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EHCPs and SEND support

SEN Support or an EHCP: What's the Difference?

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School has mentioned SEN support. A friend talks about an EHCP. Someone else says "you need a plan". The words get used a lot, and they don't mean the same thing.

If you're trying to work out what SEN support is, and how it's different from an education, health and care (EHC) plan, you're not alone. This guide sets out the plain difference, what each can look like, and when you might ask for more help. It's written for parents and carers in Halifax and across Calderdale.

What is SEN support?

SEN support is the extra help a school, nursery or college puts in place for a child or young person with special educational needs. It happens inside the setting. You do not need an EHC plan to get it.

GOV.UK says your child will get SEN support at their school or college, and that they may need an EHC plan if they need more support than the school provides (GOV.UK: special educational needs support).

For children aged 5 to 15, GOV.UK says you can talk to the teacher or the SEN co-ordinator (SENCO) if you think your child needs things like:

  • a special learning programme
  • extra help from a teacher or assistant
  • to work in a smaller group
  • observation in class or at break
  • help taking part in class activities
  • extra encouragement in their learning, for example to ask questions or to try something they find difficult
  • help communicating with other children
  • support with physical or personal care, for example eating, getting around school safely or using the toilet

(GOV.UK: special educational needs support)

For children under 5, SEN support can include things like a written progress check when your child is 2, a health visitor check at age 2 to 3, a written assessment in the summer of their first year of primary school, and reasonable adjustments such as tactile signs (GOV.UK: special educational needs support).

SEN support is often the first step. Many children get what they need through it, without ever needing an EHC plan.

What is an EHC plan (EHCP)?

An education, health and care plan — often called an EHC plan or EHCP — is a legal document. GOV.UK says it is for children and young people aged up to 25 who need more support than is available through special educational needs support. It identifies educational, health and social needs and sets out the additional support to meet those needs (GOV.UK: extra help).

In short: SEN support is what the school organises from its own resources. An EHC plan is for when that is not enough, and the local authority has to set out and secure the extra support in a legal plan.

SEN support vs EHCP: the plain difference

| | SEN support | EHC plan (EHCP) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| What it is | Extra help organised by the school, nursery or college | A legal plan from the local authority |
| Who it's for | Children and young people with special educational needs | Children and young people up to 25 who need more than SEN support |
| How you get it | Talk to the teacher or SENCO | Ask the local authority for an EHC needs assessment |
| Legal status | Part of what the setting provides | A legal document the local authority must follow for the educational support in the plan |

You don't "choose" one or the other like a menu. SEN support comes first for most families. An EHC plan is considered when the setting's SEN support is not enough to meet the child's needs.

How do you get SEN support?

Start with school or nursery. For children aged 5 to 15, GOV.UK says talk to the teacher or the SENCO (GOV.UK: special educational needs support). If your child is not in a school or nursery, GOV.UK says contact your local council (GOV.UK: SEND overview).

It helps to write down what you see at home, what school has already tried, and what you think might help. Our guide on what to ask at a SENCO meeting walks through how to prepare for that conversation.

When might an EHC plan come in?

GOV.UK says you can ask your local authority to carry out an assessment if you think your child needs an EHC plan. A young person aged 16 to 25 can request one themselves. A request can also come from others, including teachers, doctors and health visitors (GOV.UK: extra help).

The local authority must tell you within 6 weeks of receiving the request whether they will carry out an assessment. If they decide to assess, you may be asked for reports from school or nursery, doctors' assessments, and a letter from you about your child's needs. GOV.UK says the local authority will tell you within 16 weeks of receiving the request whether an EHC plan is going to be made. If a plan is made, you get a draft to comment on (at least 15 days), and the local authority has 20 weeks from the date they received the assessment request to give you the final plan (GOV.UK: extra help).

Our longer guide to EHCPs goes deeper into that process.

An assessment does not always lead to a plan. The local authority may decide that SEN support in school is still the right level of help.

What if you disagree?

GOV.UK says you can challenge your local authority about a decision not to assess, a decision not to create an EHC plan, the special educational support in the plan, or the school named in it. If you cannot resolve it with the local authority, you can appeal to the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Tribunal (GOV.UK: extra help).

You do not have to do that alone. Calderdale's SEND Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS) offers free, confidential information, advice and support to parents and carers, including support in meetings (Calderdale Council: SENDIASS). You can call or text them on 07771 977384 or email info@calderdalesendiass.org.uk (Calderdale SENDIASS).

Calderdale's Local Offer also lists SEND services and information for families: calderdalelocaloffer.org.uk.

You don't have to figure this out alone

SEN support and EHC plans can feel like a maze of letters. The useful question is usually simpler: is my child getting the help they need, and if not, who do I talk to next?

If you're heading into a SENCO meeting, or you're not sure what to ask, our free Meeting the SENCO tool can help you prepare.

Frequently asked questions

What is SEN support?
SEN support is the extra help a school, nursery or college puts in place for a child or young person with special educational needs. GOV.UK says your child will get SEN support at their school or college, and that an EHC plan may be needed if they need more support than the school provides.
Do you need an EHCP to get help at school?
No. SEN support does not need an EHC plan. Many children get the help they need through SEN support alone. An EHC plan is for when more support is needed than is available through SEN support.
How do I ask for an EHC needs assessment?
You can ask your local authority. GOV.UK says a young person aged 16 to 25 can request an assessment themselves, and others such as teachers or doctors can also make a request. Calderdale SENDIASS can give free, impartial advice on the process.

Prepare for your next SENCO conversation

Our free Meeting the SENCO tool helps you jot down what you're worried about, what already helps, and the questions you want to ask. You can download it as a PDF to take with you. Nothing you type is stored.

Use the free Meeting the SENCO tool

Sources

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