Special Education
Needs & Disability
What is an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)?
An EHCP is a plan that explains what extra help you need if learning or daily life is harder because of a disability or special need. It covers support in school or college, health, and things that help you outside of lessons too. The plan sets goals for what you want to achieve, like learning new skills, becoming more independent, or getting ready for adult life. It also says which school or college you’ll go to. The important bit is that it’s a legal plan—so the council has to make sure you get the help that’s written in it.
If you would like to find out more, please contact
the SEND team on 01895 250 244, or email SENadmin@hillingdon.gov.uk or visit our
local SEND offer.
The process
For young people with EHCPs
The deadline to confirm which school or college you will be moving on to is Monday 31 March 2026, and this is to ensure your transition can be well planned. This may mean you will be asked to make choices earlier than other Year 11 students.
You will need to identify your preferred course and college/Post 16 placement by mid-October 2025.
So, what happens over the next few months?
You should have got a letter and form from your SEND officers during the summer term of Year 10 to advise you of the process and allow you to tell us what you want to do when you finish secondary school.
To help this process you can:
think about the course you would like to do
research the schools / colleges that you would like to go to.
Entry requirements
Entry Level
What you can learn
Foundation courses, transition programmes, supported Internships.
Inclusive/Supported Apprenticeships (you only need Entry Level 3 literacy and
numeracy if you have an EHCP).
What GCSE or equivalent
grades do you need?
No GCSE passes
How long will it take you?
One to three years
Level 1
What you can learn
Level 1 courses, traineeships, transition programmes,
supported Internships.
What GCSE or equivalent
grades do you need?
Some GCSEs (or equivalent)
at grade 1 to 3
How long will it take you?
One to two years
Level 2
What you can learn
Level 2 courses, apprenticeships
traineeships
What GCSE or equivalent
grades do you need?
At least four GCSEs
(or equivalent) at grade 3 or 4
How long will it take you?
One to two years
Level 3
What you can learn
AS/A Level courses
BTEC National Vocational courses, e.g. C-TECHs Level 3 courses, apprenticeships.
What GCSE or equivalent
grades do you need?
All least four GCSEs
(or equivalent)
grades 4 or above
How long will it take you?
Two years