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EHCP Application Support

Where a child’s special educational needs are not being adequately supported, making an EHCP assessment request requires clear evidence and careful consideration of the legal criteria. Aldwych Legal can help you understand your position and connect you with a solicitor from our network for legal guidance.

Special Educational Needs

Securing Appropriate Educational Support

When a child or young person’s needs are not being met through ordinarily available support, families may need help making an EHCP application.

An EHCP assessment request asks the local authority to consider whether statutory assessment is necessary, with evidence about special educational needs, outcomes and provision requiring careful presentation.

Aldwych Legal can review the circumstances, clarify the relevant considerations and connect you with a solicitor from our network for tailored advice.

Important Issues Involved In EHCP Applications

Clear description of special educational needs
Evidence from education, health and other professionals
Whether statutory assessment criteria may be met
Educational outcomes and provision required
Health and social care needs connected to education
Local authority decisions and available challenge routes

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EHCP Legal Support

Legal Support for EHCP Applications

Applying for an Education, Health and Care Plan can involve more than completing a form. Aldwych Legal provides focused legal assistance with EHCP applications, from assessing your position and formulating the request to supporting challenges where an assessment is refused. Where solicitor representation is appropriate, we can connect you with a solicitor from our network.

Initial EHCP Advice

Receive tailored advice on whether an EHCP assessment request is appropriate, the concerns it should address and the legal options available. This can help you determine whether specialist assistance is needed before submitting an application.

Application Advocacy

Where the matter requires formal advocacy, we can connect you with a solicitor from our network to advise on communications, submissions and representation concerning the EHCP application. This may be relevant where the issues are contested or legally complex.

Assessment Request Support

We can help formulate and prepare a focused EHCP assessment request, setting out the child’s or young person’s special educational needs and why statutory assessment should be considered. Our support is tailored to the circumstances of the individual case.

Challenging Refusal

If an EHCP assessment request is refused, we can advise on the legal options for challenging that decision, including whether an appeal may be appropriate. We can also connect you with a solicitor from our network for advice or representation where required.

Adam Hussain

Meet Your Specialist Education Lawyer

Adam Hussain has successfully handled education disputes involving leading institutions. His wider casework includes matters involving UCL, London South Bank University, Edge Hill University, the University of Central Lancashire and City, University of London.

His experience spans allegations of plagiarism and unauthorised AI use, academic appeals, suspension and expulsion, disputed placements and fitness-to-practise investigations. These are cases in which a carefully prepared response can be critical to a student’s degree, professional reputation and future career. His education work also extends to school exclusions and special educational needs placement concerns, helping families challenge decisions affecting their children’s access to appropriate education.

Adam’s approach is built on close examination of the institution’s own evidence and procedures. He scrutinises assessment instructions, authorship records, supervisor reports and panel reasoning to identify what is unsupported, inconsistent or procedurally unfair. He then develops focused representations and appeals, distinguishing grounds for challenging an allegation from evidence relevant to mitigation or the severity of a sanction. Clients receive a clear explanation of where their case is strongest and what is needed to support it.

An LL.M. graduate of King’s College London, Adam has undertaken Barriser training at The University of Law and is pursuing PhD research in Legal Science at Royal Holloway, University of London. His academic background complements practical experience in public law, professional regulation, human rights and institutional decision-making.

As Director of Aldwych Legal, Adam brings this combination of academic understanding and contested casework to the firm’s education practice.

How We Help

Practical Support for Your EHCP Application

01

Understand Needs

We help you identify the information that should support an EHCP assessment request, including relevant reports, school records and examples of your child’s needs. We can explain gaps and suggest practical ways to obtain further evidence.

02

Prepare Your Request

We can help draft a clear, focused EHCP assessment request that explains your child’s needs and the support sought. We can help organise supporting documents and ensure the submission presents relevant information in a coherent, accessible format.

03

Manage Communications

We can help you manage communications with the school and local authority, including reviewing requests for information, clarifying responses and preparing written replies. This helps keep the focus on your child’s needs and ensures important points are communicated clearly.

