EHCP Application
& Appeal Support
Specialist Support for EHCP Appeals: Independent Evidence to Strengthen Your Case
Imagine navigating a maze without a map, that’s often how the EHCP process can feel for families. From the first EHCP request to reviewing a draft plan or challenging a refusal at tribunal, every stage can be emotionally draining, time-consuming, and full of complex terminology.
At Nellie Supports, we’re here to change that. We guide you through the entire Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) journey, from initial application and EHCP draft review, to mediation, SENDIST appeal, and final tribunal hearing. Whether you’re just beginning the process, reviewing your EHCP draft within the 15-day window, or challenging an inadequate plan, we make sure your child’s needs are clearly understood, evidenced, and properly supported.
Our Services
From Application to Tribunal — You’re Not Alone
Navigating the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) process can feel like an uphill battle — full of deadlines, complex language, and difficult decisions. At Nellie Supports, we believe no family should have to go through it alone. From the moment you receive a draft EHCP to preparing evidence for tribunal, our team of experienced social workers and SEND specialists are by your side. We offer step-by-step services designed to give you clarity, confidence, and the strongest possible case for your child. Whether you are requesting an assessment, challenging a refusal with a SEND35A appeal, or preparing for tribunal, we provide the independent evidence and professional support you need to move forward with reassurance.
EHCP Draft Review
Receiving a draft EHCP can be both a relief and a frustration. You have just 15 days to respond, making it vital that the plan is accurate, lawful, and reflects your child’s needs.
At Nellie Supports, we provide expert-led EHCP Draft Reviews to give you clarity and confidence in this critical stage.
Our service includes:
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Line-by-line review: Checking all sections (A–K) for missing detail, unlawful wording, or gaps in education, health, and social care input.
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Professional response letter: Clear amendments and evidence-based recommendations aligned with the SEND Code of Practice.
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Child-centred approach: Advocacy from qualified social workers who ensure your child’s strengths and support needs are at the heart of the plan.
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Fast turnaround: Delivered within 5 working days with direct communication throughout.
This review can shape the final EHCP and gives you the strongest possible foundation to secure the right support for your child.
EHCP Application Support
Applying for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re unsure what to include or how to evidence your child’s needs. At Nellie Supports, we make the process clear and manageable from the very start.
Our support includes:
Consultation: Friendly phone or video call to understand your child’s strengths and challenges.
Evidence gathering: Collecting key health, education, and social care information to build a full picture.
Professional application: Drafted in the language local authorities expect, meeting all statutory requirements.
Social care focus: Ensuring needs are properly represented alongside education and health.
Submission guidance: We advise on submitting your request or can handle it for you.
With an accurate, detailed application grounded in professional evidence, we give your EHCP request the best chance of success first time.
SEND 35A Completion
If your local authority refuses to carry out an EHCP needs assessment, the next step is a SEND35A appeal. At Nellie Supports, we prepare and complete the SEND35A form with clear, professional evidence to give your appeal the best chance of success.
Our support includes:
Refusal review: Assessing the local authority’s decision against the SEND Code of Practice.
Evidence preparation: Desktop or comprehensive social care assessments to strengthen your case.
SEND35A form completion: Professionally drafted to meet tribunal requirements.
Guidance throughout: Clear advice on timelines, expectations, and next steps.
Optional extra: A formal complaint letter to the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman if needed.
With our expertise, families can confidently challenge refusals and secure the right to a full EHCP assessment.
Mediation Support
When a local authority refuses an EHCP, issues an inadequate plan, or fails to make changes, mediation offers a vital chance to resolve disputes without going straight to tribunal. At Nellie Supports, we ensure you are fully prepared and supported throughout.
Our support includes:
Assessment review: Desktop or in-person social care assessments to understand your child’s needs.
Gap analysis: Identifying vague wording, missed needs, or inadequate provision.
Mediation pack: Evidence-backed summary to present your case clearly and professionally.
Expert attendance: Virtual or in-person advocacy to guide you through the meeting.
With our expertise, mediation becomes a powerful tool to secure the changes your child needs with confidence and clarity.
