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One-Stop EHCP Evidence Pack
One Evidence Pack for the Entire EHCP Journey
- From EHCP Application to SEND Tribunal
Families often have reports from schools, therapists, clinicians and education professionals. Each document may contain important information, but the evidence is rarely organised in a way that clearly explains the child’s needs and the provision required to support them.
Important recommendations may sit in different reports. Evidence may overlap or even appear inconsistent.
When cases reach mediation or the SEND Tribunal, decision-makers must work through large volumes of paperwork to understand the child’s needs.
The One-Stop EHCP Evidence Pack brings everything together into a single structured evidence bundle designed to support the entire EHCP journey.
Why Evidence Matters in EHCP Appeals and SEND Tribunal Cases
EHCP decisions are not made on frustration or opinion.
They are made on evidence.
When cases reach mediation or the SEND Tribunal, the panel typically focuses on three questions:
• What are the child’s needs?
• What provision is required to meet those needs?
• What evidence supports that provision?
Local authorities often examine the available evidence closely.
Professional reports may contradict each other.
Therapy recommendations may be buried within long assessments.
Social care needs may not be clearly evidenced.
When evidence is fragmented, even strong cases can become difficult for decision-makers to understand.
The EHCP Evidence Pack removes this problem by organising the evidence into a clear, structured case file that explains the child’s needs and the provision required to support them.
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One Evidence Pack for the Entire EHCP Journey
Many families find themselves commissioning new reports every time the EHCP process progresses.
A report for the application stage.
Another for mediation.
Further reports for tribunal preparation.
This can quickly become costly and repetitive.
The One-Stop Evidence Pack is designed to avoid this problem.
Once created, the pack becomes the central evidence file for the case and can support the entire EHCP process, including:
• EHCP applications
• draft EHCP amendments
• mediation preparation
• tribunal appeal preparation
• SEND Tribunal hearings
As new evidence becomes available - such as updated reports, school records or therapy recommendations - the pack can be updated without additional charges.
This means families are not repeatedly paying for new reports every time the case progresses.
Instead, the evidence develops within one structured case file that grows with the case.
Three Ways Families Use the Evidence Pack
Families typically use the One-Stop Evidence Pack in one of three ways depending on the support they require and the stage of the EHCP process.
Stand-Alone Evidence Support
Some families request the Evidence Pack as an independent service.
This often happens when:
• parents are representing themselves during mediation or tribunal
• a solicitor is representing the family and requires structured evidence
• families already have multiple reports but need them organised clearly
In these situations we review the available documentation, identify gaps in the evidence and prepare a professionally structured EHCP evidence bundle.
This allows families or their legal representatives to present the case more clearly.
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Integrated Support Within an Ongoing Case
Other families are already working with us for services such as:
• EHCP draft plan review
• mediation preparation
• tribunal representation
Where cases become more complex, the Evidence Pack becomes the central case file for the entire process.
New evidence and reports are added to the pack as the case progresses, ensuring the evidence remains consistent and clearly structured.
Required for Representation
Where Little Nellies represents a family at mediation or SEND Tribunal, a One-Stop Evidence Pack is required.
Representation requires a detailed understanding of the child’s needs, the available evidence and the issues in dispute.
The Evidence Pack allows our team to understand the case fully and present the child’s needs clearly during mediation discussions or tribunal hearings.
How the Evidence Pack Is Structured
The One-Stop EHCP Evidence Pack is not simply a collection of reports.
It is a structured evidence bundle designed to explain the child’s needs, the provision required to meet those needs and the professional evidence supporting those recommendations.
Each component of the Evidence Pack performs a specific role within the overall case. Some sections focus on understanding the child’s needs, others examine whether the current EHCP reflects those needs, and others provide practical evidence about how appropriate provision could be delivered.
Together, these elements create a clear and coherent evidence base that can support:
• EHCP applications
• draft EHCP review and amendments
• mediation discussions
• SEND Tribunal appeals
The structure of the pack typically follows a logical progression:
-
Understanding the child’s needs
Assessments and profiles explaining how the child presents across different environments. -
Identifying the provision required
Care planning and professional recommendations explaining what support is needed. -
Examining how provision could be delivered
Analysis of potential providers, placements and available services. -
Reviewing the current EHCP
Analysis of whether the existing plan accurately reflects the child’s needs. -
Summarising the overall case
A strategic executive summary bringing together the key findings and recommendations.
