EHCP Appeal Support
EHCP Appeal Support - How we can help you
When a child or young person has special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), securing the right support can feel complicated and overwhelming. Families may be unsure how to request an Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment, what should be included in special educational provision, or what to do after receiving a local authority’s decision letter. Clear information, advice and support can help you understand each stage, prepare strong evidence and decide whether to challenge a decision.
What is an EHC needs assessment?
An EHC needs assessment is how the local authority looks at a child or young person’s education, health, and care needs. This is usually asked for when the usual support at nursery, school, or college is not enough. Parents, young people, and schools can share evidence about the difficulties faced, what support has already been tried, progress so far, and why more assessment is needed. This evidence might include reports from teachers, special educational needs coordinators, educational psychologists, therapists, health professionals, and social care workers. It can also include the child or young person’s own views, goals, and experiences at school.
If the local authority agrees to do an assessment, they collect information from the right professionals and decide if an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is needed. A good assessment should clearly show what the needs are and link each need to the right support. The support should be described clearly so families and schools know exactly what will be provided, who will do it, how often, and for how long. If the wording is unclear, it can be hard to put the EHCP into action or check if it is working.
Understanding the decision letter
The decision letter from the local authority should explain what they have decided and what you can do next. They might refuse to do an EHC needs assessment, decide not to give an EHCP after the assessment, or send a final plan that you feel is not good enough. You might disagree with how your child’s needs are described, the support offered, the school or placement named, or if they do not name the setting you asked for. Make sure to read the letter carefully, keep the envelope and any attachments, and note the date you got it. There are deadlines for appeals, so act quickly if you want to challenge the decision.
Preparing a SEND appeal to the SEND Tribunal
If you do not agree with some decisions made by the local authority, you might be able to appeal to the SEND Tribunal. In your appeal, explain which decision you are challenging, why you disagree, and what result you want. A strong case is well-organised, based on evidence, and focused on your child’s needs. Show how your evidence supports the assessment, support, or placement you are asking for. Helpful documents can include professional reports, school records, letters, attendance records, progress data, support plans, costed provision maps, and a written statement from you or your child.
Before you send an appeal, work out exactly what you disagree with. Look at what professionals have recommended and compare it to what is written in the decision letter or EHCP. If support is missing or not clear, write down the wording you want and link it to your evidence. If you disagree about the placement, explain why the named setting is not right or why your preferred setting is better. Stay factual and respectful. The goal is to show why a different decision is needed for your child to get the right education and support, not just to show you are unhappy.
What decisions can you appeal?
In England, you can usually appeal if the local authority refuses an EHC needs assessment or reassessment, refuses to issue an EHCP, issues a final EHCP that you disagree with about needs, support, or placement, refuses to change those parts, or decides to stop a plan. The decision letter should tell you about your appeal rights, mediation options, and the deadline. For issues like delays, missing support, transport problems, or things the SEND Tribunal cannot decide, you might need a different complaints or enforcement process. Getting advice early can help you find the right way forward.
SEN mediation and the mediation certificate
In many cases, a parent or young person must consider SEN mediation before registering an appeal. A mediation adviser can explain the process and the options available. You may choose to take part in mediation or, for some types of appeal, obtain a mediation certificate without attending a mediation meeting. The certificate is an important document when lodging the appeal. Mediation can provide an opportunity to clarify disputed issues, share evidence and explore whether agreement is possible. However, families should prepare carefully, understand the outcome they seek and keep a written record of any agreement reached.
Information, advice and support throughout the process
Children and young people should have a say in decisions that affect them. You can collect their views in ways that fit their age, how they communicate, and what they prefer. This could be a written statement, photos, drawings, symbols, a communication passport, or help from a trusted adult. Their hopes, strengths, and daily experiences add important context and should be included with professional evidence. If a disability makes it hard to communicate or take part, make sure to take steps so the child or young person can still be involved.
Practical steps you can take now
Begin by making a simple timeline of key events, requests, meetings, and decisions. Keep copies of emails, letters, reports, and all versions of the EHCP together in one folder. Write down the outcomes you want and the evidence for each one. Look at the decision letter for information about appeal rights, mediation, and deadlines. If you are unsure about anything, get advice as soon as possible instead of waiting until the last minute. You can also ask professionals to explain any recommendations that are not clear or specific.
