The Difference Between Section B and Section F – And Why It Matters
When parents receive a draft EHCP, one of the first things they notice is how much information it contains.
What many don't realise is that two sections of the plan are particularly important: Section B and Section F.
Understanding the relationship between these sections can make the difference between an EHCP that delivers meaningful support and one that leaves too much open to interpretation.
What is Section B?
Section B describes your child's special educational needs.
This should be a detailed description of the difficulties your child experiences in education.
For example, it may include difficulties with:
Communication and interaction.
Cognition and learning.
Social, emotional and mental health.
Sensory or physical needs.
Section B should describe what your child needs help with, not simply list diagnoses or labels.
What is Section F?
Section F sets out the special educational provision required to meet those needs.
In simple terms, it explains what support must be provided.
This might include:
Teaching assistant support.
Speech and Language Therapy.
Occupational Therapy programmes.
Specialist teaching.
Assistive technology.
Social communication interventions.
The provision should be specific enough that everyone understands exactly what must be delivered.
Why do these sections matter?
Section B and Section F should work together.
Every need identified in Section B should have corresponding provision in Section F.
If a child has an identified need but there is no provision to address it, an important question needs to be asked:
How will that need actually be met?
Likewise, provision should only be included if it is addressing an identified educational need.
One of the most common problems I see
Many draft EHCPs describe a child's needs in considerable detail but provide only general or vague support.
Phrases such as:
"Access to..."
"Regular opportunities..."
"Support when required..."
can sound reassuring, but they often fail to explain exactly what must be provided.
The clearer the provision, the easier it is for schools to understand what they are expected to deliver.
A simple way to check your draft
Read one paragraph in Section B.
Then ask yourself:
Can I find the provision that addresses this need in Section F?
If the answer is no, it may be worth looking more closely at whether the EHCP fully reflects your child's needs.
Every EHCP is different
There is no single formula for writing an EHCP.
However, one principle remains the same:
Needs and provision should always connect.
The stronger that connection, the clearer the EHCP becomes for everyone involved.
Ready to find out what your draft is missing?
Get a free score in 5 minutes with my Draft EHCP Health Check, or go straight to a full written Draft EHCP Review if you already know something's not right.