SEND Support at School: SEN Support vs EHC Plans Explained

My friend's daughter wasn't coping in Year 2. She couldn't sit still. She couldn't read the board. She kept melting down at home.

The teacher said she'd "grow out of it". She didn't.

It took another year, three parent meetings, and a formal request before the school finally put support in place.

If your child is struggling, you need to know how the system works. Because hoping someone notices doesn't count as a plan.

The Two-Tier System

There are two levels of support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND):

• SEN Support: School-based support, managed by the school.
• Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP): Legally binding plan, assessed by the local authority.

Most children sit on SEN Support. A smaller number have an EHCP. The difference matters.

SEN Support

SEN Support is the first tier. It covers children who need extra help but don't meet the threshold for an EHCP.

The school decides what support to provide. That might include:

• Small group teaching
• One-to-one support for specific tasks
• Adjustments to lessons (extra time, simplified instructions)
• Speech and language support
• Support with social skills or behaviour

It's flexible. It's supposed to be tailored to your child. But it's not legally enforceable, which means if the school doesn't deliver, your options are limited.

How It Works

The school's SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) manages SEN Support. They should assess your child's needs, agree a plan with you, and review progress regularly.

You should get a written plan. It should say what support your child will receive, who will deliver it, and how progress will be measured.

If you don't get this, ask for it.

The Graduated Approach

SEN Support works on a cycle: Assess, Plan, Do, Review.

The school assesses the need, plans the support, delivers it, then reviews whether it worked. If it didn't, they adjust and try again.

In theory, this means your child gets increasingly targeted support until they catch up or reach their potential.

In practice, it depends entirely on the school's capacity, expertise, and budget.

EHC Plans

An EHCP is the second tier. It's for children with more complex or severe needs that can't be met through SEN Support alone.

Unlike SEN Support, an EHCP is legally binding. It sets out exactly what support your child needs, and the local authority must provide it.

It covers education, health, and social care needs. It can specify a particular school. It can mandate one-to-one support, specialist equipment, therapy, or other provision.

How to Get One

You or the school can request an EHC needs assessment. The local authority decides whether to assess.

They should decide within six weeks. If they agree to assess, they have 20 weeks from the request to issue a final plan (if they conclude one is needed).

The process involves gathering evidence from teachers, doctors, therapists, educational psychologists, and you. You'll be asked to contribute. Do it in writing. Be specific about what your child struggles with and what they need.

What If They Say No?

The local authority can refuse to assess, or assess but decide an EHCP isn't needed. If that happens, you can appeal to the SEND Tribunal.

Appeals are stressful and time-consuming, but they're free and you don't need a lawyer. IPSEA (Independent Provider of Special Education Advice) and SOS SEN offer free guidance.

The SENCO

Every school must have a SENCO. They're responsible for coordinating support for children with SEND.

A good SENCO is worth their weight in gold. A bad one is a barrier.

If your child is struggling, the SENCO should be your first contact. Book a meeting. Take notes. Follow up in writing.

What Schools Must Do

Schools have a legal duty to identify and support children with SEND. They must:

• Tell you if they think your child has special educational needs
• Involve you in decisions about support
• Publish a SEND Information Report (it's on their website)
• Use their "best endeavours" to meet your child's needs

"Best endeavours" is vague. It means they should try. It doesn't mean they're guaranteed to succeed.

What If Nothing's Happening?

If your child is struggling and the school isn't acting, push back.

• Ask to meet the SENCO and class teacher
• Request a formal assessment for SEN Support
• Keep records of everything: emails, meeting notes, your child's work
• If SEN Support isn't working, ask the school to request an EHC needs assessment
• If they refuse, you can request one yourself

You are allowed to advocate for your child. You're supposed to.

Make It Easier

SEND meetings, review dates, therapy appointments. It's a lot to track on top of everything else.

I built My School Agent because I kept missing school emails. It won't write your EHC application, but it will make sure you don't miss the deadline.

And when you're dealing with the SEND system, missing a deadline can cost you months.