Education, Health and Care Plans (ECHPs): Emily’s Experience

You can listen to Emily's blog post here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7Jm8vbnAh0ycJGWKUn93SC?si=__RwV4WzSuOskpcgar7VFw

Living with a chronic illness has really affected most aspects of my life, including my experiences in education.

Like most parts of living with a disability, it can be frustrating and challenging to try and adapt an education system that isn’t necessarily designed for disabled students. There is support available; this can include an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

My Story

I got an EHCP around eighteen months ago, which has allowed me to return to school after a long period of absence due to ill health. An EHCP usually consists of various adjustments a student needs due to their disability; I’ve included some of mine below. 

• I only attend school part-time.

To accommodate this, I study a slightly reduced number of GCSEs and only attend the subjects I actually study. For example, this academic year, I only attend school between Tuesday-Friday and Monday is my ‘rest’ day. I also don’t do full days at school; some days, I do 10-2, whilst other days, I might only come in for afternoon lessons. My teachers then send me work from the lessons I miss, and I catch up on work from home! 

• Additional Tutoring

I have some funded hours of 1-1 online science tuition when I’m not at school, which helps me catch up on missed content, and go over anything I’m not sure of.

• Exam Accommodations

Some of my exam accommodations are: rest breaks, my own room separate from the main exam halls and extra time! I also receive the same adjustments for mock exams, which is helpful so I can get used to the arrangements I will have for my actual exams!

• Accommodations for when I’m at school

I’m allowed to leave lessons five minutes early to avoid crowded corridors, sit near the door in lessons so I can leave discreetly as/when needed and have a toilet pass. I’m also allowed to sit in a quiet space at lunchtimes as I’m tube fed so don’t usually sit in the canteen with everyone else.

• Changing Schools

An EHCP allowed me to ‘nominate’ a school which could accommodate my needs. My old school was in a very old (no pun intended), inaccessible building. This meant I could not access all my lessons as most of the Science and English classrooms were upstairs, which had limited lift access; this was really frustrating. When my EHCP was approved, I changed to a more modern, accessible school where I can actually access every classroom despite my disability.

Whilst everyone has slightly different adjustments on their EHCP, I definitely find that mine are helpful for my situation!

I felt confused at the beginning of the process (hence writing this post!), so am hoping this blog may help others in my situation feel less overwhelmed!

Some Information About EHCPs

What is an EHCP?

An EHCP is short for an Educational Healthcare Plan.

Young people aged 0-25 may be eligible for an EHCP if they need more support than what is typically available. They may require additional support for a physical disability, a learning disability and/or a mental health condition. An EHCP is a legal document, which means what is written in the plan must be followed. 

What support can an EHCP provide?

I have outlined some of the support I receive from my EHCP above, but they are tailored to individual needs, so they will look different for everyone. Some other examples of support include (but are not limited to): 1-1 support, online learning, specialist school places and extra tutoring; although the level of support depends on the young person’s educational needs.

How do I get an EHCP?

An application for an EHCP isn’t always straightforward as there are many stages, and it can differ depending on your local authority (who issues the plan). If you need more information, I recommend looking on your local councils' website as that will include information specific to your area. Generally, an EHCP application includes an assessment of your needs, followed by a draft (and eventually, finalised) plan.

What happens if/when I get an EHCP?

All EHCPs are reviewed annually, which ensures you receive support that is relevant and helpful to your current situation. They can also be reviewed at any point (if requested by you, your school or your parent/carer) if needed. An EHCP automatically ends at 25, or if you enter higher education (university).

I hope this helps anyone currently going through the EHCP process, or anyone who just didn’t know what an EHCP is!

By Emily (Pronouns: she/her)

Image Description: A photo of Emily, a white woman with shoulder length dark brown hair. She is wearing clear-framed glasses and smiling at the camera. She is wearing a cream zip-up hoodie over a black top, with a dainty necklace.