Unit 2: Defining aspirations, needs, outcomes and provision

There can often be some confusion between some of these key terms; for example, whilst ‘aspirations’ is fairly self-explanatory, ‘needs’ could initially appear to be referring to what a child/young person requires or needs to have in place, or what they need to be able to improve on (although neither of which are what is meant by 'needs' in this context).

The below table sets out definitions for each of the four key terms, as well as where in an EHCP you would expect to see these and some more sample wording about a child matched up to each term: