Frequently asked questions
Is this legal advice?
No. We provide information about what the law and the SEND Code of Practice expect from an EHCP, plus drafting tools that help you write your response. We are not solicitors or advocates, and nothing on this site is legal advice. For advice on your specific situation, IPSEA, SOS!SEN and your local SENDIASS provide free help.
What do you do with my document?
During the free check, nothing leaves your browser — the analysis runs locally. If you buy the response package, we process the text you confirmed to generate your letter, we do not train any AI on it, uploaded files are deleted automatically within 30 days, and you can export or delete your data at any time. See our privacy page.
Does the checker work without my child's name?
Yes. The analysis does not need names. We actively suggest replacing your child's name with 'my child' before you start.
What if the checker finds nothing wrong?
Then the wording is in good shape — genuinely. Not every draft is weak. The paid package is there when you want the amendments assembled professionally, not because every draft fails.
Can you guarantee the council will accept the changes?
No — and no one honestly can. What we can guarantee is that your response will be specific, structured and grounded in what the law and the Code expect, which is the strongest written position a family can put forward. If you can't use the letter, you get your money back.
What happens after I send the letter?
The council must consider your representations, respond, and issue the final plan (normally within 8 weeks of the window closing). The final plan must name a school. If you disagree with the final plan, you can appeal Sections B, F and I to the SEND Tribunal — see our guide on refused amendments.
Do you replace EHCP advocates or IPSEA?
No. Advocates and charities like IPSEA and SOS!SEN provide advice and support, which is different from drafting. We signpost to them throughout. Many families use both.
Which plans does this work with?
Draft EHCPs in England. (Scotland and Wales run different systems — ASN and IDPs respectively.) The text-based checker works best with plans that include section headings.
Do we need a diagnosis to get an EHCP?
No. The assessment looks at needs and the support they require, not at labels. Many children receive EHCPs while still on waiting lists for autism or ADHD assessment. What strengthens an application is evidence of needs and of what the school has already tried.
How long does the whole EHCP process take?
The law sets a 20-week maximum from your assessment request to the final plan: the council decides whether to assess within 6 weeks, and if agreed, must issue the final plan within 20 weeks — counting the 15-day draft window and 8 weeks for finalisation. Many councils run late; every missed deadline is worth chasing in writing.
Can the council refuse to do an assessment?
Yes — about a quarter of requests are refused. But refusals can be appealed to the SEND Tribunal, and families win the overwhelming majority of cases that reach a hearing. The refusal letter must give reasons, and those reasons must be evidence-based.
What is the difference between Section B and Section F?
Section B lists your child's needs; Section F lists the provision that meets them. They must correspond — every need in B should have matching, specific, quantified provision in F, because F is the part the council is legally required to deliver.
Does an EHCP guarantee a place at a specific school?
The final plan must name a school in Section I. You can request your preferred school, and the council must name it unless it can show the placement is unsuitable or incompatible with the efficient education of others — and that no reasonable steps can fix that. Draft plans never name a school.
How much does an EHCP cost?
The assessment and the plan itself are free — they are the council's legal duty. What families sometimes pay for is help: private advocates charge £250–£1,400 per plan, which is exactly the gap our £39 response package exists to close. Free advice is always available from IPSEA, SOS!SEN and SENDIASS.
More questions? Contact us — a real person reads every message.