Little Nellies · Children, young people & families
EHCP Evidence Review
Understand what the reports and records you already hold say about your child’s needs and the next EHCP decision. For £336 including VAT, we review the agreed evidence, discuss it with you in a one-hour consultation and provide written recommendations. Little Nellies is the SEND and EHCP service of Nellie Supports Ltd, supporting families in England.
Fixed fee: £336 including VAT (£280 excluding VAT).
At a glance
Fixed fee: £336 including VAT (£280 excluding VAT).
- Use at: application, draft-plan, mediation, review or appeal stage when you need a clearer view of the existing evidence.
- Includes: review of the agreed records, a one-hour consultation and a written review note and consultation summary.
- Who delivers: a practitioner from our SEND team with relevant expertise; the person who reads the file joins your consultation.
- Before booking: we check the question, document volume and any deadline, then confirm the scope in writing.
When an evidence review can help
You may have school reports, health letters and your own observations without a clear sense of how they fit together. Professionals may have reached different conclusions, the council may have said the evidence is insufficient, or you may be unsure whether further assessment would add anything useful.
The review helps you understand what the records support before deciding what to do next. We explain gaps and uncertainty, including when existing information or free advice may be sufficient.
What the fixed fee includes
Review of the agreed records
We read the documents needed to answer the review question, including any relevant plan or decision letter. We consider each document’s contribution rather than assuming that a larger file makes a stronger case.
A one-hour consultation
You speak with the practitioner who reviewed the file. They explain the findings, discuss the options and give you time to ask questions.
A written review and next steps
The written note explains what the records support, any conflicts or missing information, and whom to approach for further evidence. You also receive a note of the consultation to keep and share as appropriate.
How we assess the evidence
We begin with the decision that needs to be made. For an EHC needs assessment, the question is whether the child or young person has or may have special educational needs and whether provision through an EHC plan may be necessary. After assessment, the question is whether that provision through a plan is necessary. A content or placement appeal concerns the disputed needs, support or institution.
We look for descriptions of needs and their everyday impact, what support has been tried, how well it worked, and specific recommendations with supporting reasons. A diagnosis can be relevant without answering all of those questions.
Where reports disagree, we explain the difference and what may help clarify it. We do not replace a specialist assessment or give opinions outside the reviewer’s expertise.
Children and Families Act 2014: EHC needs assessments
Children and Families Act 2014: when an EHC plan is necessary
Documents to prepare
Tell us what you hold so we can agree the relevant file and the secure way to share it.
- The current or draft EHCP, refusal letter or other decision, with the council’s covering correspondence.
- School SEN support plans, provision maps, review notes and records of interventions and progress.
- Relevant educational psychology, speech and language, occupational therapy, paediatric, mental-health or social care reports.
- Your account of daily life, the child or young person’s views, and the support you have already requested.
- Attendance, exclusion or behaviour records where they help explain the needs and their impact.
Your reviewer and participation
We confirm the allocated practitioner and relevant expertise before the review. Any social work, psychological or other specialist input is specifically identified in the agreed scope.
The person who reads your file is the person on the consultation. Tell us about any communication or accessibility arrangements you need. After compulsory school age, we also consider the young person’s decision-making rights, involvement and any authority needed for someone else to act.
Our written reasoning identifies the evidence, its limitations and the basis for recommendations. If the question needs a solicitor or another specialist, we explain that.
Timing and work outside the review
We agree the document scope, consultation and delivery dates before booking. Tell us about any council, mediation or Tribunal deadline at the outset. An unusually large file or additional question may need a separate quote, which we discuss before extra work begins.
The £336 fee covers the agreed review. Drafting an application or appeal, preparing a working document, attending a meeting or hearing, and carrying out a new assessment are separate services. Any further instruction has its own written scope, total fee and payment arrangements.
You choose what to do after the review. If you instruct us for further support, the relevant review documents can inform that work; the review does not commit you to a larger package.
Questions about the evidence review
Is this a new assessment of my child?
No. It reviews existing information. It does not provide a diagnosis or a new educational, health or social care assessment.
Must I buy a review before I apply or appeal?
No. The review is optional. It is useful when you want help understanding what the evidence supports or whether more information is needed.
Will you tell me if the evidence does not support my proposed next step?
Yes. We explain what is supported, what remains uncertain and what might help clarify the position. We cannot predict or guarantee the council’s or Tribunal’s decision.
Do you provide solicitor services?
Little Nellies provides SEND advocacy and assessment support through Nellie Supports Ltd. This service is not solicitor representation. We identify issues requiring a solicitor or a different specialist.
Free help and advice
You can use free information and advice when deciding what to do next. Paid support is optional. Check each organisation’s current availability and whether any additional service carries a charge.
IPSEA: SEND law information, model letters and advice services
SOS!SEN: SEND information and advice for families
Find your local SENDIASS for free, impartial information, advice and support
Related EHCP guides and support
Book your free 15-minute call
Tell us the decision you are considering, which reports you hold and any deadline. The call helps us identify the service that fits your situation, check availability and explain the next step. It does not include a document review or detailed case advice; we explain any proposed paid work before you decide.