How do I apply for an EHCP for my child?

Write to your council's SEN team to request an EHC needs assessment. You don't need the school's agreement. The council has 6 weeks to decide and 20 weeks to issue a plan.

How long does an EHCP take to get?

Legally, 20 weeks from your request to a final plan. In practice fewer than half are issued on time (DfE 2025); many councils take 6–12+ months. The clock starts the day they receive your request.

What do I do if my EHCP application is refused?

Appeal to the SEND Tribunal within 2 months of the refusal letter. Get a mediation certificate from the council first; you can't register the appeal without it. Most refusal-to-assess appeals succeed (95%+, HMCTS).

Do I need a diagnosis to get an EHCP?

No. You don't need a diagnosis to apply for an EHCP. The legal test is whether your child has special educational needs that the school can't meet from its own resources.

Can a school refuse to apply for an EHCP?

Yes, but it doesn't stop you. You can request an EHC needs assessment directly from the council yourself. The school's agreement is not required, and the council must consider your request within 6 weeks.

What is Section F of an EHCP and why does it matter?

Section F lists the special educational provision the council must arrange. It's the only fully legally-binding section of an EHCP: every hour of support and every therapy named in it must be provided.

How do I prepare for my child's Annual Review?

Write down what's working, what's not, and the specific amendments you want to Section F. Bring evidence (reports, photos, emails) for each change. The school sends papers two weeks before the meeting.

Can I name a specialist school on my child's EHCP?

Yes, for any state-funded school. The council must name your preference unless the school is unsuitable for your child or would be an inefficient use of public money.

How do I get more hours of support added to my child's EHCP?

Request the change at the annual review (or call an early one), with evidence: a recent EP report, SaLT letter, or school data. The amendment must go in Section F, specific and quantified.

Is a reduced timetable legal for my SEND child?

Only in exceptional circumstances and as a short-term measure, with your written agreement and a clear plan to return to full-time. Long-term or open-ended reduced timetables are not lawful.

Can my SEND child be excluded from school?

Yes, but schools must consider whether the behaviour relates to your child's disability. If it does, the exclusion may be unlawful disability discrimination and you can challenge it at the SEND Tribunal.

What is Section 19 of the Education Act and how can it help my child?

Section 19 of the Education Act 1996 requires your council to arrange suitable education for any child who cannot attend school, including for mental health or anxiety reasons (not just exclusion).

How do I get my child assessed for autism on the NHS?

Start with your GP. Request a referral to the local NHS autism diagnostic service (typically Community Paediatrics or CAMHS, depending on your area and your child's age). Waiting lists in 2026 are typically 1–4 years.

How long is the NHS waiting list for an autism assessment?

For children in 2026, typically 18 months to 4+ years depending on your area. Some regions wait under a year, others over 4. The NHS's 13-week target from referral to first appointment is almost universally missed.

How much does a private autism assessment cost in the UK?

Typically £1,800–£3,500 for a child in the UK as of 2026, depending on whether it's single-clinician or multi-disciplinary. The NHS route is free but waiting times in 2026 are 18 months to 4+ years.

What is Right to Choose for autism and ADHD?

Right to Choose lets adults pick their NHS provider for autism and ADHD assessment. Providers like Psychiatry-UK offer NHS-funded assessment via this route, much faster than local NHS waits (limited for under-18s).

How do I get my child diagnosed with ADHD?

Start with your GP. Request a referral to NHS ADHD services (Community Paediatrics for under-16s, CAMHS for teens, or adult ADHD for 18+). Right to Choose is available for adults via Psychiatry-UK.

How do I get a CAMHS referral for my child?

Ask your GP for a CAMHS referral; they can refer your child directly. Some areas also let schools or you self-refer via a Single Point of Access. Thresholds are high; if declined, your GP can re-refer with more evidence.

Should I tell my child they are autistic, and when?

Yes, and earlier rather than later. Most autistic adults wish they'd known sooner; most children can understand from around 6–8 with the right language. Frame it as a difference, not a deficit.

Why does my autistic child sleep so badly and how can I help?

Try sensory wind-down (blackout, white noise, weighted blanket) and consistent timing. Up to 80% of autistic children have sleep problems, often from delayed melatonin. Your GP can prescribe melatonin if needed.

Why does my child only have meltdowns at home?

Your child is masking and holding it together at school, which depletes their regulation. Home is the safe place where they discharge. The meltdowns aren't behaviour; they're the cost of holding it together all day.

How do I stop my autistic child hitting me?

Treat hitting as communication of distress, not aggression. In the moment, protect yourself and reduce demands; over time, identify triggers and add regulation support. Contact your GP or CAMHS if safety is at risk.

Why won't my autistic child eat anything except a few foods?

Restricted eating in autistic children often reflects sensory sensitivity, fear of aversives, or low food interest. Severe cases can meet ARFID thresholds; see your GP if weight loss or faintness appear.

How do I get my autistic child to brush their teeth?

Try removing sensory triggers first: unflavoured paste, a soft silicone brush, brushing in a predictable routine. Many autistic children do better with a brush motion rather than scrub, and with a visual countdown.

Why does my child refuse to wear certain clothes?

Tactile defensiveness: certain textures, tags, seams, or fits feel genuinely intolerable. It's involuntary, not defiance. Build a small wardrobe of clothes that work and repeat them; the goal is comfort, not variety.

How do I help my autistic child cope with Christmas?

Plan for a smaller, more predictable Christmas than the magical version: keep regular routines, use a visual schedule, build in regulation breaks, and brief family on what to expect.

How long does an autism meltdown usually last?

