EHCP and SEND support for families in England
When support is missing or an EHCP does not reflect your child's needs, it helps to know what to do next. We review the evidence, prepare the documents and support you through the stage…
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The EHCP process: a complete guide for parents
An Education, Health and Care plan records a child or young person’s special educational needs and the provision required to meet them. In England, the route usually runs from a needs-assessment request to a decision, a draft plan and, where necessary, an appeal. Start with the stage your family has reached.
An Education, Health and Care plan records a child or young person’s special educational needs and the provision required to meet them. In England, the route usually runs from a needs-assessment request to a decision, a draft plan and, where necessary, an appeal. Start with the stage your family has reached.
Guidance checked on 15 September 2026. Keep the decision letter, relevant plan or request, and the dates that apply to your case.
Choose your starting point
If there is no plan, gather evidence of needs, support tried and progress, then consider an EHC needs-assessment request. If you have a draft, check the needs and provision together before responding. If you have a final decision, read the appeal rights and dates immediately. An annual review is the route for reviewing an existing plan; it does not automatically amend it.
Know the main milestones
The local authority normally has six weeks from receiving the request to decide whether to assess. If it assesses but refuses to issue a plan, it must normally notify that decision by week 16 from the request. A final plan is normally due by week 20. Specified legal exceptions apply. At draft stage, you must have at least 15 days to make representations, request a particular placement and require a meeting with an authority officer.
Make the plan work as one document
Section B identifies special educational needs. Section F specifies the special educational provision for each need. Section I names the placement or type of placement. Check that evidence in Section K supports the wording. Health and social-care needs and provision have their own sections, but provision that educates or trains belongs in F even if a health or social-care professional delivers it.
Keep a useful family record
Keep the request and proof of receipt, all decision letters, reports, draft versions and review papers in date order. Use a short log with date, difficulty, support, frequency and effect on learning or daily life. Include the child’s views in their preferred communication format and record what helps, as well as what is difficult.
Your next useful action
Write down your current stage, the date the relevant request or decision was received, the next deadline and the exact issue to resolve. For example: “Draft received on 4 September; respond within the period stated, which must be at least 15 days; ask for weekly direct language provision to be specified in F.” This turns a large process into a manageable next step.
Check the documents for this stage
Keep the relevant request, decision notice or plan together with the evidence referred to above. Record the source of each proposed change and the date on which the next action is due. If two accounts differ, explain the difference and seek clarification rather than omitting one account.
Avoid the common process traps
A diagnosis is neither a guarantee of a plan nor a prerequisite for requesting assessment. There is no universal requirement to buy a private report or complete a fixed number of school support cycles first. The 2026 SEND consultation describes proposed reforms; use the current statutory assessment, plan and appeal rules for a live case. Do not wait for a complaint or new report before checking an appeal deadline.
Before you take the next step
You should be able to identify the issue, the outcome or information you need, the evidence supporting it and the person responsible for the next action. Keep a copy of what you send and any acknowledgement. The related guides below cover the stages that may follow.
Free information and additional support
Choose help for the question you need answered
Your local SENDIASS offers free information, advice and support. IPSEA also publishes SEND guidance. If a deadline, evidence gap or disputed decision remains unclear, identify the specific question before commissioning paid help. Seek prompt specialist legal advice where an urgent legal remedy may be needed.
When additional advice may help
Before seeking additional help, write down the decision or wording in dispute, the evidence already available and the deadline. Ask whether you need an explanation of the process, help presenting your evidence, a professional assessment or legal advice. Agree the task and any fee before commissioning work.
Little Nellie’s is not a law firm. Its services do not replace the local authority’s statutory duties or guarantee a plan, placement or tribunal outcome. Legal work outside the agreed service scope may require a specialist solicitor.
Related guides and support
Choose the guide for your next question or stage.
The EHC needs-assessment process
EHCP timeline: the 6, 16 and 20-week deadlines
How to respond to a draft EHCP
EHCP appeals: a guide to your options
EHCP annual reviews: meetings, decisions and amendments
Official sources and EHCP services
Official sources: Children and Families Act 2014 — https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/6/contents
SEND Code of Practice — https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-code-of-practice-0-to-25
SEND appeal guidance — https://www.gov.uk/appeal-ehc-plan-decision
Free SEND guidance — https://www.ipsea.org.uk/
The service links below describe Nellie’s paid support. Check current official instructions when filing an appeal.
Frequently asked questions
Does every child with SEND need an EHCP?
No. Many children receive appropriate SEN support without a plan. The statutory assessment and plan tests concern the individual’s needs and whether provision through an EHC plan may be, or is, necessary.
Can I request an assessment myself?
A parent can request an assessment for a child. Once compulsory school age ends, the request and appeal rights normally belong to the young person, who can have support to exercise them. A person acting for a school or post-16 institution can also request assessment. Keep proof of the authority’s receipt. Where the young person lacks capacity for a relevant decision, specific representation rules apply.
Can I challenge the contents of a final plan?
Yes, appeal rights include specified educational parts such as B, F and I. The decision letter should explain the available rights, mediation information and deadline.
Where can I find free SEND information?
Your local SENDIASS provides free information, advice and support. IPSEA publishes guidance on the SEND system. Use the direct links in the sources section and check any service’s current availability.
What should I prepare before seeking advice?
Prepare the relevant request, decision letter or plan, a short list of the issues, the key evidence and any deadline. State the question you need answered and the action you have already taken. Ask how documents should be shared before sending sensitive records.
Does this guide apply outside England?
This guide concerns EHCPs in England. Wales uses the additional learning needs (ALN) system and individual development plans (IDPs); use Welsh Government guidance for that process. Scotland and Northern Ireland also have separate systems.
Record the next action and who will take it
Record the next task, the person responsible, the deadline and the document confirming it. Keep a copy of anything sent and any acknowledgement. If an agreed action does not happen, use that record to explain what is missing and ask for a dated response.
Last reviewed: 2026-09-15T00:00:00Z