This structured approach allows decision-makers — including local authorities, mediators and tribunal panels — to clearly understand the evidence supporting the case.
What the Evidence Pack Includes
The One-Stop Evidence Pack is designed to create a clear, structured EHCP evidence bundle that explains the child’s needs, the provision required and the professional evidence supporting those recommendations.
These components form a structured EHCP evidence bundle that can support mediation discussions and SEND Tribunal proceedings.
Each section of the pack contributes to building a coherent evidence base that can support EHCP applications, mediation discussions and SEND Tribunal appeals.
Social Care Assessment (Care Act 2014 Aligned)
Where appropriate, we complete a full independent social care assessment examining the child’s needs, the impact on wellbeing and the support required.
The assessment considers:
• functional care needs
• impact on family life and caregiving responsibilities
• safeguarding considerations
• short breaks and respite needs
• eligibility considerations
• recommendations for support
This assessment helps ensure that social care provision within Section H of the EHCP is properly evidenced and clearly justified.
Child Profile
The Child Profile provides a structured overview of the child’s presentation across different environments.
Rather than focusing solely on diagnosis, the profile explains how the child functions in daily life.
The profile explores areas such as:
• communication and interaction
• sensory profile
• emotional regulation
• behavioural presentation
• cognitive profile
• daily living skills
• vulnerabilities and support needs
Tribunals must understand the child as a whole person, not simply a diagnostic label.
Care Plan
The Care Plan outlines the support required to meet the child’s identified needs.
It links the child’s needs directly to recommended support arrangements and outcomes.
The plan may include:
• required interventions
• supervision and staffing levels
• environmental adaptations
• specialist professional input
• intended outcomes
• review and monitoring timelines
This creates a practical blueprint explaining how support should be delivered in practice.
Brokerage Report
Where families are seeking specialist placements, alternative provision or therapeutic services, we may prepare a structured brokerage report.
This report may include:
• identification of suitable placements or services
• cost comparisons between potential providers
• suitability analysis based on the child’s needs
• gap analysis between current provision and required support
This evidence can be particularly valuable in Section I placement disputes during EHCP appeals.
Provider Profiles
Where potential placements or service providers are being considered, we prepare structured provider profiles.
These profiles summarise key information about each provider, including:
• setting type and age range served
• primary needs supported
• Ofsted or regulatory inspection outcomes
• staffing levels and adult-to-child ratios
• therapies available on site
• specialist facilities or resources
• placement costs and logistical considerations
This allows decision-makers to understand which providers are realistically capable of meeting the child’s needs.
Provision Analysis
Provision Analysis examines whether the support written within the EHCP is clear, specific and legally enforceable.
We review whether:
• provision is clearly specified and quantified
• therapy recommendations are detailed and measurable
• staffing levels are clearly defined
• support arrangements are enforceable in practice
Where vague wording or gaps are identified, we can propose clearer alternatives aligned with the child’s assessed needs.
Comparative EHCP Analysis
Where an EHCP already exists, we can undertake a line-by-line comparison between the current plan and the provision recommended within the Evidence Pack.
This analysis identifies issues such as:
• removed provision
• diluted support
• reduced therapy hours
• vague or non-specific wording
• missing recommendations
This helps explain where the existing EHCP does not fully reflect the child’s needs.
Executive Summary Report
The Executive Summary Report is the strategic centre of the Evidence Pack.
Rather than expecting decision-makers to review hundreds of pages of reports, this document brings together the key findings from across the entire evidence base.
The report typically includes:
• overview of the child’s identified needs
• summary of professional evidence
• analysis of the current EHCP
• recommended amendments
• tribunal-ready conclusions
This document often becomes the central reference point during mediation discussions and SEND Tribunal preparation.
