Quality assurance for EHC plans

The Code of Practice says that the assessment and planning process for education, health and care (EHC) plans requires 'robust quality assurance'.

We undertake regular and effective quality assurance (QA) of EHC plans of children or young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Internal audits and external multi-agency audits, involving education, health and social care, are completed.

Corresponding reports are taken into account when the ECHP is audited, that is initial assessments or annual reviews. As part of the process, judgements can be made, including:

• The description of the child or young person’s journey.
• The strengths and needs of the child or young person.
• The quality of outcomes and whether they are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound (SMART).
• Whether the provision is appropriate to the child or young person’s needs.
• The presence of the child/young person’s voice and their aspirations for the future.
• The parent or carer’s views and aspirations for their child.

After the completion of each audit, an overall quality judgement is made. The judgements are in line with OFSTED, namely Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement (RI) and Inadequate. A range of action is then undertaken to ensure that the loop is closed and any RI and Inadequate judgments are dealt with. Action can include amending the EHCP prior to the final EHCP being issued, an EHCP being audited again at a later date, reviewing templates and processes or appropriate multi agency training such as a Person-Centred Planning (PCP) Approach to Annual Reviews.

QA development feedback sessions will take place with the Parent Career Forum; Education, Health and Social Care will develop an action plan and areas of development. 

Previous audit activity focused on new EHCPs; the introduction of thematic audits has provided the opportunity to consider EHCPs and Annual Reviews for young people who have been in the SEND system much longer.