Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP) Writing Services

Essex County Council seeks an external provider to write Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) for children and young people aged 0-25 with significant special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). This service supports the Council's statutory obligations under the Children and Families Act 2014 and the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Code of Practice. The successful bidder will prepare EHCPs that detail each young person's needs across education, health, and care, along with their support requirements and desired outcomes, ensuring coordinated and tailored support. While the Council is transitioning towards internal plan-writing, this contract provides flexible capacity to meet peak demand during the academic year when new plans and amendments exceed internal resources. There is no guarantee of volume under this contract, and demand will vary. Bidders must comply with Essex's assessment and EHCP processes, the SEN Code of Practice, and all relevant Department for Education and Council guidance. The service requires appointing and managing appropriately experienced and qualified staff with sufficient capacity to ensure continuous service delivery. Strict compliance with Data Protection Act 1998 and all updates is mandatory. The total budget is £900,000 (inclusive of VAT) with a contract term of 1+1+1 years, including annual break clauses. Full service specifications and tender documentation are available on the Council's e-tendering platform, ProContract, with publication expected on 28 April 2026.