04

Challenge Decisions

If an assessment is refused, delayed or a proposed plan does not address needs, Aldwych can review the decision, explain available options and help prepare a proportionate response. Where formal challenge or representation is appropriate, we can connect you with a solicitor from our network.

Locations We Serve Across the UK

A Closer Look

Important Matters When Considering an EHCP Assessment Request

An EHCP assessment request requires more than identifying special educational needs. The evidence, educational impact, support already available, and child or young person’s and family’s views may all influence how the request is considered and whether an Education, Health and Care Plan is appropriate.

Evidence of Need

Professional and educational evidence may need to show the nature of the special educational needs, their effect on learning, and why existing support may be insufficient.

Existing Provision

Careful consideration may be needed of support already provided, its consistency and outcomes, and whether the child or young person’s needs can reasonably be met without an EHCP.

Family and Child Views

The views, wishes and feelings of the child or young person and their parents can provide important context, including priorities, daily difficulties and desired educational outcomes.

Application Records

The route used to apply for an EHCP, and the records accompanying it, may matter where information is incomplete, outdated or inconsistent.

Why Choose Us

Why Choose Aldwych for EHCP Applications

Choosing support for an EHCP application requires more than generic information. Aldwych Legal combines clear, practical advice with a tailored understanding of each family’s circumstances, offering a measured legal perspective and access to connected professionals where appropriate.

01

Clear, Practical Guidance

Aldwych explains the legal position in plain, measured language, helping families understand their options when considering how to apply for an EHCP without unnecessary jargon or pressure.

02

Advice Tailored to You

Every family’s position is different. Aldwych adapts its advice to the child’s needs, family context and objectives, rather than relying on standardised language or one-size-fits-all recommendations.

03

Strategic Legal Perspective

Clients benefit from advice that considers the wider circumstances, not just the immediate question, so decisions about an EHCP assessment request are informed, proportionate and aligned with their priorities.

04

Connected Legal Professionals

If an EHCP application solicitor is needed, Aldwych can connect you with a suitable solicitor in its network, while keeping advice coordinated with the wider legal perspective.

EHCP Application FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can make an EHCP application for a child?

A parent, young person aged 16 to 25, or someone acting on their behalf can request an Education, Health and Care needs assessment. Schools and other professionals may also request one. The child or young person must have, or possibly have, special educational needs requiring provision beyond ordinarily available support.

How do I apply for an EHCP assessment?

To apply for an EHCP, you usually write to your local authority requesting an EHC needs assessment. Explain the difficulties involved, support already provided, and why further assessment is necessary. Include relevant reports, school records, and examples showing how special educational needs affect education and daily participation.

What evidence supports an EHCP assessment request?

Useful evidence may include educational psychology reports, medical information, speech and language assessments, school progress data, individual support plans, exclusion records, and correspondence about unmet needs. Evidence should show the support tried, its impact, and why a coordinated plan may be necessary to achieve suitable educational outcomes.

What happens after requesting an EHC needs assessment?

The local authority should decide within six weeks whether to assess. If it agrees, information is gathered from the family, school, health professionals, and other relevant services. The authority then decides whether an EHCP is required and, if appropriate, consults on a draft plan.

What if the local authority refuses assessment?

If the authority refuses an assessment, it must provide written reasons and explain appeal rights. You can challenge the decision through mediation and, where appropriate, an appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability). Our team can advise on evidence, deadlines, and suitable grounds.

How long does the EHCP application process take?

The full process usually takes up to 20 weeks from the initial assessment request to a final EHCP, subject to limited exceptions. Delays can affect educational support, school planning, and transitions. Keep records of correspondence and seek advice promptly if statutory timescales are missed.

When should I instruct an EHCP application solicitor?

Early legal advice can help where needs are complex, evidence is disputed, support has repeatedly failed, or the local authority is resisting assessment. If you are searching for an EHCP application solicitor, Aldwych Legal’s lawyers and barristers can provide advice and representation without describing Aldwych as a solicitor practice.

Can you help if the draft EHCP is unsuitable?

Yes. We can review draft wording, identify missing or vague provision, and advise on requested amendments. This may include specifying support, outcomes, placement, health or social care provision, and responsibility for delivery. Raising concerns during consultation can help resolve issues before the final plan is issued.

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