EHCP Compass — free EHCP guidance and SEND support for families in England

Guides

Guides for SEND Parents

Guides go deeper than quick answers — each one walks you through a process from start to finish.

How to write a strong EHCP needs assessment request letter

What to include, what evidence to gather, and how to make your request as strong as possible.

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SEND Tribunal: what parents need to know before they appeal

How the SEND Tribunal works, success rates, and how to prepare your case.

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Understanding your child's EHCP: a parent's plain-English walkthrough

How to read your child's plan section by section, what good provision looks like, and the questions to ask before you sign off on it.

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Preparing for your child's annual review: a step-by-step checklist

What to prepare, who will be in the room, your rights during the meeting, and how to follow up if the outcome isn't what you expected.

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SEND and school transitions: moving schools without losing provision

What happens to your child's EHCP when they change schools — primary to secondary, moving local authority, or moving mid-year — and how to protect their provision during the gap.

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What happens if your council misses the 20-week EHCP deadline

The 20-week statutory deadline explained, what counts as missing it, and the practical steps to take when your local authority is late.

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What Section F of an EHCP must legally contain

Section F is the legally enforceable part of your child's EHCP. Here is exactly what must be in it, what good wording looks like, and the red-flag phrases to push back on.

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How to challenge an EHCP refusal step by step

Your council has refused to assess, refused to issue a plan, or proposed to cease one — here is the full step-by-step process for challenging the decision.

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