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Original poster

ECHP appeals advice

3 replies

SENmumof2boys · 23/02/2026 20:42

Hi

looking for advice from anyone who has knowledge of the appeals process for an ECHP school placement.

my son is in year 6 and has a diagnosis of autism - we would like him to attend local autism specialist school. Received his ECHP back last week and said no school placement given yet as they are still consulting and they have just named ‘specialist provision’.

council are saying the high school we wanted have said they can’t meet his needs as parts of his ECHP refer to opportunities for play based learning which they said means he needs a play based curriculum they can’t provide and would impact the provision of efficient education to other children.

any tips on how I can best prepare my appeal for this?

OP posts:
ExistingonCoffee · 23/02/2026 20:57

Get your appeal in ASAP. Appeal B&F as well as I.

Have you spoken to the school? And other possible schools?

Look at your evidence. Consider if you need independent assessments. Submit SARs to the LA, current school, preferred schools, any other schools you know or suspect have been consulted and other services/professionals involved.

You need to ask for specifics about incompatibility with the efficient education of others. You need details (e.g. what incompatibility, what DC, can anything overcome it…) rather than vague reasons LAs often rely on. It has to be something tangible and specific and is more than an “adverse effect”, “impact on” or “prejudicial to”

Is your preferred school wholly independent or not?

‘Opportunities for’ is really vague wording. It will depend on the exact wording but opportunities for play based learning doesn’t necessary mean the whole curriculum needs to be play based. You will need to look at the wording, look at the evidence and consider if both are accurate.

Original poster
SENmumof2boys · 24/02/2026 04:14

ExistingonCoffee · 23/02/2026 20:57

Get your appeal in ASAP. Appeal B&F as well as I.

Have you spoken to the school? And other possible schools?

Look at your evidence. Consider if you need independent assessments. Submit SARs to the LA, current school, preferred schools, any other schools you know or suspect have been consulted and other services/professionals involved.

You need to ask for specifics about incompatibility with the efficient education of others. You need details (e.g. what incompatibility, what DC, can anything overcome it…) rather than vague reasons LAs often rely on. It has to be something tangible and specific and is more than an “adverse effect”, “impact on” or “prejudicial to”

Is your preferred school wholly independent or not?

‘Opportunities for’ is really vague wording. It will depend on the exact wording but opportunities for play based learning doesn’t necessary mean the whole curriculum needs to be play based. You will need to look at the wording, look at the evidence and consider if both are accurate.

Thank you for the advice - it’s not an independent school just local SEN school specialising in autism.

that is the wording “opportunities for play based learning” - I don’t think he needs a play based curriculum and can’t see any reason why the school couldn’t meet his needs. He has never had any behavioural issues at his current school so simply can’t see any evidence that his inclusion would impact the learning of others.

OP posts:
ExistingonCoffee · 24/02/2026 11:16

That wording doesn’t mean a full play based curriculum. However, that wording is also far too vague and woolly.

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