About this guide
Why I wrote this guide
I'm a qualified teacher, SENDCo and former EHCP plan writer. During my career I've written and reviewed hundreds of EHCPs and supported families through the draft consultation process.
One thing always stayed with me.
Parents were often expected to review one of the most important documents in their child's education within just 15 days — alongside lengthy professional reports and complex terminology — with very little accessible guidance.
It often felt unfair that families were expected to navigate such an important process with so little support, leaving many feeling overwhelmed and not knowing where to start.
That's why I created this guide.
Inside the guide
What you'll learn
This guide isn't intended to be a long checklist of absolutely everything an EHCP should contain. Instead, it shares some of the most common issues I came across when writing and reviewing EHCPs, together with practical things you can check yourself to better understand your child's plan.
Understanding the golden thread
How needs, outcomes and provision should connect across your child's EHCP.
Needs vs provision
Understanding the difference between what your child needs and what support should be provided.
What good outcomes look like
How to recognise outcomes that are specific, meaningful and genuinely aspirational.
Common issues in Section F
The most frequent problems I saw in Section F and what to look out for in your child's plan.
Practical checks for each section
Simple, accessible things you can look for yourself when reviewing each section of the EHCP.
Want to go further?
Looking for a more detailed review?
This guide introduces some of the most common things I would check when reviewing a draft EHCP.
EHCP Enhance takes a much more detailed look, reviewing your whole plan against an extensive set of quality criteria developed through years of professional EHCP writing and review experience. The report helps parents identify strengths, highlight areas that may need clarification, and understand how well needs, outcomes and provision work together across the whole plan.
Overall quality summary
A clear, plain-English overview of how well the plan works as a whole.
Strengths already within the plan
Recognition of what is already working well in your child's EHCP.
Areas that may need strengthening
Specific sections or elements that could benefit from greater clarity or detail.
Detailed professional review
A thorough review against quality criteria developed through years of professional EHCP experience.
Practical next steps
Guidance to help you understand what questions to ask and what changes to consider requesting.
Our approach
Why EHCP Enhance is different
Professional SEND expertise
Built on years of real-world experience writing, reviewing and quality assuring EHCPs.
Secure digital expertise
Developed alongside a digital strategist with over 20 years' experience designing secure online services.
Evidence-based methodology
Every review follows the SEND Code of Practice and a professional quality framework developed through practical EHCP experience.
Know another family who may find this helpful?
If this guide has been useful, please consider sharing it with another parent or carer who is reviewing a draft EHCP. You can also follow EHCP Enhance on Facebook, where we'll continue to share free guidance, practical tips and resources to help families better understand their child's EHCP.