Private EHCP Assessments: Strengthening Your Child’s SEND Support Case

Navigating the process of securing SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) support can feel overwhelming. When you believe your child needs more or different help than what’s currently provided, it’s important to back up your case with solid evidence. One powerful way to do this is by using private ehcp assessments or independent reports. They help to gather in-depth, impartial evidence that can support your position and challenge a local authority’s decisions when necessary.

When applying or appealing your child or young person's Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), local authorities often rely on their own assessments. This may be limited, outdated, or fail to capture all of your child’s needs. By contrast, a private EHCP assessment from an independent expert provides a fresh, detailed look at your child’s requirements. In fact, the SEND Code of Practice (2015) confirms there is no legal basis for an authority to ignore a professional assessment or report simply because it was privately obtained. If you submit a credible independent report, the SEND Tribunal (which hears EHCP appeals) is obliged to consider it alongside all other evidence.

Private assessments can:

-    Offer an up-to-date, detailed picture of your child’s needs.

-    Identify support requirements not included in the current EHCP.

-   Provide expert, unbiased analysis often delving deeper than the brief summaries in many local authority reports.

-     Highlight discrepancies or under-assessments by the local authority.

-   Whether you’re seeking a different school placement, additional therapies, or more social care, an independent report supplies evidence to justify those requests.

Independent specialists (such as private SENCO professionals, educational psychologists or social workers) can work closely with your child to evaluate their needs in detail. By gathering thorough, up-to-date evidence from outside the local authority, you essentially strengthen your case with credible expert support. This added weight can tip the balance in your favour when it comes to convincing a tribunal or the local authority of what your child truly needs.

Independent EHCP Appeal Support: How Nellie Supports Can Help

At Nellie Supports, we go beyond standard assessments. Our team provides tailored, private reports designed to give you robust evidence for an EHCP application or appeal. We understand the SEND system and what tribunal panels expect to see. Our independent SEND support services include:

Social Care Needs Assessment: A holistic review of your child’s social care needs, covering personal care, mobility, emotional wellbeing, family impact, and more. This identifies gaps in current support and justifies additional care provision or placement changes.

Care Plan: We produce a clear, evidence-based care plan detailing the type, frequency, and delivery of care your child needs to thrive both in and out of school. This is vital for EHCP Sections H1 and H2, ensuring the required support is properly documented.

Brokerage Report: An outline of how to deliver the support identified. We provide practical details on how services or resources could be arranged, including costings and logistics. This report is especially useful if you’re arguing for a personal budget or proposing an alternative placement – it shows exactly what the plan will entail and how much it will cost.

Child Profile Report: A rich, person-centered profile of your child’s strengths, needs, preferences, and daily life. By using interviews, observations, and input from multiple professionals, we paint a complete picture of your child. This helps make the case more child-centered and ensures any proposed support is truly tailored to your child’s unique profile.

Court-Compliant Report: In cases that may go to tribunal or court, we can produce a report that meets family court standards (sometimes referred to as a court report). This formal document lends additional authority to your evidence by adhering to established legal formats and standards, which can be invaluable in complex or contested cases.

Comparative Analysis (Our Report vs. LA’s EHCP): We meticulously compare our private assessment findings with the local authority’s existing EHCP for your child. Any discrepancies, unmet needs, or inaccuracies in the EHCP are identified and explained. This side-by-side analysis makes it clear where the current plan falls short and what changes are necessary.

Placement Comparison (Provision Analysis): If you’re disputing the school or setting named in the EHCP (Section I), we provide an expert comparison between the local authority’s proposed placement and your preferred option. We analyse factors like facilities, staff expertise, peer group, therapeutic input, and long-term outcomes. This evidence helps demonstrate which placement is the better fit for your child’s needs and why.

Why High-Quality Independent Evidence Matters

Appeal and tribunal panels give significant weight to objective, solid evidence. Here’s why our independent reports make such a difference in EHCP appeals:

• Credibility: Our reports are written by experienced SENCO experts, social workers and other qualified professionals. Their professional credibility adds weight to your case.

• Structure and Compliance: We format our assessments and recommendations to align with tribunal expectations and legal requirements. For example, our reports follow the structure outlined in the SEND Regulations 2014 and are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound). This means every recommendation is clear and actionable, leaving little room for dispute about what support is needed.

• All Appeal Scenarios Covered: Whether you’re appealing the content of Sections B, F, or I of an EHCP (which correspond to your child’s needs, the provision to meet those needs, and the placement/school, respectively) or challenging a refusal to assess, we tailor our evidence to support your case. Strong independent reports can even encourage a resolution before the hearing, but if not, you will be well-prepared to make a compelling argument to the tribunal.

Ultimately, your child deserves the right support to reach their full potential. If the local authority’s EHCP isn’t delivering that, private independent reports are often the key to unlocking more appropriate provisions. Judges and panel members appreciate seeing that parents have taken the initiative to gather expert evidence; it shows your case is grounded in facts, not just opinions or emotions.

Remember: You know your child best. With the right evidence and support, you can build a strong case for the help they need. Don’t settle for an inadequate plan. With comprehensive independent SEND reports and guidance, you can ensure your child’s needs are recognized and met setting them up to thrive in their education and beyond.