All guides
-
How to appeal an EHCP decision
You can appeal most EHCP decisions to the SEND Tribunal. Here is what you can appeal, the deadlines, and the…
-
EHCP annual reviews: what happens and the deadlines
Your child’s EHCP must be reviewed at least once every 12 months. Here is what happens at an annual review,…
-
How to check your draft EHCP, section by section
You have 15 days to comment on a draft EHCP. This is your best chance to get the plan right.…
-
The EHCP timeline: the 20-week process week by week
From your request to the final plan should take no more than 20 weeks. Here is every legal deadline in…
-
How to apply for an EHCP: a step-by-step guide
You can ask the council to assess your child for an EHCP yourself. You don’t need the school to agree…
-
What is an EHCP? A plain-English guide for parents
An EHCP is a legal document that sets out your child’s special educational needs and the help they must get.…
-
School avoidance (EBSA): reduced timetables, Section 19 and your rights
If your child finds it very hard to go to school because of anxiety or distress, you are not alone…
-
SEND reforms and the 2026 white paper: what could change for EHCPs
The government has proposed big changes to SEND support in England, including new Individual Support Plans. Here is what the…
-
Benefits for a child with an EHCP: what you can claim
An EHCP doesn’t give your family benefits on its own, but many children with an EHCP can get Disability Living…
-
EOTAS: education otherwise than at school with an EHCP
EOTAS means the council arranges your child’s education somewhere other than a school or college. Here is what an EOTAS…
-
What to do if the council wants to stop your child’s EHCP
A council can only stop an EHCP in limited situations, and it must consult you first. The plan stays in…
-
School transport with an EHCP: your child’s rights
An EHCP doesn’t automatically mean free school transport, but many children with SEND are entitled to it. Here is who…
-
What to do if the council won’t issue an EHCP after an assessment
After an assessment, the council can decide not to issue a plan. You can challenge this. Here is the deadline…
-
SEN support or an EHCP: what’s the difference?
Most children with special educational needs get SEN support from their school. An EHCP is a legal plan from the…
-
The SEND Code of Practice explained for parents
The SEND Code of Practice is the rulebook councils, schools and health services in England must follow for special educational…
-
Appealing the school named in an EHCP
If the council names a school you didn’t ask for, or no school at all, you can appeal Section I.…
-
Mediation before an EHCP appeal
Before most EHCP appeals you must contact a mediation adviser. You don’t have to go to mediation. Here is how…
-
The SEND Tribunal explained
The SEND Tribunal is an independent court that hears EHCP appeals. Here is how it works, what happens at a…
-
Changing school with an EHCP (phase transfer)
When your child moves between key stages, the plan must name the new school by a fixed date: 15 February…
-
EHCP personal budgets explained
A personal budget gives you more say over how some of your child’s support is provided. Here is what it…
-
Naming a school in an EHCP: your rights explained
With an EHCP, you can ask for a particular school, and the council must usually name it. Here is how…
-
What to do if the council refuses to assess for an EHCP
A refusal to assess is not the end. You can ask the council to think again, apply again later or…
-
What happens in an EHC needs assessment?
Once the council agrees to assess, it must gather advice from you and from professionals. Here is who is involved,…
-
Private assessments and reports for an EHCP
Do you need a private educational psychologist or therapist report for an EHCP? Usually not to start, but it can…
-
Writing your parent views for an EHCP
Your views are part of the legal evidence for your child’s EHCP. Here is what to write, a simple structure…
-
Can you get an EHCP without a diagnosis?
Yes. The law is about your child’s needs, not a diagnosis. Here is why, and how to make a strong…
-
EHCP criteria: does my child qualify for an assessment?
The legal test for an EHC needs assessment is lower than many councils suggest. Here is what the law actually…
-
EHCP funding and banding explained
Who pays for the support in an EHCP, what banding means, and why a funding band must never limit what…
-
EHCPs for autism, ADHD and dyslexia
Can you get an EHCP for autism, ADHD or dyslexia? Yes, if your child needs more help than the school…
-
Example EHCP: what a good plan looks like
A worked example of a good EHCP for a made-up child, section by section, so you can compare it with…
-
EHCP Section F: what it is and why it must be specific
Section F is the part of an EHCP the council must legally deliver. It should say exactly what support your…
-
The sections of an EHCP, from A to K
Every EHCP has the same sections, from A to K. Here is what each one should say, and the three…
-
What does an EHCP entitle your child to?
An EHCP gives your child legally guaranteed support, the right to name a school and the right to appeal. Here…
-
What to do if the council misses an EHCP deadline
Councils in England must follow legal deadlines for EHCPs. If the council misses one, you can do something about it.…