TRAUMA-INFORMED · PACE-TRAINED

NeuroKind

EHCP Readiness Checklist

Generated 4 August 2026 — byneurokind.com

What’s inside an EHCP

Sections in coral (B, F, I) can be formally appealed to the SEND Tribunal.

AYour child's views, interests and aspirations
BTheir special educational needs (appealable)
CHealth needs related to SEN
DSocial care needs related to SEN
EOutcomes — what the support should help achieve
FThe specific support that must be provided — the most important section (appealable)
G/HHealth and social care provision
IThe school or setting named to deliver it (appealable)
JPersonal budget arrangements, if any
KReports and evidence gathered during assessment

Signs it might be time to request (0 of 5 match)

□School's current support (SEN Support / a support plan) isn't enough, even after changes have been tried and reviewed
□Your child isn't making expected progress despite extra help
□You're in regular contact with school to coordinate your child's support needs
□Your child needs support that goes beyond what the school can reasonably provide from its own budget
□You're considering a change of school and want provision legally guaranteed in writing

Evidence gathered (0 of 5 items)

□School reports and any existing SEN Support Plan or One Page Profile
□Any diagnostic reports (paediatrician, educational psychologist, SALT, OT)
□A dated log of specific examples: communication difficulties, sensory needs, missed learning, exclusions or reduced timetables
□Letters or emails showing what's already been tried at school
□Your own written account of your child's needs and what "a good day" vs "a hard day" looks like
NeuroKind — byneurokind.com · Written by Laura, specialist SEN teacher · For personal reference only — not legal advice.
NeuroKind UKFree tool · UK families

EHCP Readiness Checklist

Is it time to request an EHCP? A parent’s guide to knowing when to start, what to gather, and what to expect — so you can walk into every conversation feeling prepared, not overwhelmed.

What’s inside an EHCP

For reference — these are the statutory sections. Sections highlighted in coral can be formally appealed to the SEND Tribunal.

AYour child's views, interests and aspirations
BTheir special educational needs
CHealth needs related to SEN
DSocial care needs related to SEN
EOutcomes — what the support should help achieve
FThe specific support that must be provided — the most important section
G/HHealth and social care provision
IThe school or setting named to deliver it
JPersonal budget arrangements, if any
KReports and evidence gathered during assessment

Coral sections (B, F, I) are the ones parents can formally challenge at tribunal.

Interactive checklist

Signs it might be time to request an assessment

Tick each one that applies to your situation right now.

Interactive checklist

Evidence to start gathering now

Tick what you already have. Anything unticked is worth starting to build — even before you decide whether to request.

How to request the assessment

1Anyone can request it. You don't need the school to agree first, though a joint request often helps.
2Write directly to your Local Authority's SEN team. A template letter is worth having ready.
3Keep a copy and note the date you sent it — this starts the legal clock.

The 20-week statutory process

Once you submit your request, these are the legal deadlines. The LA cannot take longer than 20 weeks from request to issuing the final plan.

Day1

Request sent

Legal clock starts

Week6

LA decides

Whether to carry out assessment

Week16

Evidence gathered

Reports, views, advice collected

Week20

Final EHCP

Statutory maximum — 20 weeks total

If the LA refuses

You have the right to appeal. Mediation first, then the SEN Tribunal if needed.
A refusal isn't final — in fact most successful EHCPs follow an initial refusal.

A note on timing

Start gathering evidence before you feel ‘ready’ to request an assessment. Most parents wish they’d started their log a few months earlier. You don’t need a crisis to justify starting today.

Interactive log

Observation Log

A dated log of specific examples is one of the strongest pieces of evidence you can have. Everything here is saved in your browser automatically.

Download your personalised checklist

Includes your ticked items and observation log entries, formatted and ready to print. Free after a one-time email signup.

L

Laura · SEN Teacher · Course Creator

UK trained · supporting families worldwide. Built this because parents kept asking the same questions before their first meeting with the LA — and deserved straight answers.