EHCP - do I need lawyer

[Lauder123]

Hi - I am in the early stages of preparing to request an EHCP for my son who is 7. The school are supportive and an EP is preparing a report and we are collating various other professional reports. Do we need lawyers to make the initial application or can we or school submit it and could we just consider lawyers if we need to appeal? What do most parents do? I am concerned re costs especially since the expert reports are costing a lot of money and am concerned that legal costs could escalate. I also don't want to get the initial application wrong if it then makes it difficult to appeal. Does anyone have any experience with this? Thank you

Hi Lauder, I've let our Early Years team ( not in school yet) raise the request, not least they said it would be better received. Think it's better if you have a school to do it, but you want to stay on top of them and check when it's happening and push them often. I then intend to use an advocate (cheaper than a solicitor) for the next stages, I'm no expert though.

Hi Lauder

If the school are happy to apply let them, if not it's fairly easy to do yourself which I did

Expect a refusal to assess as its quite common, we held an informal meeting and they agreed to assess in less than 20 mins

Save your money for tribunals, lawyers at the start will achieve no more than you or school will by just completing a good application

Thank you. I will speak to school. It is such a mine field and I want to try and get it right. I am having to get lots of reports done which is costing a small fortune and think lawyers costs would have pushed me over the edge!!

On another group I'm on someone has recommended the IPSEA online training Foundation level law course, it's £79 and the lady who recommended it said she was finding it invaluable for understanding the laws, regulations and code of practice, I haven't looked into it yet. I'm in exactly the same position and feeling overwhelmed already and we've barely begun!