The EHCP Preparation Toolkit: Modules 1 and 2 - Getting Started

Navigating the EHCP process is exhausting. This toolkit gives you a place to start.

The EHCP Preparation Toolkit is a printable PDF for parents and carers of children with SEND in England. It gives you a calm, structured system for working out whether to apply for an EHCP, building your evidence, and making the strongest possible request to your Local Authority.

Covers Modules 1 and 2: Getting Ready and Making the Request.

What's inside — 8 tools across 10 printable pages:

✅ Do You Need an EHCP? — the legal test in plain English, a checklist of signs your child may qualify, and four common LA refusal reasons that are simply not supported by law.

📁 Evidence Collection Log — a running tracker to collect and organise school reports, professional assessments, diagnosis letters and medical records as you go.

✍️ My Child's Story Planner — guided writing prompts across all four areas of need recognised in the SEND Code of Practice. This is often the most powerful document a parent can put together.

👥 Professionals Involved Tracker — log every professional who has contact with your child, their details, their last report date, and whether the Local Authority has contacted them during the assessment.

📩 EHCP Request Letter Template — a legally grounded letter invoking section 36 of the Children and Families Act 2014. Fill in the highlighted sections and send.

⚖️ Unlawful Reasons Myth-Buster — six things Local Authorities say when refusing assessments that are not backed by law, with the correct legal response to each and tribunal success rate statistics.

📋 Submission Checklist — what to include with your request, how to send it securely, and exactly what to expect after you post or email it.

⏱️ 20-Week Statutory Timeline Tracker — a fillable tracker for every statutory milestone from Week 0 to the final EHCP. Log actual dates against deadlines so you always know where you stand.

This toolkit is for you if:

You are parenting a child with autism, ADHD or additional needs and the EHCP process feels confusing or overwhelming. You are not sure whether to apply or where to start. You have already made a request and want to stay on top of the process. You have received a refusal and want to understand your rights.

No legal jargon. No overwhelm. No perfection required. Just your next step, clearly laid out.

Please note: This toolkit is for guidance only and does not replace advice from IPSEA or a qualified SEND solicitor. It is based on the Children and Families Act 2014 and SEND Code of Practice and applies to England only.