EHCP 4 Kids helps parents, carers, children, and young people with every part of the EHCP and SEND process. We can support you with making an EHC needs assessment request, reviewing a draft or final EHCP, checking special educational support, replying to a local authority decision letter, getting ready for SEN mediation, and preparing a SEND Tribunal appeal. Our support is tailored to keep your child’s needs, views, and goals at the centre, while helping you build a clear, evidence-based case. Get in touch with EHCP 4 Kids to find out how we can help, read feedback from our clients, or book a 20-minute consultation.
"I can wholly recommend Linda at EHCP 4 Kids she simply is an amazing person! Linda found flaws in my son's EHCP. She was calm and extremely professional. She got the EHCP overturned from mainstream to specialist setting and also got the school we wanted to be named without getting to the tribunal hearing. She took the stress away from us as a family and broke down barriers and brick walls the local authority had built. Thanks to Linda, my son's life has been turned around, and he will now access an education. He now has a much brighter future ahead of him. I will be forever grateful and wouldn’t hesitate to use EHCP 4 Kids if I ever need their services again. - ‘simply amazing’”
Lauren, Nottinghamshire
"Linda from EHCP4 kids was highly professional, an excellent communicator, she really knew what she was talking about and got to the nub of the issue. I liked the Zoom conversation before her report was written as I felt she could really get to know my daughter through me and I could ask any questions so I was better informed and the report was just the icing on the cake - something I could send directly to my EHCP coordinator that put across all the points I wanted made very succinctly. The fact that Linda is also the parent of an autistic child really gave her the edge - she just gets it and clearly wants to help when you really need it. Thank you Linda and if you're hesitating on using her services, don't ! Worth every penny xx"
Lizzie, Essex
"I found Linda when I was feeling quite overwhelmed by the complexity of navigating the system in working to get my year 9 son’s EHCP reviewed at an emergency review.
As a practicing mental health professional I thought I had the competency to do a good job myself- however I soon realised I was emotionally compromised and was finding it difficult to differentiate between what was the priority - and how to navigate the parallel agendas and how to be efficient with my time an energy.
Linda has been a rock … calm, focused and quick to grasp the priority of need. She offered a balance to my emotional need to get justice with the greater need to get my son out of the toxic environment in the most efficient way. Choosing how, when and if to go into battle has been key in this process.
Holding off from my need for the injustice to be recognised in a system that isn’t interested in justice has been a hard lesson and the clinical unemotional track (with understanding) has been what has delivered a more streamlined progression. I fear without Linda’s focus I may have been trying to fight too many battles at once and the may have risked losing the opportunity to extricate my son in the most efficient way. We were able to secure 3 wins at the review… including an agreement for a move to a specialist SEN provision. We are now in the consultation process and I am confident that we have done all we could have to this point to ensure the most positive outcome for my son. This is a painfully complicated process for any parent - but I knew that when Linda was involved it would be focused , concise and on point. Thank you Linda"
Gina, Northamptonshire
"Linda from EHCP4 kids was friendly and reassuring assisting me to put a case together for mediation. Linda spent her time understanding our situation and whilst we were having some issues with school kept in contact checking in on how we were, this was not part of the role i had commissioned her services for, but she did it anyway and was there for me as a mum at a difficult time to reassure me and encourage me to keep fighting on. We got a good result! thanks Linda"
Amanda, Liverpool
"Linda’s ability to simplify complex matters into straightforward terms was a lifesaver. She dedicated time to reviewing every detail and offering practical recommendations. She has invaluable lived experience of the process and is pragmatic and empathetic as a result. Without her guidance and support, we would have been lost in the EHCP process. She helped us to make crucial amendments, and we can't thank her enough for her help and expertise."
Susie, London
Linda has been such an amazing help. Without her hard work, I would never have been able to do it. Because of her hard work appealing to the tribunal, the council are now reconsidering my son’s case.
Her knowledge regarding the EHCP process is amazing. She made me feel like I wasn’t alone. I can’t thank her enough. THANK YOU
Jacqueline, Buckinghamshire