If your child is struggling at school, you have probably heard two terms thrown around: “SEN support” and “an EHCP”. They are not the same thing, and the difference matters a great deal. One is help the school arranges itself. The other is a legal document the Local Authority has to honour.
Here is the short answer. SEN support is the extra help your child’s school puts in place, like a small reading group, a teaching assistant, or a different way of teaching. An EHCP (Education, Health and Care plan) is a legally binding plan secured by your Local Authority for children whose needs are greater than the school can meet on its own.
This guide walks you through both, in plain words, so you know where your child stands and what to ask for next. Not sure where you sit right now? Our free SEND Rights Quiz gives you a clear picture in a few minutes.
What is SEN support?
SEN support is the first level of help for a child with special educational needs. It happens in the school or college, and the school arranges it. You do not need a diagnosis to get it, and you do not need to apply to the Local Authority.
According to gov.uk, SEN support for a school-age child can include things like a special learning programme, extra help from a teacher or assistant, working in a smaller group, observation in class or at break, help taking part in class activities, or help communicating with other children. Your first point of contact is usually the SENCO (the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator, the staff member in charge of SEN). The school decides what to put in place, working with you.
Schools follow a cycle called the graduated approach. The SEND Code of Practice 2015 sets it out as four steps, Assess, Plan, Do, Review:
- Assess. The teacher and the SENCO look closely at what your child needs.
- Plan. They agree the support and the outcomes they are aiming for, and they tell you.
- Do. They put the support in place.
- Review. They check whether it is working, then the cycle starts again.
The key thing to understand: with SEN support, the school holds the responsibility and the budget. It is real, useful help. It is also flexible, which is its strength and its weakness. The school decides what to provide, and there is no separate legal document forcing it to deliver a fixed amount.
What is an EHCP?
An EHCP (Education, Health and Care plan) is a legal document for children and young people aged up to 25 whose needs are greater or longer-lasting than SEN support can meet. The Local Authority writes it and the Local Authority is responsible for it.
The plan is split into sections. The most important one for most families is Section F, which lists the special educational provision your child must receive. This is the part with legal teeth.
To get an EHCP, the Local Authority first carries out an EHC needs assessment (the formal check the Local Authority does to work out your child’s needs). If the assessment shows a plan is needed, the Local Authority writes one.
Who decides, and what each gives you
This is where the two paths really separate.
| SEN support | EHCP | |
|---|---|---|
| Who arranges it | The school or college | The Local Authority |
| Do you have to apply | No | Yes, by asking for an EHC needs assessment |
| Legal status | Not a separate legal document | Legally binding on the Local Authority |
| What it gives you | Flexible support the school decides on | Named provision the Local Authority must secure |
| If support stops | No formal right of appeal | You can appeal to the SEND Tribunal |
With SEN support, you rely on the school doing the right thing and reviewing regularly. With an EHCP, you have something stronger to hold on to.
How strong is an EHCP, legally?
This is the real difference, and it is worth being clear about.
Under section 42 of the Children and Families Act 2014, the law says: “The Local Authority must secure the specified special educational provision for the child or young person.” That is the provision written in Section F of the plan. “Must secure” is a hard duty. The Local Authority cannot decide it is too expensive or too difficult and quietly drop it.
SEN support has no equivalent. It is good practice and the school should do it well, but there is no single legal document the Local Authority is bound to deliver.
There is one important point to be clear on. There are SEND reforms being proposed by the government in 2026, and you may have read worrying headlines. These are proposals at the consultation stage. According to gov.uk, no changes to the support given through EHC plans will begin before September 2030, and any move to a new system would be phased in gradually after that, with transitional protections so that children do not lose support already in place. EHC plans remain fully legally enforceable right now. Your child’s current rights have not changed. You can read our plain-English breakdown in The 2026 SEND Briefing.
When is SEN support enough, and when should you ask for more?
SEN support is the right starting point for most children, and for many it is enough. It may be working if:
- Your child is making progress with the help the school is giving.
- The support is reviewed regularly with you and adjusted when needed.
- The school is open about what it is doing and you can see it happening.
It may be time to think about an EHC needs assessment if:
- Your child is not making progress despite SEN support being tried and reviewed over time.
- The help your child needs is more than the school can provide from its own resources.
- Needs span more than one area, for example education plus health or social care.
You do not have to wait for the school to suggest it. You can ask the Local Authority yourself.
How to ask for an EHC needs assessment
The legal test for getting an assessment is set deliberately low. Under section 36 of the Children and Families Act 2014, the Local Authority must carry one out if your child has, or may have, special educational needs, and it may be necessary for special educational provision to be made through an EHC plan. Your child does not need to be failing badly to clear that bar.
Here is what to do:
- Put the request in writing to the Local Authority. A short email or letter is fine. Anyone can request an assessment, including you as a parent, the young person if aged 16 to 25, or the school.
- Say plainly why you think a plan may be needed. Describe what your child struggles with and what has already been tried through SEN support.
- Gather your evidence. School reports, the assess-plan-do-review records, any reports from doctors or therapists, and your own notes about what daily life looks like.
- Note the timescales. The Local Authority must tell you within 6 weeks of your request whether it will carry out an assessment. If it agrees, it must then tell you within 16 weeks whether it will make a plan, and the whole process, from request to final plan, should take no more than 20 weeks.
A word of honesty on timing. In 2025, only 46.1% of new EHC plans were issued within the 20-week statutory timeframe, according to Department for Education figures (reporting year 2026, published 25 June 2026). Delays are common, so keep a dated record of everything.
If the Local Authority says no to an assessment, or no to a plan, you have the right to appeal to the SEND Tribunal. In most cases you must talk to a mediation adviser first. This right of appeal is one of the biggest practical differences between an EHCP and SEN support.
Where to get free, formal advice
This guide is information, not legal advice. For free, independent support, contact:
- IPSEA (ipsea.org.uk), the charity that specialises in SEND law and runs free advice lines.
- Your local SENDIASS, the free information, advice and support service in every area.
- gov.uk, for the official rules on SEN support and EHC plans.
Frequently asked questions
Is SEN support the same as an EHCP?
No. SEN support is extra help the school arranges itself, with no separate legal document. An EHCP is a legally binding plan the Local Authority secures, and the Local Authority has a legal duty to deliver the provision in Section F.
Does my child need a diagnosis to get an EHCP?
No. There is no requirement for a formal diagnosis. The legal test under section 36 of the Children and Families Act 2014 is about whether your child has or may have special educational needs and may need provision through a plan, not about a label.
Can I ask for an EHC needs assessment myself?
Yes. You do not need the school’s permission. Parents, young people aged 16 to 25, and schools can all request an assessment. The Local Authority must tell you its decision within 6 weeks.
What happens if SEN support is not working?
If your child is not making progress despite SEN support being tried and reviewed, that is a strong sign to ask the Local Authority for an EHC needs assessment. Keep dated records of what was tried and the results.
Are the 2026 SEND reforms taking away EHCPs?
No. The 2026 reforms are proposals at consultation stage. According to gov.uk, no changes to the support given through EHC plans will begin before September 2030. EHC plans are fully legally enforceable now.
Not sure where you stand? Start here.
Working out whether your child needs SEN support or an EHCP can feel overwhelming, especially when you are already stretched. You do not have to figure it out alone.
Take our free SEND Rights Quiz. In a few minutes it shows you where your child sits, what your rights are, and the next sensible step, with no jargon.
And if you want everything in one place, The SEND Parent Booklet walks you through the whole system step by step, including templates for requesting an assessment, so you always know what to say and what to send.