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Education, Health and Care Plan

Did you have a personalised Support Plan at school?

If you had a personalised study support plan at school, often referred to as Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), this support will cease when you start university, as it does not apply to higher education. The Local Authority’s legal obligation to provide the support listed in the plan ends because university support is funded differently, primarily through Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA).

Key points to understand:

  • School personalised support plan ceases: this will generally be on 30 September of the year you start university.
  • Apply for Disabled Students Allowance (DSA): Students should apply for the Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) to fund specialist equipment, non-medical helpers and other study-related costs.
  • Proactive planning: Birkbeck is unable to automatically transfer or match the support you were receiving. The DSA application process can be lengthy, so we strongly encourage you to start applying as soon as you receive your university offer, so you have all the support in place by the time you start.
  • University support: Universities have their own legal obligations under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments. It is important that you complete your Study Support Plan, at the earliest opportunity. Your Disability and Mental Health Adviser will help ensure that you have all the relevant reasonable adjustments.
  • Social care: If you receive ongoing social care support, your local authority must review how this will be delivered when you move away to study at university.

Advice for parents/trusted adults

We recognise that some parents/trusted adults may wish to closely support a student. Unlike in school, our contract is with the student. Because of the Data Protection Act 2018 we will not respond to enquiries from parents. If there is mutual agreement for a parent/trusted adult to be involved, the student will need to email the Disability and Mental Health Service team , copying the parent/trusted adult in, and clearly declaring that they consent to their involvement.