Join us for Understanding EBSA & EBSNA
Please enter your information below to sign up for our next webinar.
EHCP Draft Check Support
You have at least 15 days from receiving the draft EHC plan to review it and request any necessary changes.
Let’s make sure every word is right.
We review your child’s draft plan to make sure their needs are accurately described and the required support is clear, specific and legally enforceable before it is returned to the Local Authority.
The words in your child’s EHCP matter more than you might think
Receiving your child’s draft EHCP is an important step, but the wording within it will directly affect the support they receive and the type of educational placement considered suitable.
An EHCP can be viewed as an equation:
**Section B (Special Educational Needs) + Section F (Special Educational Provision) = Section I (Placement)**
Every need identified in Section B should have corresponding provision in Section F. Together, these sections determine which setting can properly meet your child’s needs and deliver the required support.
If Section B is vague, incomplete or understates your child’s needs, those needs may not be fully recognised. If Section F is unspecified, unquantified or legally unenforceable, it may be unclear what support must be provided or which placement is capable of delivering it.
You have at least 15 days to review the draft and make representations. This can be difficult when comparing it with professional reports, identifying missing information and checking whether the wording is legally robust.
We professionally review your child’s draft EHCP against the available evidence, identifying the amendments needed to make the plan clear, specific and legally compliant before it is returned to the Local Authority.
ABOUT OUR PROFESSIONAL EHCP DRAFT CHECK
What we check
Whether Sections B and F accurately reflect your child’s needs and the professional evidence
Whether every identified need has corresponding provision
Whether the provision in Section F is clear, specific, quantified and legally enforceable
Whether the relevant education, health and social care information has been included in the correct sections
Whether any needs or provision have been missed, minimised or diluted
Whether the wording supports the identification of an appropriate educational placement
You’re not alone
When families usually need this support
Families often seek support when one of these situations sounds familiar.
★★★★★
“Within 48 hours she had produced an amended document which clearly showed what needed changing and why.”
Kayleigh Davies
Parent we supported
Their child’s needs appear to have been minimised or diluted
Section B is incomplete or inaccurate
Section F is vague, unquantified or not legally enforceable
Professional evidence has not been properly reflected
They want the health and social care sections checked
They are concerned the wording may affect placement decisions
The 15-day deadline is approaching and they need guidance
Our EHCP draft checking Options
Support options for EHCP draft checking
The wording within an EHCP must accurately identify the child or young person’s special educational needs, specify the provision required to meet those needs and support the decision of an appropriate educational placement.
We offer different levels of EHCP draft review according to the scope of the work required taking into account the number of professional reports to be considered.
Full EHCP draft check with professional evidence review
This is far more than a general document check. We complete a comprehensive, line-by-line review of the entire draft EHCP, checking it against all available professional evidence and the relevant SEND legal framework.
Includes
A full review of every section of the draft EHCP
Cross-checking against Educational Psychology, Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, health, social care and other relevant reports
Ensuring each need has clear, specific and quantified provision
Reviewing the wording to ensure the provision is legally enforceable and compliant with SEND law
Preparing all recommended amendments for you
Referencing amendments back to the supporting professional evidence
Including relevant SEND legislation and case law where appropriate
Returning the draft fully annotated and ready to submit to the Local Authority
Checking that every identified need is accurately recorded
The completed draft is returned to you ready to submit to your Local Authority, with no further work required from you.
Legal Adherence and Wording Check
We are also able to check parental This support is suitable where there are no professional reports to cross-reference but you would like a professional review of the wording within the plan.
Includes
A full review of the draft EHCP, checking the legal wording across the plan
Identifying needs without corresponding provision, and reviewing whether the provision in Section F is specific and quantified
Recommendations on additional evidence
The annotated draft is returned with clearly suggested amendments, supported by relevant legal authorities and case law where necessary, ready for submission to the Local Authority.
We also provide after care support once your LA decision has been reached.
All of our work is underpinned by the legal framework and SEND law. Before work begins, you will receive our Terms of Business so that the service and scope of work are clear.
Each EHCP review focuses on ensuring the wording is clear, legally robust and enforceable.
Our process
How our EHCP draft checking service works
1.
Get in touch
Tell us your deadline and which service you believe is most suitable. We regularly work within tight timescales, so please do not worry if you have fewer than 15 days remaining.
2.
Send Us Your Documents
Upload your draft EHCP and professional reports securely through your client portal.
3.
We Complete the Review
We review the draft carefully, cross-reference it against the professional evidence and clearly annotate the amendments required. We explain why each change is needed and, where appropriate, use the legal framework, relevant legal authorities and case law to support the proposed wording.
4.
Receive Your Amended Draft
Your annotated draft is returned fully prepared and ready for submission to the Local Authority. You will simply need to send it back within your deadline.
Is this the right support for you?
This service is designed for families who have received a draft EHCP and want to ensure that it accurately reflects their child’s needs and is clear, legally robust and enforceable before the plan is finalised.
This service may be suitable If:
You have received a draft EHCP and are unsure what amendments to request
Sections B and F do not accurately reflect the professional evidence
Your child’s needs appear to have been missed, minimised or diluted
The wording is vague, unclear or not legally enforceable
The provision in Section F is not sufficiently specific or quantified
The 15-day deadline is approaching and you require professional support
This may not be the right service If:
You are preparing a request for an EHC needs assessment and no draft EHCP has been issued
You already have a final EHCP and require advice about appealing it
Your main concern relates to the annual review process rather than a newly issued draft plan
Free download
7 Things to Check Before You Accept a Draft EHCP
A practical guide to help you identify unclear wording, missing provision, and the key sections that matter before your EHCP is finalised.
Trusted by families across England
Real reviews from parents and carers we’ve supported through EHCPs, appeals and Tribunals.
Questions & answers
Frequently asked questions about EHCP draft checks
Still unsure about something? We’re always happy to talk it through.
Why families choose us
You are in safe, experienced hands
We are a multi-award-winning team of independent SEND advocates and consultants with backgrounds in healthcare, education and law.
Every member of our team has personal experience of navigating the SEND system, either as a neurodivergent person, as a parent advocating for their own child/ren, or both. That lived experience sits alongside our professional knowledge and shapes the practical, compassionate support we provide.
Our team holds Advanced IPSEA SEND Law Level 3 training at a minimum, undertakes ongoing professional development and keeps up to date with relevant case law, statutory guidance and developments in SEND law. Where appropriate, we may also seek specialist legal input on more complex matters.
We are proud of the recognition our work has received, but we are most proud of the families who continue to place their trust in us and the outcomes we have helped them achieve for their children.
Led by lived experience
Parents & carers of SEND children
SEND GUIDANCE
Helpful guidance for families navigating SEND
Explore related support
Other ways we can help
EHC Needs Assessment Requests
We can help you prepare a clear, well-evidenced EHC needs assessment request before a draft EHCP is issued, setting out your child’s needs and why a statutory assessment is required
Annual Review Support
We review your child’s EHCP, prepare you for the annual review meeting and guide you through the process afterwards to help ensure the plan continues to accurately reflect their needs.
Refusal to Issue Appeal Support
We provide professional support where the Local Authority refuses to issue an EHCP following an EHC needs assessment, helping you challenge the decision through the SEND Tribunal appeal process.
Here when you’re ready
Your draft EHCP has arrived. Now is the time to get the wording right.
You have at least 15 days to respond to the Local Authority. Use this opportunity to ensure your child’s needs and provision are fully and accurately reflected before the plan is finalised.
Contact us today for a professional EHCP draft check and ensure the plan is clear, legally compliant, enforceable and says exactly what it needs to say.