What evidence do I need for an EHCP?

Strong applications typically include school progress data, SEN support plans and reviews, attendance and behaviour records, professional reports (educational psychologist, speech and language therapist, occupational therapist, paediatrician, CAMHS), and a clear parent chronology showing unmet need. You do not need every report before applying, but organised evidence strengthens your case.

Should I wait for the new SEND system?

If your child is struggling and support is not enough, waiting for reform is unlikely to resolve the problem. The current EHCP process is still the route parents use today. Evidence, school records and professional reports take time to gather — and local authority decisions and appeals can add further months of delay.

Do I need all evidence before applying?

No. You can request an EHC needs assessment with the evidence you have and continue gathering more during the process. However, organised evidence at the point of request strengthens your case — particularly if the local authority refuses and you need to appeal.

Can EHCP Clarity help me apply?

EHCP Clarity prepares the letter or grounds for the stage you are in, from the reports you send. You review it. You send it. Independent information is available from SENDIASS, IPSEA, or a SEN solicitor.

Evidence checklist

EHCP evidence checklist: get organised before SEND reform

Strong EHCP requests are built on clear evidence. If support is not enough, start collecting the right information now rather than trying to rebuild the story later.

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Get yours prepared — From £249 Full evidence checklist guide

What is your EHCP situation?

Tell us where you are. We match the document you need to send, then an assigned case professional prepares it. You review it. You send it.

What you instruct

Request letter£249
Appeal grounds£349
Challenge to the plan£449

The document you send
How to send it, and what to attach
One revision round of factual corrections

One case professional prepares and checks it. You review it. You send it.

Typically 5 working days after we have what we need.

Sample of a request letter · mock names

The most recent school assessment data from March 2025 shows that [CHILD] is working at a level approximately three years below his chronological age in reading and writing, and at least two years below in spoken language and verbal comprehension.

Read the full examples · What each price includes

Case preparation support only · Not legal advice or tribunal representation

Quick answer

You do not need every report before requesting an assessment, but organised evidence strengthens your case. School records, professional reports, parent chronology and examples of unmet need take time to gather — start now if support is not enough, regardless of SEND reform timelines.

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:

Evidence strong cases usually include

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

This guide shows what strong cases look like. We prepare the request letter, appeal grounds, or plan letter for your route.

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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 prepares

Matching maps your evidence to your child's needs and typical council reasons. A case professional prepares the assessment request from what you send. You review it. You send it.

Frequently asked questions

England · SEND

What evidence do I need for an EHCP?: Strong applications typically include school progress data, SEN support plans and reviews, attendance and behaviour records, professional reports (educational psychologist, speech and language therapist, occupational therapist, paediatrician, CAMHS), and a clear parent chronology showing unmet need. You do not need every report before applying, but organised evidence strengthens your case.
Should I wait for the new SEND system?: If your child is struggling and support is not enough, waiting for reform is unlikely to resolve the problem. The current EHCP process is still the route parents use today. Evidence, school records and professional reports take time to gather — and local authority decisions and appeals can add further months of delay.
Do I need all evidence before applying?: No. You can request an EHC needs assessment with the evidence you have and continue gathering more during the process. However, organised evidence at the point of request strengthens your case — particularly if the local authority refuses and you need to appeal.
Can EHCP Clarity help me apply?: EHCP Clarity prepares the letter or grounds for the stage you are in, from the reports you send. You review it. You send it. Independent information is available from SENDIASS, IPSEA, or a SEN solicitor.

Sources and further reading

GOV.UK — SEND reform: putting children and young people first (consultation) — Official government consultation on proposed SEND reforms
GOV.UK — SEND reform consultation (HTML version) — Full consultation document including ISP and Specialist Provision Package proposals
DfE Education Hub — What parents need to know about changes to the SEND system — Parent-facing explainer from the Department for Education
House of Commons Library — Schools White Paper 2026: SEND Reform (CBP-10550) — Independent parliamentary briefing on proposed reforms and transition timelines
GOV.UK — Children with special educational needs (current EHCP process) — Current statutory route for requesting an EHC needs assessment
SEND Code of Practice 2015 — Department for Education statutory guidance — Current law and guidance that still applies today

Important: EHCP Clarity provides general information and document-organisation support. It is not a law firm, does not provide legal advice and does not guarantee an EHC needs assessment, EHCP, school placement or tribunal outcome. Parents should use official guidance and seek specialist legal advice where needed.