EHCP Eligibility, Funding & Review - Liverpool

Education England 4 Minutes Read · published February 12, 2026 Flag of England

The Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) process in Liverpool, England sets out how the local authority assesses, funds and reviews long-term special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). This guide explains eligibility criteria, how funding decisions are made, review timetables, and where to apply or appeal under Liverpool City Council procedures so families and schools can act with clear steps and official contacts.[1]

Overview of EHCP eligibility and funding

EHCPs are for children and young people (0–25) whose needs cannot be met by ordinary school resources alone. The local authority decides whether an EHC needs assessment is required, based on evidence from families, schools and health professionals. If an EHCP is issued, it names required education, health and social care provision and indicates the funding arrangements through the local authority and any specialist placements.[3]

Penalties & Enforcement

Liverpool City Council is the responsible local authority and enforcer for EHCP duties, including timely assessment, issue of plans and annual reviews; complaints and statutory appeals are handled through the council’s SEND and complaints routes and, where applicable, the First-tier Tribunal (SEND) for appeals.[1]

The council page does not list monetary fines for EHCP non-compliance.

Statutory enforcement of the Children and Families Act 2014 duties is predominantly remedial and judicial rather than fine-based; the national SEND Code of Practice and statutory legislation set duties but do not create a fixed local fine schedule on the council page cited.

  • Fines or fixed monetary penalties: not specified on the cited page.[1]
  • Escalation for continuing failure: enforcement normally proceeds by complaint, mediation and tribunal referral; specific escalation fines or daily penalties are not specified on the cited Liverpool pages.[1]
  • Non-monetary sanctions: enforcement can include court or tribunal orders, required corrective steps, and directions from the First-tier Tribunal (SEND).
  • Enforcer and inspections: Liverpool City Council (Education and SEND team) enforces duties and manages assessments; complaints and inspection pathways are on council pages and the national guidance.[1]
  • Appeals and time limits: appeals against local authority decisions can be made to the First-tier Tribunal (SEND); timescales for lodging appeals are set out in national guidance and council advice pages and are not all reproduced verbatim on the cited city page.[3]

Applications & Forms

Liverpool publishes guidance on how to request an EHC needs assessment and signposts forms and the Local Offer where families can find templates and contact details; specific form names and fees (if any) are described on the council Local Offer and SEND pages.[2]

Check the Liverpool Local Offer for the current EHC needs assessment request form and submission instructions.
  • Form name/purpose: EHC needs assessment request (see council Local Offer for the current form and guidance).[2]
  • Fees: not specified on the cited Liverpool pages—local authority EHCP processes are generally without an application fee unless stated otherwise on the council site.[2]
  • Submission: follow the Local Offer instructions or contact the SEND team for advice on how to submit evidence and requests.[2]

Review process and timescales

Annual reviews are statutory: the local authority must review the EHCP at least once a year, though schools and parents may request an earlier review if needs change. The national SEND Code of Practice provides procedural detail on timescales for assessment (for example, the 20-week assessment period) and review responsibilities; readers should consult the Code and Liverpool guidance for exact procedural steps and any local variations.[3]

Annual reviews must involve the child or young person, parents and relevant professionals.
  • Assessment timescale: national guidance outlines a 20-week limit for completing EHC needs assessments where an EHCP is proposed; consult the Code and council pages for local practice.[3]
  • Review frequency: statutory annual review, or sooner if needs change.
  • Evidence: schools, health professionals and parents must provide up-to-date evidence for decisions at assessment and review.

Common problems and practical steps

  • Delay in assessment: contact the SEND team, use the council complaints procedure and consider mediation or tribunal appeal if statutory timescales are not met.[1]
  • Disagreement over provision: request an annual review, gather documentary evidence from professionals, and use disagreement resolution and mediation services.
  • Appeal route: where disagreement persists, appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (SEND); check national guidance for time limits and grounds.[3]

FAQ

What is an EHCP and who is eligible?
An EHCP is a statutory plan for children and young people with complex SEND where additional provision is required beyond school resources; eligibility is decided after an EHC needs assessment by the local authority.
How do I request an EHC needs assessment in Liverpool?
Contact Liverpool City Council’s SEND/Local Offer pages for the current request form and guidance; gather evidence from the school and health professionals to submit with your request.[2]
How can I appeal if I disagree with a decision?
If you disagree with the local authority decision, you can use local mediation services and may appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (SEND); consult council guidance and national SEND Code of Practice for timescales and process.[3]

How-To

  1. Collect evidence from school, GPs and therapists showing how needs affect education.
  2. Contact Liverpool City Council SEND team or Local Offer and complete any required request form.[2]
  3. Submit the request with evidence and keep records of dates and communications.
  4. If the council issues an EHCP, review annually; if refused, use mediation and consider tribunal appeal within the statutory time limit.
If you plan to appeal, start gathering dated evidence immediately to support tribunal grounds.

Key Takeaways

  • EHCPs are decided by Liverpool City Council after an evidence-based assessment and provide statutory provision when ordinary resources are insufficient.
  • Annual reviews are mandatory; the national Code of Practice sets key timescales such as the 20-week assessment period.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] Liverpool City Council - EHCPs and SEND guidance
  2. [2] Liverpool Local Offer - information, forms and contacts
  3. [3] Gov.uk - SEND Code of Practice 0 to 25

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