PawSteps — SEN Guide · Chapter 10: Therapies in an EHCP

Getting the right therapy funded often comes down to where it's written in the EHC Plan. Therapies are generally funded by the Local Authority education budget (Section F) or the NHS / Integrated Care Board (Section G).

⚖️ The key principle: if a therapy helps a child access their education or learning, it should be treated as educational provision and written into Section F — which means the local authority is responsible for funding and arranging it.

⚠️ General information for parents, not legal advice. Reflects the law and guidance for England; how a therapy is classified depends on the individual child. For personalised support, PawSteps is here to help.

1Speech & Language Therapy (SLT)Usually Section F▸

Targets understanding language, expressing language (including communication boards / AAC), and social communication. Because speech and communication are so central to learning, SLT is almost always treated as educational provision in Section F — the LA funds the therapist to work with the child, and to train staff.

2Occupational Therapy (OT) & Sensory IntegrationUsually Section F▸

Targets fine motor skills (handwriting, scissors), gross motor skills (balance, coordination), executive functioning, and sensory processing. If a child can't sit at a desk, hold a pen, or stay in a classroom because of sensory overload, OT is needed to access education — so it belongs in Section F.

3Physiotherapy (PT)F or G▸

Targets mobility, muscle tone and physical access. If it's purely medical rehabilitation it sits in Section G (NHS). If it's needed so the child can take part in PE or move safely around school, it should be written into Section F.

4Psychological & mental-health therapiesOften Section G▸

Neuro-affirming CBT (adapted so it doesn't encourage masking), play therapy and creative-arts therapies. Usually funded under Section G (NHS / CAMHS) where treating a diagnosed condition — but can move into Section F where, for example, school anxiety is causing complete school refusal.

5Animal-assisted & hydrotherapyOften Section J / EOTAS▸

Animal-assisted interventions (therapeutic riding / hippotherapy, equine-assisted learning, therapy dogs) are frequently funded through a Section J personal budget, or written directly into an EOTAS package, as a way to re-engage a young person who has experienced severe school trauma. Hydrotherapy sits in Section G if via an NHS pool, or Section F if part of a special school's curriculum. (See the feature below.)

⚠️ The legal trap: "universal" vs "targeted" vs "specialist"

Local authorities sometimes use vague wording to keep the level (and cost) of support low. Watch for these three tiers:

Universal (low tier): general classroom strategies any teacher uses — e.g. "visual timetables available in class". No extra cost.
Targeted (middle tier): school-led small-group work — e.g. "a school speech group twice a week". Funded from the school's own budget.
Specialist (top tier — usually what you want): individual input from a qualified external professional — e.g. "1 hour of direct 1-to-1 Speech & Language Therapy per week from a qualified therapist". Funded by LA/NHS top-up.

🏆 The golden rule for Section F: make the wording completely specific. Reject vague phrases like "would benefit from regular sensory input" or "as and when required". It should say who delivers it, how often, and for how long.

Animal-assisted therapy & Section F

Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) and Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAI) can be funded through Section F, an EOTAS package, or an Alternative Provision framework. The key is to show the animal interaction isn't just a hobby, but an educational tool the child needs in order to learn.

The educational link: argue that the sessions directly build educational and developmental skills — reducing anxiety so the child is ready to learn, building emotional regulation, improving communication, and developing executive-function skills like sequencing and responsibility through structured animal-care routines.

Example of specific wording (adapt to the child):

"The child will attend 1-to-1 Animal-Assisted Intervention sessions at an approved specialist provider for [X] hours per week, delivered by a certified AAT practitioner, to develop emotional self-regulation and readiness to engage with learning."

Featured provider: Pets on the Green

A specialist SEND animal-assisted therapy provision in Warlingham (on the Surrey–Croydon border), led by qualified SEND specialist and certified AAT practitioner Ciera O'Rourke.

Approved provider working with local council SEND teams (Surrey & Croydon) for commissioned, outcome-focused programmes.
A low-demand bridge for children with school trauma or burnout — re-learning to engage and regulate alongside calm, temperament-assessed animals (including sugar gliders, hedgehogs and reptiles).
A purpose-built sensory den for decompression — starlight ceiling, bubble walls and a vestibular regulation chair.
Trained & safe: practitioners hold animal-care welfare qualifications alongside safeguarding, autism and positive-behaviour training; sessions move at a child-led pace.
Flexible pathways: curriculum-linked learning, structured AAI programmes, and reduced rates for SEND families visiting privately.

Fundable via Section F, an EOTAS package, or a Section J personal budget. Find out more at petsonthegreen.com.