutory procedures.
Listening to Children's Voices
At Eaves, we believe that every child's voice matters.
We recognise that children communicate their views in different ways and may need support to express their feelings, preferences and aspirations.
Where appropriate, we use conversations, observations, visual approaches and other accessible methods to help children share what is working well, what they enjoy and what they may find difficult.
We want children to feel involved in decisions about their learning and support, and to develop confidence and independence as they grow.
Working in Partnership with Parents and Carers
Parents and carers know their children best, and their knowledge and experiences are an important part of understanding individual needs.
We aim to maintain open, supportive communication with families and encourage parents and carers to share their views, celebrate progress and raise any concerns about their child's provision.
If you would like to discuss your child's EHCP, their progress or the support they receive in school, please speak to their class teacher or contact our SENCO, Mrs R Bowles, through the school office.