3.1 Collaboration Between Different Sectors

An EHCP is intended to be a collaborative document, meaning that it should reflect the input of professionals across the education, health, and social care sectors. While education is typically the leading sector in terms of coordinating the creation of the EHCP, collaboration ensures that the plan is holistic and tailored to the child’s specific needs.

The collaboration process usually starts with a discussion between parents, teachers, and professionals in relevant areas (e.g., health or social care). This ensures that all perspectives are taken into account when creating the plan.

Key Questions:

  1. In what ways do education settings take the lead in curating the EHCP?

    • Education settings often take the lead in curating the EHCP because they are the primary environment where the child spends their time. Schools are responsible for identifying educational needs and are best placed to coordinate with other professionals (such as health and social care providers) to ensure that the necessary support is in place. The headteacher or a special educational needs coordinator (SENCO) is typically the point of contact for coordinating the EHCP.

  2. How do schools implement the advice of health professionals and social care services?

    • Schools implement the advice of health professionals and social care services by incorporating their recommendations into the child’s daily learning and support. For example, if a child requires speech therapy, this may be arranged through the school or via NHS outreach services. If social care support is needed, the school may coordinate with local social services to ensure that these needs are addressed.

  3. Why might a case be led by social care or medical professionals instead of education?

    • Cases might be led by social care or medical professionals when the child’s primary need is not educational. For example, if a child has a significant health condition that requires specialized medical intervention, or if the child’s social care needs are the primary concern (such as those in foster care or with family difficulties), the EHCP may be led by these services to ensure that the child’s most pressing needs are addressed first.