A Health and Social Care Perspective on EHCP Evidence
Many organisations supporting EHCP appeals approach cases primarily from a legal perspective.
However, Education, Health and Care Plans are not fundamentally legal documents.
They are multidisciplinary plans designed to identify a child’s needs and the provision required to support them across education, health and social care.
In practice, the professionals who assess needs and recommend provision are often:
• social workers
• educational psychologists
• therapists
• clinicians
• education specialists
These professionals evaluate how a child functions in daily life, how needs present across different environments and what support is required to achieve meaningful outcomes.
At Little Nellies, that is the perspective our team brings to EHCP evidence preparation. Our work focuses on understanding the child’s real-world needs, analysing the available evidence and ensuring the required provision is clearly explained. This multidisciplinary approach helps create evidence that decision-makers can understand more easily during mediation discussions and SEND Tribunal proceedings.
The aim is not simply to challenge a decision, but to present a clear and professionally supported explanation of the child’s needs and the support required to meet them.
EHCP Annual Reviews
Once an EHCP has been issued or amended, it must be reviewed at least once every 12 months.
This process is known as the Annual Review.
The review considers whether the plan is still meeting the child’s needs and whether any amendments are required.
Our team can assist families with:
• reviewing the EHCP before the Annual Review
• preparing written evidence for the meeting
• advising on proposed amendments
• supporting families where disputes arise
Good preparation can help ensure the plan continues to reflect the child’s needs.
Professional Standards and Expertise
Little Nellies is the SEND advocacy division of the Nellie Supports social work practice, providing specialist EHCP support for families across England.
Our work is delivered by professionals who understand both the statutory SEND framework and the practical realities families face when challenging local authority decisions.
Our team includes:
• Social Work England registered social workers
• Social Care Wales registered social workers
• Members of the British Association of Social Workers (BASW)
• SEND practitioners with postgraduate qualifications
• multidisciplinary professionals with experience across education, health and social care
This combination of statutory knowledge and real-world advocacy experience allows us to present cases clearly and professionally.
Other EHCP Support Services
Families often need support at different stages of the EHCP process.
Our team provides specialist assistance throughout the entire journey, from the initial application through to mediation and SEND Tribunal appeals.
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Frequently Asked Questions
An EHCP Evidence Pack is a structured bundle of reports, assessments and professional analysis used to support an Education, Health and Care Plan case.
The pack explains:
• the child’s needs
• the provision required to meet those needs
• the professional evidence supporting that provisionIt is commonly used during EHCP applications, mediation discussions and SEND Tribunal appeals.
No.
Many families use an Evidence Pack much earlier in the process.
It can support:
• EHCP applications
• draft EHCP reviews
• mediation preparation
• SEND Tribunal appealsBecause the pack is designed to support the entire EHCP journey, it can be updated as the case progresses.
Possibly.
Many families already have reports from schools, therapists or clinicians, but these documents are often written independently of one another.
An Evidence Pack reviews the existing evidence, identifies any gaps and organises everything into a clear structure so decision-makers can understand the case more easily.
Evidence Packs are prepared by professionals within the Little Nellies team.
Our team includes social workers, SEND practitioners and multidisciplinary professionals with experience across education, health and social care.
Where appropriate, we may complete additional assessments or analysis to strengthen the evidence base.
The Evidence Pack can be particularly helpful for parents representing themselves.
It provides a structured evidence bundle that clearly explains the child’s needs and the provision required.
This can make it easier to present the case during mediation or SEND Tribunal proceedings.
Yes.
Some families instruct a solicitor for their SEND Tribunal case. In these situations the Evidence Pack can form part of the evidence bundle used to support the appeal.
Solicitors often value having a clear, professionally structured summary of the child’s needs and supporting evidence.
Yes.
The One-Stop Evidence Pack is designed to support the entire EHCP journey.
As new reports, school records or professional recommendations become available, the pack can be updated so the evidence base continues to develop alongside the case.
Yes.
Where our team represents a family at mediation or SEND Tribunal, a One-Stop Evidence Pack is required.
This ensures we have a detailed understanding of the child’s needs, the available evidence and the issues in dispute so we can present the case effectively.