Welcome to Little Nellie’s EHCP & SEND Advocacy
Evidence-Led EHCP Support From Application to Tribunal
The Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) process can feel like a moving target: tight deadlines, shifting expectations, and paperwork that often overwhelms families before real progress is made.
Little Nellie’s is the EHCP and SEND advocacy division of Nellie Supports, an independent social work practice supporting families and professionals across England and Wales. Whether you are requesting an assessment, reviewing a draft EHCP that does not reflect your child’s needs, or preparing for mediation or a SEND Tribunal appeal, the same principle applies: decisions are made on the strength of the evidence and the clarity of what is being asked for.
Little Nellie’s provides structured, professional EHCP support across England and Wales - from the first request for an EHC needs assessment through to tribunal preparation. We help families present their child’s needs clearly, link those needs to specific provision, and build evidence that is difficult for a Local Authority to ignore.
Our work is delivered by a multidisciplinary SEND team including SEN caseworkers and SEND professionals, with qualified social work expertise involved where social care duties, wider functioning or integrated care planning need to be evidenced.
Where Are You in the Process?
Families approach us at different stages of the statutory EHCP process. Whether you are applying for the first time or preparing for tribunal, we provide structured support aligned with the legal framework.
Evidence Services That Strengthen Your Case
In addition to stage specific support, we offer structured evidence services that help families build stronger cases throughout the EHCP process.
One-Stop Evidence Pack
The One-Stop Evidence Pack is a multidisciplinary dossier designed to bring together education, health and social care evidence into a coherent case.
Rather than submitting fragmented reports and documents, the evidence pack organises material into a clear and structured position that supports mediation discussions or tribunal proceedings.
This service can be used at multiple stages of the EHCP process, particularly when preparing for mediation or tribunal.
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This Is Not Generic SEND Support
Little Nellies operates as the specialist SEND division of the Nellie Supports social work practice.
Our team includes:
• registered social workers
• postgraduate SEND practitioners
• EHCP caseworkers with direct SEN experience
• psychology graduates and multidisciplinary professionals
We do not simply complete forms or provide informal advice.
We construct structured EHCP cases.
In practice this means:
Section B needs are analysed for clarity and evidential weight.
Section F provision is rewritten for precision, enforceability, and statutory compliance.
Reports and supporting documentation are aligned to the SEND Code of Practice.
Evidence is integrated into a coherent position that can withstand tribunal scrutiny.
The goal is always the same.
One coherent case.
One defensible legal position.
Our EHCP & SEND Services
Each service is designed to support a specific stage of the statutory process.
Our work is structured, fixed fee, and aligned with the legal framework governing Education Health and Care Plans.
Families typically approach us when they need help with:
• Submitting a strong EHCP assessment request
• Challenging a refusal to assess
• Challenging a refusal to issue a plan
• Strengthening a weak draft EHCP
• Preparing for mediation
• Preparing tribunal appeals
• Organising evidence into a coherent case
Rather than offering generic advice, we focus on building structured submissions that reflect statutory duties and evidential thresholds.
How Our Support Works
Families often arrive overwhelmed by paperwork, conflicting advice, and unclear next steps.
Our role is to bring structure and clarity to the process.
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1. Free 15 Minute Call
We begin with a short conversation to understand your situation and identify the stage of the EHCP process you are currently in.
This call allows us to clarify your immediate concerns, explain how the process works, and identify whether you are dealing with an application, draft plan, refusal, mediation or appeal stage.
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2. Tailored Plan
Once we understand your situation, we recommend the most appropriate service based on your child’s needs and the stage of the EHCP process.
This may involve reviewing existing documents, identifying evidence gaps, or planning the next statutory step such as responding to a draft plan or preparing an appeal.
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3. Structured Advocacy
We organise evidence, strengthen wording, and ensure your case aligns with statutory duties under the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice.
Our role is to ensure the case is presented clearly, consistently, and in a way that reflects the legal framework governing EHCP decisions.
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4. Ongoing Support
Where needed, we remain involved through mediation preparation, appeal drafting, and tribunal readiness.
For some families this means guidance at key stages. For others it means ongoing case support to ensure agreed actions are followed through and the process remains on track.
Unsure Where to Begin?
If you are within a draft review or appeal window, begin with a Strategic Case Review.
We will assess your position and advise the correct structured pathway.
Book a Strategic Case Review.
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Frequently Asked Questions
An Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is a legally binding document that sets out a child or young person’s special educational needs and the support required to meet those needs. It is issued by a Local Authority following an Education, Health and Care needs assessment.
A parent, young person, school, or professional can request an Education, Health and Care needs assessment from the Local Authority. The request should explain the child’s needs and include supporting evidence from professionals where possible.
If the Local Authority refuses to carry out an assessment, parents have the right to appeal the decision to the SEND Tribunal. This is usually done using the SEND35A appeal form after mediation requirements have been considered.
If the Local Authority assesses your child but decides not to issue a plan, you can appeal the decision to the SEND Tribunal using the SEND35 appeal process.
After an EHCP is drafted, parents normally have 15 calendar days to review the plan and request changes. This stage is important because the wording of Section B (needs) and Section F (provision) determines what support the child will receive.
Yes. We support families with tribunal preparation, including reviewing evidence, drafting submissions, preparing working documents and representing families where appropriate.
Our Evidence Pack is a structured dossier that organises education, health and social care documentation into a clear evidence bundle designed to support mediation or tribunal proceedings.
Yes. Little Nellies provides EHCP advocacy and SEND support for families across England.
Much of the EHCP process can be managed remotely, allowing us to assist families regardless of location. Where needed, support can include document review, case preparation, mediation preparation and tribunal support.
Our work is aligned with the Children and Families Act 2014, the SEND Regulations 2014, and the SEND Code of Practice, which govern the EHCP system in England.
Professional Standards and Expertise
Little Nellies is the specialist SEND and EHCP advocacy division of the Nellie Supports social work practice.
Little Nellies Ltd operates as a subsidiary of Nellie Supports Ltd, allowing families to access dedicated SEND expertise while benefiting from the wider multidisciplinary knowledge of the Nellie Supports practice.
Nellie Supports is an independent social work practice working across England and Wales, providing expert services across mental capacity assessments, care funding disputes, EHCP advocacy and complex social care matters.
Our EHCP work is delivered by professionals who understand both the statutory SEND framework and the practical realities families face when navigating Local Authority processes.
Our team includes:
• Social Work England registered social workers
• Social Care Wales registered social workers
• members of the British Association of Social Workers
• SEND practitioners with postgraduate qualifications
• multidisciplinary professionals with experience across education, health and social care
This combined expertise allows us to approach EHCP cases with both statutory precision and practical advocacy experience, ensuring submissions are structured, evidence based and professionally presented.
Talk to us today
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