Does My Child Need an EHCP, or Is School SEN Support Enough?
SEN Support and an EHCP are two different routes with two different processes. Here is how to tell which your child needs, and where an occupational therapy assessment fits into each.
If you are trying to work out what your child is actually entitled to, "SEN Support" and "EHCP" get used almost interchangeably by well-meaning people. They are two different things, with two different processes and two different levels of legal weight. An occupational therapy assessment plays a role in each, but a different one. This guide explains how they compare, how to tell which fits your child, and where OT evidence sits in both.
SEN Support: what a school arranges itself
SEN Support is the help a school puts in place directly, without any formal application to the local authority. The great majority of children with additional needs are supported this way, and for many it is all they need.
Schools deliver SEN Support through what the SEND Code of Practice calls the graduated approach, a four-part cycle:
- Assess: the school builds a clear picture of your child's needs, often drawing on your input and, where relevant, professional assessments such as occupational therapy.
- Plan: the school agrees the support, strategies and outcomes with you.
- Do: the class teacher and support staff put the plan into everyday practice.
- Review: the school checks what is working, and adjusts. The cycle then repeats.
Because there is no legal application process, SEN Support can often begin within weeks. If your child's OT assessment recommends sensory regulation strategies, seating or equipment adjustments, or fine motor support for handwriting, a school can usually fold these straight into a SEN Support plan.
When SEN Support is the right route
SEN Support tends to fit when your child needs targeted, practical help that the school can reasonably provide with its own staff and resources. Many children make strong progress on SEN Support alone, and it is the expected starting point before anything more formal is considered.
An EHCP: a legal plan from the local authority
An Education, Health and Care Plan is a legal document issued by the local authority. It is for children and young people whose needs are more significant or complex than a school can meet through SEN Support alone.