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How community paediatrics link to education

Our community paediatricians and nurses work closely with school, teachers, school nurses and other children’s specialist services to make sure the children in our care have a cohesive strategy to look after their needs.

Education Health Care Plan (EHC)

Information for families

An EHC plan is a legal document that describes a child or young person's special educational, health and social care needs. It explains the extra help that will be given to meet those needs and how that help will support the child or young person to achieve what they want to in their life.

Who needs an EHC plan?

EHC plans are for children and young people whose special educational needs require more help than would normally be provided in a mainstream educational environment (a college, school, and nursery).

Although the plan can include health or social care needs, your child will not get a plan if they only have health or social care needs that do not affect their education.

An EHC plan can be issued to a child or young person from birth to 25 years old.

How do I get an EHC plan?

EHC plans are drawn up by the local authority after an EHC needs assessment.

You, your child's education setting or your child, if over 16, can ask your local authority to carry out an assessment.

To apply for one please contact the following:

West Kent (Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Malling)

senwest@kent.gov.uk
03000 420 997
Worrall House, 30 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent, ME19 4AE

North Kent (Dartford, Gravesham and Sevenoaks)

sennorth@kent.gov.uk
03000 419 345
Joynes House, New Road, Gravesend, Kent, DA11 0AT