What to include in EHCP to support specialist secondary school placement?

78 replies

Sssteph · 26/03/2026 18:18

Hi everyone,

I’ve just received the draft EHCP for my son. He’s a dyslexic boy in Year 5, and he’s really struggling in mainstream school because he hasn’t had the right support so far.

We’re hoping he can get into Burlington House in Fulham when he starts secondary school, as it’s a specialist school that could really meet his needs.

I’m wondering if anyone here has experience with this: what’s really important to include in the EHCP to strengthen the case for a specialist secondary school? Are there specific targets, support types, or wording that make a difference?

I really want to make sure his plan reflects his needs properly, because the mainstream setting isn’t giving him the support he requires. Any advice, experiences, or tips would be so appreciated!

Thank you in advance.

OP posts:

ChasingMoreSleep · 30/03/2026 22:14

You can use all evidence to inform the amendments you propose, not just the EP report. If there is other evidence 1:2 (or any other ratio) is required, you can use that evidence. Although evidence from an EP is helpful, it doesn’t have to be from the EP. Other professionals can inform the EHC too.

Trialanderror23 · 30/03/2026 23:20

Lougle · 30/03/2026 22:01

You can't ask them to specify stuff that isn't in his reports. So do the reports recommend 1:2, daily support, 1 hour, etc?

Think back to the process:

EHC Needs Assessment is requested

LA considers if legal threshold is met (child has or may have SEN and may need provision from a Plan)
LA issues decision to assess needs
LA commissions assessments
Professionals meet child and assess
Professionals write reports stating the child's needs, outcomes and provision that will meet their needs.
LA read reports. They decide if a plan is needed. If they decide it isn't, they issue a refusal to issue an EHCP and give recommendations for support in school.

If they are satisfied that a plan is needed, and they are happy with the content of the report, they start to write the EHCP.
If they feel the report is not clear, or not evidenced, or they feel that the professional has made recommendations outside of their professional scope, they will go back to them to ask them to clarify/modify their report.
Draft report is sent to parents for comment.

So it all comes back to the reports. Do they specify and quantify support? If they don't, it's the report writer that needs to do so.

Edited

Show quote history

It says by “ who “ but not a specific amount of time just “ intensive “

ChasingMoreSleep · 30/03/2026 23:30

The ‘who’ element isn’t sufficient either.

“specialist teacher or trained TA” is too woolly. Is it a teacher or TA? Specialist in what? Trained in what? With what experience? What qualifications? Elsewhere just ‘staff’ and ‘adult’ are used. What staff? What adult?

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