'Detailed and quantified': what the law expects from EHCP provision
The SEND Code of Practice expects EHCP provision to be specified and quantified — type, who delivers it, frequency, duration. What that means for your Section F.
The phrase "detailed and quantified" comes from the SEND Code of Practice, and it is the standard your child's Section F should meet. Quantified means numbers: hours per week, sessions per term, group size, review dates.
What quantified provision looks like
For each item of provision, you should be able to answer:
- What exactly is provided? (not "support" but "direct speech and language therapy")
- Who delivers it? (qualified therapist / trained TA under therapist supervision)
- How often, and for how long? (weekly, 45 minutes, for two terms)
- Individual or group, and group size?
- When is it reviewed?
Common excuses — and honest answers
"We don't specify numbers." The Code expects quantification; resources are decided after needs, not instead of them.
"It depends on the child's needs on the day." Then specify a baseline provision and a review trigger.
"Provision will be decided by the school." Section F is the council's legal responsibility (Children and Families Act 2014, s.42), not a school's discretionary policy.
How to phrase the request
"Please amend Section F so that this provision states the type, who delivers it, how often, for how long, and in what group size."
The checker flags every piece of provision it cannot find a quantity in — usually the highest-value part of a free check.