SEND 35 Completion
Starting an EHCP appeal often begins with submitting the SEND35 form. At Nellie Supports, we complete this on your behalf, ensuring your appeal is clear, accurate, and submitted correctly.
Our support includes:
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Form drafting: Completing the SEND35 with precise details of the sections being appealed.
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Professional presentation: Ensuring the form is clear, compliant, and tribunal-ready.
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Submission guidance: Advice on lodging the form or handling submission for you.
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Optional extra: Add a One-Stop Evidence Pack for stronger backing, including child profile, social care assessment, and care plan.
With our support, you can be confident that your SEND35 appeal starts on the strongest footing.
EHCP Appeal Support
If your child’s EHCP still doesn’t meet their needs, an appeal may be the next step. At Nellie Supports, we guide you through the process with clear evidence and professional advocacy.
Our support includes:
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SEND35 form preparation: Completed on your behalf, outlining which sections (B, F, or I) are being challenged.
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Comprehensive EHCP assessment: Child profile, social care needs assessment, and personalised care plan (with court report if required).
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Comparative review: Identifying gaps, misrepresentations, or missed obligations in the current EHCP.
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Appeal representation: Ongoing advice, written submissions, or in-person support to ensure your case is strong and structured.
Appealing an EHCP can feel daunting, but with expert social workers and SEND professionals by your side, you’ll have the guidance and evidence needed to secure the right outcome.
EHCP Tribunal Support
If your appeal reaches tribunal, the process can feel intimidating. At Nellie Supports, we provide expert-led support to make your case clear, persuasive, and fully evidenced.
Our support includes:
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Tribunal-ready documents: SEND35 form, updated assessments, and supporting reports prepared to statutory standards.
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Professional advocacy: Representation in person or remotely, speaking confidently on your behalf.
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Updated assessments: Revising EHCP reviews or reports to reflect the most current evidence.
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Guidance & reassurance: Explaining each step so you feel supported throughout.
With legal awareness, strong evidence, and compassionate advocacy, we help you approach tribunal with confidence and the best chance of success.
From Application to Tribunal — You’re Not Alone
Choosing the Right EHCP Assessment: Desktop vs. Comprehensive
Tailored Support to Suit Your Family’s Needs
At Nellie Supports, we understand that every family’s situation is unique, and so are their needs when it comes to Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) assessments. That’s why we offer two distinct options: our Desktop EHCP Assessment and our Comprehensive EHCP Assessment.
Both options are designed to help ensure your child’s needs are accurately represented, whether you're applying for an EHCP, preparing for mediation, or appealing a decision. The key difference lies in how we gather the information.
Our Desktop Assessment is a popular choice for many families. It’s flexible, fast, and highly effective, completed remotely using documentation you provide, alongside an optional phone or video consultation. This option is ideal if you already have reports or assessments and need professional input to identify gaps, strengthen your case, or prepare for mediation or tribunal.
For more complex cases or where additional evidence is required, we also offer a Comprehensive (In-Person) Assessment. This includes a face-to-face visit, full observation of your child, and a detailed social care assessment, ideal for families needing robust, court-ready evidence or those without existing support documentation.
Our aim is to provide accessible, high-quality assessments that work for your family, whether that’s through our efficient desktop approach or a more detailed in-person review.
Use the table below to help decide which assessment best suits your needs, or contact our team for guidance, we’re always happy to help.
Professional EHCP Reports and Evidence in One Place
Our One-Stop Evidence Pack brings everything together in one clear, professional bundle. It includes a full child profile, social care assessment, tailored care plan, and an EHCP comparison (where applicable). This pack is required for families accessing support with mediation, appeals, or tribunal, ensuring your case is backed by strong, well-structured evidence that meets statutory and legal expectations.
It's a one-off fee, and once completed, it can be used throughout the EHCP process to strengthen your position at every stage.
