What evidence helps
The local authority must consider whether your child has or may have SEN and whether it may be necessary to make provision through an EHCP. Evidence should show the nature of need, what has been tried, and why current support is insufficient.
School evidence
- School progress data and attainment records (including below age-related expectations)
- SEN support plans and review minutes
- Provision maps showing what support is actually delivered
- Teacher and SENDCO observations
- Internal referral records and early help assessments
Professional reports
- Educational psychologist report
- Speech and language therapy report
- Occupational therapy report
- Paediatrician or consultant letter
- CAMHS or mental health assessment
- Private assessments commissioned by the family
Parent chronology
Your own record is powerful evidence. Document specific examples with dates:
Checklist: before you start
- When difficulties first became apparent
- Impact at home — sleep, eating, behaviour, family life
- What you have asked school to do and their response
- Strategies tried and whether they worked
- Any escalation — reduced timetable, exclusions, school refusal
Examples of unmet need
- Gap between what school says it provides and what your child receives
- Progress stalling or regressing despite support
- Needs spanning education, health and social care
- Support that cannot be delivered from mainstream school resources (mainstream school resources threshold)
SEN Support records
- Assess-plan-do-review cycle documentation
- Emails requesting SEN support or raising concerns
- Governor complaints or escalation letters
- Evidence that SEN support has been tried and is insufficient
Attendance, behaviour and exclusions
- Attendance records and absence patterns
- Behaviour logs and incident reports
- Fixed-term and permanent exclusion letters
- Reduced timetable agreements (if any)
Progress data
- Standardised test scores over time
- Work samples showing difficulty
- Comparison to age-related expectations
- Reports from interventions (e.g. reading recovery, nurture group)
Health and care evidence
- Diagnosis letters (helpful but not required)
- Therapy discharge summaries
- GP referrals and paediatric clinic letters
- Social care assessments if applicable
What EHCP Clarity helps organise
EHCP Clarity maps your evidence to your child's needs, identifies gaps, builds your parent chronology, and drafts your assessment request and parent statement for your review. £149/year — organise at your pace while you gather remaining documents.