If you already have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan

The application and admissions process for your next stage of education works a bit differently.

• If you’re moving on to post-16 education next year, your EHC plan must be reviewed and updated before the end of March.

• During your annual review meeting, talk about any colleges, sixth forms, or training providers that interest you. Camden SEND Service can then help find a place that suits your needs.

• After your review, you’ll get a notice showing any changes that are being suggested for your plan.

• You can look over these changes and ask for a particular post-16 setting to be named in your plan.

• Your final, updated EHC plan should be issued within eight weeks — and always before the end of March.

If you don’t currently have an EHC plan

If you think you need more support than what’s usually available through SEN support at school, you can ask for an EHC needs assessment.

• This could help you access specialist post-16 provision that’s designed around your individual needs.

• It’s a good idea to talk with your school — such as your SENCO or class teachers — as they can help provide the evidence needed for your application.

• However, you don’t have to go through your school. You can apply directly to Camden Council yourself if you prefer.

• You can find more information on how to request an EHC assessment on the Camden Local Offer website:
  Camden Local Offer – EHC Needs Assessment

What happens next

The Camden SEN Team will look at your request and decide if an EHC plan would help you.

• You’ll be told the outcome within 16 weeks of your request.

• If they agree to issue a plan, you’ll get a draft version to review.

• You’ll have at least 15 days to give feedback — including if you want to ask for a specialist SEND college or training provider.

• Your final EHC plan will then be issued within 20 weeks of when Camden Council received your initial request.

If you’re not happy with a decision about your EHC plan

If you disagree with a decision that’s been made about your EHC plan — for example, the setting that’s been named in your plan, or a decision not to carry out an assessment — you should contact your SEND case officer first.

They’ll try to sort things out with you through discussion. If this doesn’t resolve the issue, you can use independent mediation to help reach an agreement.

You can find more information about mediation and the tribunal process on the Camden Local Offer website:
Camden Local Offer – Mediation, Complaints and Appeals

There are also services that can support you through this process, such as:

• SENDIASS Camden

• IPSEA

Individualised support

Specialist SEND educational settings can offer personalised support to make sure your learning pathway is built around you. The teaching and support you receive will be adapted to meet your individual needs, interests, and goals.

Alternative qualifications

Some settings offer different qualifications designed specifically for young people with EHC plans, such as supported internships. These programmes can help you develop skills, experience, and confidence to move on to further education, training, or paid employment.
You can find more information about supported internships on the Camden SEND Local Offer website:
Supported Internships – Camden Local Offer

Therapeutic facilities

Some specialist settings have additional facilities and resources to support your wellbeing and learning. These may include therapy rooms, a hydrotherapy pool, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, and other professionals who can help you reach your personal and educational goals.

All the schools, colleges, and training centres listed in the Camden Post-16 Directory can support you with your next steps in education or training.

Some Camden settings can also offer more specialist support if you would benefit from it. You might recognise some of these places as schools you already attend, while others may be completely new to you.

It’s worth taking some time to read about what each of these settings has to offer and think about which ones might suit you best. You can then discuss your options with your family, carers, SENDCO, or social worker to help decide your next move.

If you’d like to explore what support is available for you, there are a few useful places to start.

Local support

• The Camden Post-16 Help and Advice page includes links to lots of helpful resources and information about next steps in education, training, and support.

• The Camden SEND Local Offer explains what SEND support is available for children and young people in Camden. You can find details about:

  • Local health and wellbeing services

  • Events and activities for young people with SEND

  • Personal budgets and financial support options

• SENDIASS Camden offers free, confidential information and advice about SEND support in Camden. They can help you understand your rights, local policies, and how to access help when you need it.

National support

• IPSEA provides free and independent legal advice to make sure you get the support you’re legally entitled to. They can also guide you through the process if you want to appeal to the SEND Tribunal.