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Health
The Health section in an EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan), known as Section C (and Section G for health provision), is critical because it addresses health needs that relate directly to a child’s ability to learn, engage, and thrive in education. Here’s an explanation of its importance:
Importance of the Health Section in an EHCP
1. Holistic Support Health needs—such as sensory processing issues, anxiety, speech and language difficulties, or medical conditions—can significantly impact a child’s educational experience. Including these in the EHCP ensures the child is supported as a whole person, not just academically.
2. Legal Entitlement to Health Provision Section G of the EHCP outlines the health care provision that must be arranged by the NHS. If a health need (like mental health support or occupational therapy) directly affects education, it becomes a legal entitlement—not just a recommendation.
3. Multi-Agency Accountability Including health needs promotes coordination between education, health, and social care services. It holds health providers (like CAMHS, therapists, or paediatricians) accountable for delivering agreed-upon support.
4. Supports Better Outcomes Addressing health barriers can lead to better attendance, engagement, behaviour, and progress. Without this, a child may continue to struggle despite educational strategies being in place.
5. Transition Planning Health needs often intensify during key transitions (like moving to secondary school). Documenting them in the EHCP helps plan timely interventions to reduce stress and prevent breakdowns in placement.
Many children and young people who have additional needs require support from a range of services, including health.
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Under the Children and Families Act 2014, the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Code of Practice sets out the statutory duties for health, education and social care to listen to families and provide the right range of services so that children, young people and young adults up to the age of 25yrs can achieve their potential.
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Our Integrated Care System (ICS) enables greater integration across agencies and improved sharing of good practice and common solutions across Birmingham and Solihull by having more joined up work and shared responsibility for outcomes for children, young people and families.
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Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) is a priority within NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (ICB), known publically as NHS Birmingham and Solihull, as recognised in the following ways:
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• ICBs must consider how they will meet the needs of children and young people aged 0-25 and set this out in their Forward Plans.
• ICBs must consider how to ensure a diverse skill mix of leadership, which should include a consideration of whether there is knowledge and expertise related to children and to SEND.
• Each ICB must have an Executive Lead responsible for SEND and accountable for how well SEND support by partners is delivered.
• ICBs have to work with children’s system leaders, children and young people and families when forming their strategies and have to show how they have met their statutory responsibilities relating to SEND in their annual report.