Highly variable: most last 5 to 30 minutes at peak intensity. The full cycle (rumbling, peak, recovery / shutdown) can run for several hours. Frequent or escalating meltdowns warrant a GP and CAMHS conversation.

What's the difference between a meltdown and a tantrum?

A tantrum is goal-directed: your child wants something and uses distress to get it. A meltdown is a nervous-system response to overwhelm with no goal. A tantrum stops when the goal is met; a meltdown doesn't.

Why is my autistic daughter struggling so much in secondary school?

Secondary stacks social complexity, multiple teachers, and the load of masking, all at once. Many late-identified autistic girls crash here after thriving at primary. Burnout, anxiety, and school refusal are common.

What do I do if my child is being bullied for being autistic?

Report it to the school in writing as disability-related harassment. Schools have a duty to address it. Ask what immediate steps they're taking. If inadequate, escalate to the governing body, then the DfE.

How do I get extra time in exams for my child with ADHD?

Ask your SENDCO to apply for Access Arrangements via JCQ. Extra time (typically 25%) requires evidence of need, a normal-way-of-working history, and a qualified assessor's report. Apply a term ahead of exams.

Can my child get a 1:1 teaching assistant at school?

It depends. 1:1 support is usually funded via an EHCP (Section F) for children whose needs require provision beyond what schools can ordinarily make. Without an EHCP, schools may fund partial 1:1 from their SEN budget.

What do I do if school says my child doesn't have SEND?

Ask the school to put the decision in writing, with the criteria they used. You can also request an EHC needs assessment directly from the council yourself; school agreement is not required.

Should I move my SEND child to a specialist school?

It depends. If attendance, mental health, or learning are deteriorating despite SEN support and EHCP provision, a specialist placement may be the right next step. Visit options and ask what each could offer your child.

How do I claim DLA for my child with autism?

Phone the DWP for a DLA1 form; your award starts from the call date, not the form return date. Describe your child's daily care and mobility needs in concrete detail. If refused, request a Mandatory Reconsideration.

What rate of DLA can I get for an autistic child?

In 2025-26: care £29 to £110 per week (three rates), mobility £29 to £77 (two rates). The autism diagnosis doesn't set the rate; your child's daily care and mobility needs do.

Can I get a Blue Badge for my autistic child?

Yes, if your child meets the non-visible disabilities criteria (August 2019): substantial difficulty walking due to risk of harm or very considerable psychological distress. An autism diagnosis alone isn't enough.

What benefits can I claim as a parent of a SEND child?

The main ones: DLA for your child (under 16), Carer's Allowance if you provide 35+ hours of care weekly and the child gets middle/higher care DLA, plus Universal Credit carer and disabled child elements.

Can I get free school transport for my SEND child?

Yes, if the nearest suitable school is over the statutory walking distance, or your child can't reasonably walk because of their SEND or disability. Each council has its own SEND transport policy.

Am I entitled to Carer's Allowance for caring for my SEND child?

Yes, if you provide 35+ hours of unpaid care a week, your child gets middle or higher rate DLA care, and you earn under the weekly earnings limit. The allowance is around £83 per week in 2025-26.

Can I appeal if the council names the wrong school in my child's EHCP?

Yes. If you disagree with the school named in Section I of your child's final EHC plan, you can appeal to the SEND Tribunal within 2 months of the decision letter — placement-only appeals need no mediation first.

How do I appeal an EHCP decision to the SEND Tribunal?

Register your appeal with the First-tier Tribunal (SEND) within two months of the council's decision letter. For most appeals you first get a mediation certificate; placement-only appeals can go straight to Tribunal.

How long does a SEND Tribunal appeal take?

Expect around 9-12 months from lodging a SEND Tribunal appeal to a hearing in 2025-26, as record backlogs push hearing dates 40-plus weeks ahead — though most appeals settle or are conceded by the council first.

What do I do if the council misses the EHCP deadline?

Put your complaint in writing to the council, citing its legal duty to issue the final EHC plan within 20 weeks; if it still fails, escalate to the Local Government Ombudsman or seek judicial review to force it.

What is the SEND Tribunal and how does it work?

The SEND Tribunal (First-tier Tribunal, SEND) is the independent court that hears parents' appeals against council decisions on EHC assessments and plans. You usually try mediation first, then appeal within two months.

Can I take my council to the Local Government Ombudsman over SEND?

Yes, but only for council maladministration – delay, or failure to deliver EHC plan support – and only after you exhaust the council’s complaints process. Decisions you can appeal go to the SEND Tribunal instead.

Do I need a solicitor for a SEND Tribunal?

No. You do not need a solicitor for a SEND Tribunal: most parents represent themselves, and the tribunal — where 99% of decided appeals went in families' favour in 2024/25 — is designed to be used without a lawyer.

How do I complain about my local authority's SEND service?

Complain first to your local authority and exhaust its complaints process; escalate delay or undelivered EHCP provision to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, but appeal EHCP decisions to the SEND Tribunal.

What are my chances of winning a SEND Tribunal appeal?

Very high: in 2024/25, 99% of SEND Tribunal appeals decided at a hearing went in the family's favour (Ministry of Justice). About a third of concluded appeals settle or are conceded before any hearing.

Can a GP refer my child for an autism assessment?

Yes - a GP can refer your child for an NHS autism assessment, and you do not need a diagnosis first; in some areas a SENCO, school or health visitor refers instead. Waits are commonly 1-3+ years (2026).

Can a school refer my child for an autism assessment?

Yes - in many parts of England a school SENCO can refer your child to the local NHS autism team, though the route varies by area (2026); your GP is the alternative and primary route everywhere.