Draft EHCP quality checklist
A good draft EHCP describes the individual accurately and turns assessed needs into clear provision. Check completeness, specificity, consistency and evidence. The aim is a plan that families and providers can understand and implement, with each important change supported by a reason.
Practical guidance for families in England
Check the person and the needs
Are the child or young person’s views and communication preferences represented? Are strengths included alongside difficulties? Does B explain all special educational needs in functional terms? Check facts, dates, diagnoses where relevant and needs that are less visible because support is working.
Guidance checked on 15 September 2026. Keep the decision letter, relevant plan or request, and the dates that apply to your case.
Check the provision
For each B need, find the relevant F provision. Ask what is delivered, by whom, with what expertise, how often, for how long and in which setting or group size where relevant. Check direct and indirect professional input. Provision should be detailed and specific and should normally be quantified.
Check consistency across the plan
Do outcomes in E connect to needs and provision? Do C and D lead to appropriate G, H1 or H2 content? Is provision that educates or trains placed in F? Is the evidence in K current and complete? Is I blank at draft stage? Look for contradictions between sections rather than reviewing each in isolation.
Use a four-part checklist
Completeness: what is missing? Specificity: what would a provider still have to guess? Evidence: what supports the wording? Responsibility: who must arrange or deliver it? Mark each concern with a document and page where possible. Keep professional disagreements distinct from obvious factual errors.
Turn the checklist into a response
Prioritise errors that affect provision, placement or the legal route. Write the proposed change and its basis. Send your representations within the period provided, which must be at least 15 days, and retain the schedule. Check the final plan against it and review appeal rights promptly.
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 false signs of quality
A long plan is not necessarily a useful plan. Repeated diagnosis descriptions, general aspirations and lists of possible strategies can obscure the actual provision. Equally, brevity is not a reason to omit a material need. The appropriate detail is the detail required for this individual.
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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.
How Little Nellie’s can help
Little Nellie’s offers EHCP advocacy, document review, evidence organisation and independent social-work input. Agree the task, deliverable, deadline and fee before instructing. The related service and pricing pages explain the available support.
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.
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.
Discuss the support you need
Send the relevant decision, plan or request and any deadline when enquiring. Ask which service addresses your specific issue and request a clear scope and quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “access to” always unlawful wording?
Assess the whole specification. The concern is whether required provision is clear and specific, rather than whether a particular phrase appears in isolation.
Does more detail always make a better EHCP?
No. Detail should clarify the individual needs, required provision and responsibilities. Repetition or unsupported specifications do not improve the plan.
Should I use another child’s plan as a template?
It may suggest questions to ask, but the needs and provision must follow your child’s evidence. Do not copy support amounts or professional conclusions without a basis.
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 send when asking Little Nellie’s for help?
Send the relevant request, decision letter or plan, the key evidence and any deadline. Explain the specific task you need help with so the scope and fee can be agreed.
Does this guide apply outside England?
This guide concerns the EHCP framework in England. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have different education and support systems; check guidance for the relevant jurisdiction.