Last reviewed: March 2026
Written by: School of Diversity SEND Support Team
Topic: Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP)
This guide is designed to help parents understand the EHCP process in England and is regularly updated to reflect SEND guidance and procedures.
Section F Wording Examples for EHCPs: What Good Provision Looks Like
Section F of an EHCP describes the special educational provision a child must receive to meet their needs. The wording in this section should be clear, specific, and detailed, explaining what support will be provided, who will deliver it, and how often it will happen. If the wording is vague, it can make it difficult to ensure the support in the Education, Health and Care Plan is delivered.
Key Takeaways
Section F of an EHCP describes the special educational provision a child must receive to meet their needs.
The provision in Section F should be clear, specific, and detailed, explaining what support will be provided.
Strong wording should include who will deliver the support, how often it will happen, and how long it will last.
Vague phrases such as “access to support” or “opportunities for help” should be avoided.
The support written in Section F is legally enforceable, meaning the local authority must ensure it is delivered.
Section F of an EHCP is where the special educational provision your child must receive is written.
This section is extremely important because it is legally enforceable. If the wording is vague or unclear, it becomes very difficult to ensure the support actually happens.
This guide explains what Section F should look like and provides examples of strong and weak wording so parents can recognise the difference.
What is Section F in an EHCP?
Section F sets out the special educational provision required to meet the needs described in Section B.
In simple terms, it answers the question:
What support must the child receive?
This includes:
Teaching support
Specialist input
Therapies related to education
Adjustments needed to access learning
The key requirement is that provision must be specific and quantified.
Why Section F wording matters
Section F is the part of the EHCP that the local authority has a legal duty to deliver.
If the wording is vague, schools and local authorities can interpret it in different ways. This often leads to support being reduced or inconsistently provided.
Clear wording protects the child’s entitlement.
What good Section F wording includes
Strong Section F wording usually includes:
What support is provided
Who provides it
How often it happens
How long it lasts
The type of intervention
This ensures there is no ambiguity.
Examples of Weak vs Strong Section F Wording
Example 1: Teaching assistant support
Weak wording
The child will have access to support from a teaching assistant.
Strong wording
The child will receive 15 hours per week of 1:1 support from a trained teaching assistant to support access to the curriculum and emotional regulation.
Example 2: Literacy support
Weak wording
Additional support will be provided for literacy where appropriate.
Strong wording
The child will receive three 30-minute sessions per week of structured literacy intervention delivered by a trained staff member.
Example 3: Speech and language support
Weak wording
Access to speech and language therapy as required.
Strong wording
The child will receive one 45-minute speech and language therapy session per week delivered by a qualified speech and language therapist, with a programme implemented daily by school staff.
Example 4: Emotional support
Weak wording
Support will be provided for emotional wellbeing.
Strong wording
The child will have a daily 15-minute check-in with a designated member of staff trained in emotional regulation strategies.
Example 5: Sensory support
Weak wording
Opportunities for sensory breaks will be provided.
Strong wording
The child will have a planned sensory break of 10 minutes every hour, supervised by a trained member of staff.
Words and phrases parents should be cautious about
Certain phrases often indicate weak Section F wording.
Examples include:
“Access to”
“Opportunities for”
“As required”
“When appropriate”
“Regular support”
These phrases are not specific enough to guarantee support.
Linking Section B and Section F
Every need listed in Section B should lead to provision in Section F.
For example:
Need (Section B):
Difficulty processing verbal instructions.
Provision (Section F):
Daily visual instructions and 1:1 clarification from a trained staff member.
If a need appears in Section B but no provision appears in Section F, support may not happen.
Can parents ask for changes to Section F wording?
Yes.
Parents can:
Request amendments to vague wording
Ask for provision to be specified
Submit evidence supporting the need for particular support
This can happen during:
Draft EHCP stage
Annual review
Appeals
Clear wording benefits everyone involved.
Section F is about provision, not resources
Section F should focus on what the child needs, not what the school can easily provide.
Provision should be based on:
Need
Evidence
Professional advice
Not availability of staff or funding.
Understanding Section F helps protect your child’s support
Many issues with EHCPs happen because Section F wording is too vague.
Learning to recognise strong wording can make a significant difference in ensuring support is delivered consistently.
At School of Diversity, we aim to help parents understand EHCPs clearly so they can advocate confidently for their children.
Section F Wording – Parent FAQs
What should Section F include in an EHCP?
Section F should clearly describe the special educational provision a child must receive to meet the needs listed in Section B.
Why is Section F legally important?
Section F is legally enforceable, meaning the local authority must ensure the provision written there is delivered.
What wording should be avoided in Section F?
Phrases such as “access to”, “as required”, or “when appropriate” are often too vague and can weaken provision.
Can parents challenge Section F wording?
Yes. Parents can request changes during the draft stage, annual reviews, or through appeal if necessary.
Should every need in Section B have provision in Section F?
Yes. Each need described in Section B should be matched with clear provision in Section F.
Explore more EHCP guidance
Understanding how provision should be written in Section F can help parents ensure that their child’s EHCP clearly describes the support they need. If you would like a broader overview of the process, you can explore our complete EHCP guide for parents, where all of our EHCP resources are brought together in one place. It may also help to read EHCP sections explained (A–K) so you understand how Section F fits within the wider plan. When reviewing your child’s plan, our EHCP checklist for parents can help you check whether the provision is clear and specific. You may also find it useful to look at EHCP examples: good vs bad plans, which show how well-written plans differ from those that may need improvement.