If you're finding it tough to get the right support for your child at school, you're definitely not alone. For many parents/carers, navigating the school system when trying to secure support for conditions like autism, ADHD, or other special educational needs (SEN) can feel like an uphill battle. It’s frustrating, emotionally draining, and at times, overwhelming. But there are practical steps you can take to advocate for your child - and the good news is, there is help available.
At Grace Consulting, we completely understand how difficult this process can be. Samantha Lavender, Grace’s Neurodiversity & Special Needs Advice Manager, explains,
As a parent/carer, it’s natural to want solutions and support as quickly as possible, especially when your child is struggling. But the journey to accessing the right services can take time. The most important thing is to stay persistent and proactive - you’re doing the right thing for your child.
An Education, Health, and Care (EHC) Plan is a legal document that outlines the support a child or young person (up to 25 years old) with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) requires to succeed in education.
It details:
The child’s needs (educational, health, and social care).
The support they should receive.
The goals they are working towards.
The local authority is responsible for ensuring that the support in the plan is provided.
So, if you're feeling stuck, here’s a guide to help you move forward:
Discuss Your Concerns
Start by chatting with your child’s teacher and the school’s Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO). It’s important to express any concerns you have, whether they’re about learning difficulties, behavioural challenges, or struggles with social interaction. The more they understand, the better they can respond. This meeting is also a chance for the school to document your child’s needs and take the first steps towards addressing them.
Request an Assessment from Your Local Authority
If the support the school is putting in place isn’t helping your child to make expected progress, your next step is to request an assessment from your local authority. This might sound daunting but, with the right approach, it can make a big difference. This is called a Request for Statutory Assessment. The request can be made by either the school or the parents/carers. The Statutory Assessment is to assess whether your child’s needs require an EHC Plan.
Write to Your Local Authority
Some local authorities have online forms to submit a Request for Statutory Assessment, for others an email or letter will suffice. In your letter, be clear and specific about why you believe an assessment is needed. Outline the challenges your child is facing and explain why you believe a proper assessment will help address these needs.
Provide Evidence
When requesting an assessment, the more evidence you can provide, the better. This might include records of interventions the school has tried, notes on your child’s progress (or lack of), and any other relevant information that paints a full picture of what’s going on. Local authorities need clear, evidence-backed information to make an informed decision. The more details you can give, the stronger your case will be. Think of it as building a solid foundation to get the support your child needs.
Don’t worry if you don’t have all this information. The local authority will contact the school if they require more information.
Gathering Information
If the local authority agrees to carry out an assessment of need, they will liaise with you, as the parent/carer, and with the school, and the NHS, to gather your child’s health care and social care needs. They will then commission an Educational Psychologist to carry out an assessment. All this information informs the local authority’s decision as to whether to issue an EHC plan.
What Is the End Goal?
When you are requesting an EHC plan you are looking to secure a legal document that outlines your child’s needs. This provides the education setting with a ‘prescription’ of how to support your child’s needs. The local authority will also determine what kind of school is best for your child: mainstream, designated special provision (DSP) or special school. From here you can make requests for a specific ‘named school’.
Appeal an Unreasonable Refusal
If you don’t agree with a decision made at any point in the process, don't feel defeated. You absolutely have the right to challenge this decision. You can request mediation or independent adjudication, which means a neutral third party will review the case. It’s another way of making sure your child’s needs are taken seriously.
Consider the Process and Wait Times
Whilst there are statutory timeframes, all within 20 weeks, for the EHC process, these are not always achieved. The process can stretch over several weeks or even months, and with waiting lists, it’s not uncommon for the entire process to take a year or longer.
One reason for this wait is the national shortage of Educational Psychologists, meaning that local authorities, in some areas, are commissioning private Educational Psychologists to help tackle the waiting times. Another reason is an increase in requests for EHC Plans. The Government states a 20.8% increase in requests from 2022 to 2023. To this end, make sure you get your Request for Statutory Assessment in with enough time if you are coming up for the transition from nursery to school or primary school to secondary school.
We get it - it’s a tough wait. But staying patient, persistent, and proactive will pay off.
How we can support you
Getting an EHC Plan in school can be difficult to achieve and the process can be frustrating. With persistence, preparation, and the right support, you can help your child access the help they need.
You don’t have to go through this journey alone. We know that navigating 'the system', accessing assessments, and supporting your child can be frustrating and often feels like an uphill struggle.
Get in touch, and our dedicated team of Neurodiversity Advisers can provide you with the support you need.
Grace Consulting are the UK’s founding providers of expert independent advice on elderly care advice, special needs advice and neurodiversity advice.
Independence and client wellbeing are at the heart of everything we do. We listen, reassure and advise you on how to move forwards and find the best possible solutions for your unique life challenges.
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