The EHC needs assessment and EHCP process is one of the most demanding things a family can navigate. It runs to statutory timescales, involves multiple agencies, and produces documents that will shape your child’s education for years. Most families do it without any specialist support. They do not have to.
We work alongside families through the full EHCP journey, from the initial decision to request an assessment through to receiving and challenging the final plan. We know what the process requires at each stage, what good looks like, and where things most commonly go wrong.
Deciding whether to request an assessment
Before anything else, you need to know whether an EHCP is the right step. Not every child who needs support needs an EHCP, and applying at the wrong time or without the right evidence can set things back. We help you assess your child’s situation honestly and decide whether to proceed.
If you are not sure whether to apply, our EHCP Readiness and Reality-Check consultation is the right starting point.
Writing the request
The request letter to the local authority is the first formal step. It does not need to be written by a lawyer but it does need to be clear, specific, and grounded in what the evidence shows. We write or co-write the request with you, making sure it reflects your child’s needs accurately and gives the assessment the best possible foundation.
The 20-week statutory process
Once a request is submitted the local authority has a statutory timeline to follow. They must decide within six weeks whether to proceed with an assessment. If they agree, the assessment involves reports from education, health, and social care. A draft EHCP must be issued within 16 weeks of the original request, and the final plan within 20 weeks.
We stay alongside you throughout. We help you understand what is happening at each stage, what the local authority is required to do, and what to do if timescales are missed or the process stalls.
Your parental contribution
The assessment includes an invitation to provide your own account of your child’s needs. This is one of the most important parts of the process and one of the most commonly underused. We help you write a parental contribution that is detailed, child-centred, and genuinely useful to the professionals reading it.
Reviewing the draft EHCP
When the draft plan arrives it may not reflect everything the assessment found. Section B may be vague. Section F may be unenforceable. Provision may be described in ways that are too broad to hold anyone to account. We review the draft with you, identify what is missing or inadequate, and help you respond formally before the plan is finalised.
When the final plan is not good enough
If the final EHCP does not reflect your child’s needs, or if the local authority refuses to assess at all, you have the right to appeal to the SEND Tribunal. We support families through that process too, from mediation preparation through to full representation at the hearing.
That support is described in more detail on our wider services page, here.
What working with us looks like
Every family’s situation is different. Some families come to us at the very beginning and want support through the whole process. Others come to us at a specific point, when a draft has arrived or a decision has been refused, and need focused help with that stage alone.
We agree the scope of support before we begin and price it accordingly. There are no fixed packages. The support fits the situation.
Not sure whether an EHCP is the right step? Our EHCP Readiness and Reality-Check consultation is a good place to start.
Need a different kind of support? Find out about the other ways we can work alongside you.
The free 20-minute call is the right starting point. We will talk through where you are and what you need, and give you a clear picture of how we can help.