Education, Health and Care Plan Digital Assistant AI Tool

Improving response times for children and young people who have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan

About

We know there is a waiting list for Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plans partly because of the high number of requests. Families and young people have told us they want the process to be quicker and more consistent. Our frontline staff have also said they would like less paperwork so they can spend more time supporting children and families.

We are finding ways to speed up responses for children and young people with Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plans. This includes using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in a positive way. One tool, called the EHC Plan Digital Assistant, helps organise and process information quickly. It reduces the time staff spend on paperwork so they can focus more on supporting families.

The Digital Assistant has undergone extensive testing to ensure its effectiveness and that it is safe to use.

important

The EHC Plan Digital Assistant does not make any decisions about support or provision. Instead, SEND Officers always review, edit, and approve every draft plan before it is shared with families. As the name indicates, the EHC Plan Digital Assistant is simply a support tool, assisting with administrative processes only.

We have created a short animation below to explain what the EHC Plan Digital Assistant does. You can also read our Improving EHCP Processes Factsheet if you would like more details

Last updated: May 21, 2026

Next review due: November 21, 2026

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