We may decide to end an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). This is called ‘ceasing to maintain’, or just ‘ceasing’.
This means we will no longer be legally responsible for providing any educational provision outlined in your child’s EHCP.
If we decide that your child’s EHCP is going to cease, this will be an outcome following an annual review. We will send you a ‘proposal to cease to maintain’ letter. This explains why want to cease your child’s EHCP.
The letter will also explain your right to appeal our decision and the time limit in which you must do so.
If you decide not to appeal, your child’s EHCP will stay in place until the end of the academic year, and then will come to an end.
Why an EHCP would cease
There are many reasons why we would cease an EHCP and this should be discussed as part of the annual review process. For example, it might be because the young person:
- is aged 16 or over, is no longer in education and has started paid work
- is entering higher education
- is aged 18 or over and no longer wants to participate in education
- has moved to another local authority or country
- has met the outcomes in their EHCP
- is turning 25 years old
By law, an EHCP must cease at the end of the academic year in which a young person turns 25 years old. This is the only time that you cannot appeal against the decision.
You can learn more about when an EHCP might cease from the SEND Code of Practice.
If you disagree with an EHCP being ceased
You have the right to appeal the decision of an EHCP being ceased, unless it is because a young person is or has turned 25 years old.
