What makes a good-quality education, health and care (EHC) plan?

We use a quality assurance process to make sure that EHC plans in Norfolk:

• Meet the needs of the child or young person with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)
• Meet the requirements of the SEND Code of Practice 2015

We developed the process in co-production with partners from:

• Health services
• Organisations that represent parents/carers of children and young people with SEND. These include Family Voice Norfolk, Norfolk SENDIASS, Norfolk SEN Network and ADHD Norfolk.

The quality assurance process includes our EHC plan quality standards, which you can read below. These outline what a good-quality plan should include.

We also use an EHC plan quality assurance template as a checklist to make sure that each section of an EHC plan contains good-quality information.

EHC plan quality standards

A good-quality EHC plan:

1. Is person-centred and fully involves the child or young person and their parents/carers
2. Captures the voice of the child or young person and their parents/carers. It reflects their views, wishes and aspirations
3. Uses high-quality information from professionals involved with the child or young person
4. Outlines all the special educational needs of the child or young person, and any related health and social care needs
5. Details the special educational provision (and health and social care provision) required to meet the child or young person's needs. It does this clearly, and leaves no room for doubt
6. Contains SMART goals. These are goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound. These goals drive discussion at annual reviews. They are designed to make sure children and young people with SEND can achieve the best possible outcomes
7. Is a useful tool because it is:
   • Person-centred
   • Written in plain language
   • Clear
   • Straightforward
   • Up to date
   • Easy to understand
   • Available in the language or form of communication used by the child or young person and their parents/carers
8. Tells the child or young person’s story well. It details the impact of their needs on their day-to-day life and the support they need to achieve their goals. It describes positively what they can do
9. Gives contact details for all professionals and organisations involved

Further information

You may find the following guidance helpful:

• General guidance on what an EHC plan should contain on the IPSEA website
• Examples of good practice when writing EHC plans from the Council for Disabled Children