What is an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and how can a tutor help? 

What is an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)

An Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is a document issued by the local
authority outlining a young person’s educational, health, and social care needs.
EHCPs are for children, teenagers, or young adults with special educational
needs that require support beyond what most educational settings can provide at
the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) level. They are issued to
guarantee funding to secure a level of provision appropriate to a child’s potential
and in-line with their aspirations and abilities.

The EHCP describes the special educational needs of a young person based on
cognition and learning ability, communication and interaction skills, social,
emotional and mental health, and sensory and physical disabilities. EHCPs are
lengthy documents containing detailed information about the young person and
how their difficulties relate to education. An EHCP includes the views of
parents and the young person, as well as input from doctors, psychologists and
learning specialists. It is essential to set time aside to consider the content of an
EHCP carefully. If you are a tutor with access to an EHCP then read it, and then
act on the recommendations it contains.

Consider the health care needs of your student.

The EHCP will provide details about the physical conditions you need to accommodate when teaching.

Is your student visually impaired? Will they require work in a large print or paper in
certain colours? Will they need a specific type of chair? Will they need to be
near a bathroom? Does your student require a private space when they feel
overwhelmed and need a break from learning? Will their medication be on
hand, and do you know what to do in an emergency? Use the EHCP to conduct
your risk assessment. Does your student have a history of climbing through
windows? Then fit safety locks. Does your student have a history of self-harm?
Then secure sharp items. Plan all this in advance.

Learning disorders include dyslexia (difficulty with reading), dyspraxia
(difficulty with fine motor skills) or visual or auditory processing disorders.
Your student with an EHCP will probably also experience other conditions that
can disrupt learning, for example, autism or ADHD. Try to learn about the
learning disability specific to your student. Seek advice and discover how the
disability affects the learning process and what cognitive skills are affected.
Sensory processing issues can cause people to behave in an unusual way: some
people might react strongly to loud noises or bright lights; you might see
extreme behaviours, such as screaming if they get their hands dirty.

These sensory processing difficulties are a symptom of autism. The EHCP can help
you avoid known triggers to prevent meltdowns, making it possible for your
student to keep learning.

Children with ADHD often have problems sitting still, staying focused and
following instructions. These are difficulties related to executive functions.
Executive function affects planning, problem-solving and time management.
Students with ADHD may struggle to regulate their emotions and resist moving
on from an activity they enjoy. The EHCP may contain recommendations about
how you should present learning material and classroom instruction. It could
offer tips to help the young person stay organised.

How can a tutor help?

The best way for a tutor to help is to accommodate the recommendations on the
EHCP precisely. If the EHC plan states a student requires a visual timetable or
planner, then provide this. If a student has learned a particular strategy to help
with communication or speech and language difficulties, such as flashcards or
emojis, then use them. If a student has difficulties with transitions, be sure to
have a plan in place about how you will manage these. A student with autism
may not cope if you skip questions so be sure to plan your lesson materials
carefully. A student with ADHD may reject repetitive work. Be prepared with a
good level of challenge and variety.

Many students with an EHCP will have difficulty following complicated
instructions or processing lots of information at once. Use clear instructions
broken down into steps and presented in lists. Use straightforward and
unambiguous language. Use physical tools, props or images to reinforce
learning and deliver information in small chunks.

Your interactions with the young person should promote a sense of safety. You
should be dependable, reliable and predictable and work hard to build a sense of
trusting relationship with the student and their family.

People with learning disabilities may struggle in some areas of learning but
could excel in others. Pay attention to your student’s interests. Help them
develop their passions and strengths. Help build their self-esteem and let them
experience success. Above all, notice the good in them and enjoy spending time
with this special and unique person who deserves your best efforts.