Take a Look at Our Special Deals
What’s Included | Desktop / Virtual Evidence Pack | Face to Face Evidence Pack |
|---|---|---|
Best for | Most families – suitable for EHCP requests, reviews, and appeals | Complex cases or when in-person observation is required |
Social care needs assessed | ✔ Yes – through your documents and consultation | ✔ Yes – through in-person assessment and discussion |
How it’s done | Remotely – using your documents and a phone or video call | In-person or extended video assessment with your child |
EHCP comparison included | ✔ Yes – we identify gaps, vague wording, or missed needs | ✔ Yes – enhanced with direct evidence |
When to choose this | Almost always suitable – especially if you have some documentation | Choose when direct observation is essential or no reports exist |
Care plan provided | Optional add-on if needed | ✔ Yes – tailored and detailed |
Provider Profile | ✔ When Needed – we can create a detailed profile of an education provider | ✔ When Needed – available if relevant to your appeal or tribunal |
Provider Comparison | ✔ When Needed – compare two settings where there is a disagreement | ✔ When Needed – includes direct observations if required |
Child profile created | ✔ Yes – based on the information you provide | ✔ Yes – expanded with in-person insights |
What we review | Your child’s EHCP, reports, and other key documents | Everything in the desktop, plus live observation and extra detail |
Our Prices
One-Step Evidence Pack
Desktop £1900
Face to Face £2600
EHCP Draft Review
£290
Application Support
£290
Mediation Support
£600
Appeal Support
£600
Tribunal Support
£600
Important Information About Pricing
All prices shown are exclusive of VAT and travel, a full perosnalised quote will be provided.
Please note:
Support for Mediation, Appeal, or Tribunal requires a One-Stop Evidence Pack, charged as a one-off fee. This ensures your case is backed by a complete, professionally prepared set of documentation.
Supporting Ethan Through the EHCP Journey
Ethan is a bright and imaginative eight-year-old with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and sensory processing challenges.
His parents, Lisa and Tom, had long struggled to secure consistent support in school and were unsure how to begin the EHCP process. After their initial request for an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment was refused by the local authority, they were left feeling overwhelmed, unheard, and uncertain about their next steps. How Nellie Supports Helped: Lisa contacted Nellie Supports after seeing a post online about SEND35A appeals.
From the first call, she felt reassured. Our team began with a Desktop EHCP Assessment, reviewing Ethan’s school reports, existing medical assessments, and parental input.
From this, we created a detailed child profile, highlighting the gaps in the original request. ✔ We prepared and submitted the SEND35A appeal on the family’s behalf, ensuring it was professionally written and fully evidence-based. ✔ The local authority agreed to assess, but later issued a draft EHCP that still failed to reflect Ethan’s sensory or social communication needs.
Our team carried out a Comparative EHCP Review, demonstrating where the draft plan was lacking. We supported the family through mediation, attending virtually to present the social care and educational concerns clearly and constructively. When changes still weren’t made, Lisa and Tom decided to proceed to tribunal. Nellie Supports provided a court-compliant social care assessment, a personalised care plan, and full tribunal representation.
The Outcome: Following the tribunal, the EHCP was significantly amended. Ethan now receives one-to-one classroom support, access to a quiet room, sensory integration therapy, and social skills intervention.
Lisa shared: “We felt like we were drowning in paperwork and legal jargon. Nellie Supports not only guided us, they stood beside us. I truly believe Ethan wouldn’t have the support he does now without them.”
Why Choose Nellie Supports?
Choosing the right professionals to assess mental capacity is vital. At Nellie Supports, we combine expertise, empathy, and efficiency to make the process as smooth as possible. Our multidisciplinary team includes registered social workers, nurses, and specialists who bring decades of combined experience in capacity law and practice. Every assessment is conducted with compassion and clarity, always tailored to the person’s unique circumstances.
Experience peace of mind with our comprehensive social work services at Nellie Supports. Our team of registered and experienced professionals is dedicated to providing exceptional care and support. From mental capacity assessments to a wide range of social work services—such as EHCP appeals, life expectancy reports, and ongoing consultancy—our experts ensure accurate evaluations, personalised guidance, and the highest standards of practice.
We understand how important these decisions are, whether you’re planning for the future or responding to urgent legal requirements. That’s why our reports are consistently prepared to the highest standards, fully compliant with the Mental Capacity Act 2005, and accepted by courts and solicitors across England and Wales.
With a 4.9-star rating from clients nationwide, prompt response times, and a commitment to clear communication at every step, Nellie Supports is trusted by families, deputies, and professionals alike.
