Getting an EHCP & SEN support
Applying for, building and checking support that's actually written down and enforceable.
40 free resources
Model letters & templates
Free, lawyer-written template letters for requesting an EHC needs assessment, responding to refusals and appealing.
SEND process flowcharts
Parent-written, expert-checked flowcharts and step-by-step guides through the EHCP and SEND process.
Special educational needs and disability — overview
Plain-English official overview of help at school, EHC plans, and what to do if you disagree with a decision.
Appealing an EHCP (with free helpline)
Free guidance plus a national SEN advice helpline (020 8538 3731) for parents preparing a SEND Tribunal appeal against an EHCP decision.
Asking for an EHC Needs Assessment - Legal Guidance
Free legal guidance explaining the legal test for an EHC needs assessment in England and what to do if your local authority refuses.
EHC needs assessments: parent guidance
Free guide to the EHC needs assessment, the legal threshold the LA must apply, a template request letter and what to do if you are refused.
EHC plan checklist (PDF)
Printable section-by-section checklist parents use to judge whether each part of a draft or final EHC plan is lawful, specific and complete.
EHCP Annual Review (incl. Preparing for Adulthood)
Free guide to how EHCP annual reviews work, including the Year 9 onwards focus on preparing for adulthood and phase-transfer deadlines.
EHCP declined, appeals and SEND Tribunal
Free parent-friendly walkthrough of what to do if an EHCP is refused, including mediation and how to appeal to the SEND Tribunal.
EHCP 'Get prepared' starter checklist
Free nine-step checklist (downloadable PDF) to help parents get organised before requesting an EHC needs assessment and building their case.
Example school complaint letter
Free template letter parents can use to make a formal complaint to a school about how it is supporting a disabled or SEND child.
Find your local SENDIASS service
Directory to find your free, confidential local SEND Information, Advice and Support Service for any school, EHCP or attendance issue.
First-tier Tribunal (SEND): how to appeal
Official guidance on who can appeal, deadlines, mediation and how the SEND Tribunal works when challenging an EHC needs assessment or plan decision.
Form SEND35: appeal an EHCP decision to the SEND Tribunal
The official free SEND35 appeal form (PDF or online) to challenge a local authority's EHC plan or assessment decision at the First-tier SEND Tribunal.
Gathering evidence for an EHC needs assessment
Free guidance on what evidence to collect and how to record real examples of your child's needs at home and school to support an EHCNA request.
Getting NHS Speech and Language Therapy
Charity guide to accessing NHS speech and language therapy in England, including referral routes and getting provision written into an EHC plan.
Guide to each section within an EHCP (A to K)
Step-by-step parent guide explaining what to expect in every section of an EHCP, A through K, with a downloadable PDF version.
How to Get an EHCP for a Child with ADHD
Step-by-step guide on qualifying for and applying for an Education, Health and Care Plan when your child has ADHD, with links to appeal support.
How to submit an appeal: contents appeals (EHCP sections B, F and I)
Step-by-step free guide to appealing the contents of an EHC plan to the SEND Tribunal, including what to send and how to set out your case.
If school is not following an EHCP
Free advice on what to do when an EHCP is not being delivered: talking to the SENCO, complaining to the LA, and using disagreement resolution.
IPSEA Annual Review checklist (PDF)
Printable IPSEA checklist helping parents prepare for an EHCP annual review: gathering evidence, reviewing outcomes and checking provision still fits.
Is specifying provision in Section F a legal requirement?
Explains why Section F must be specific and quantified, citing case law and a real example of vague wording ('when appropriate') that breaks the law.
Leaving School & Transition to Adulthood (autism)
Free guidance on planning life after secondary school: college, work, apprenticeships, EHCP to 25 and a Year 9-11 transition timeline.
NAS Transition Support Helpline
Free helpline (0808 800 0027) giving autistic young people and families advice on the move from school, college or university to adult life.
Part-time (reduced) timetable: your rights
Free legal FAQ explaining when a reduced timetable is and isn't lawful, that it must be temporary with an end date, and how to challenge an open-ended one.
Planning for Adulthood (England) Guide
Free guide for families of young people with severe learning disabilities on planning the move to adult education, health and social care services.
Preparing for Adult Life
Free hub for families on moving a disabled child into adulthood: planning, money and work, housing, services, health and a free helpline.
Preparing for Your EHCP Annual Review
Free SENDIASS guide on getting ready for an annual review: questions to ask, evidence to bring, SMART outcomes and review timelines.
Refusal to assess appeals pack
Free detailed pack for parents appealing a refusal to carry out an EHC needs assessment, with model letters and a guide to preparing your case.
Request for an EHC needs assessment: sample letter (Word)
Free editable Word template letter from a local authority for parents to request an EHC needs assessment, ready to fill in and send.
Special educational needs: getting extra SEN help (EHC plans)
Official overview of how to ask the local authority for an EHC needs assessment, the timescales involved and what happens if you are refused.
Template letter 21: complaint when school is not securing SEN provision
Free model complaint letter for when a school or college is not using its best endeavours to secure a child's special educational provision.
Template Letter: Requesting an EHC Needs Assessment
Free, editable template letter parents can adapt to formally request an EHC needs assessment from their local authority in England.
Template letters for families of children with SEND
Free index of IPSEA model letters covering every EHCP stage - requesting assessment, responding to draft plans, re-assessment and more (England SEND law).
The annual review process
Free legal explainer of the EHCP annual review process: timescales, what should happen, your rights and how to push for the right outcome.
Transition to Adulthood in England: Factsheet for Parents
Free factsheet explaining what transition to adulthood involves for children with learning difficulties, covering EHC plans and mental capacity.
What an EHCP is and how to apply
Free Cerebra guide explaining what an EHCP is, why it is legally enforceable, its sections A to K, and how to request an EHC needs assessment.
What sections should an EHC plan have?
Free plain-English breakdown of EHC plan sections A to K and what each must legally contain, so parents know what to expect and check.
Which parts of the EHC plan can I appeal about?
Free guide explaining which EHCP sections (B, F, I) you can appeal and why Section F provision must be specific and quantified.
Writing your EHCP parental statement (Section A) tips
Practical framework for writing the parental contribution to an EHCP, organised by the four areas of need, with what to include.
More along the way
Links to external organisations are provided for information. Remarkable Minds isn't responsible for the content of external sites, and a listing here isn't an endorsement.
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