What happens at EHCP panel

[4StoneToLose]

My son’s decision as to whether to issue an EHCP is due to go to panel next week.

can anyone talk me through the process?

When should we hear the outcome and do they tell you what they will recommend or just whether or not they’ll issue an ehcp.

We want him to get a place at a specialist school. Is that done at the draft ehcp stage or do they tell you after the panel meeting?

If the LA is not going to issue they must inform you by week 16. If they are going to issue they must finalise by week 20 and in order to do so should issue a draft by week 14. A draft will include the special educational provision they propose to include in the finalised EHCP and you will get the chance to make comments and name your preferred school.

The process of the ‘panel’ varies area to area. And may not exist in the way you are imagining, or even at all (some years ago a MN’er caught their LA out when with FOI request which showed the panel they claimed to make decisions didn’t exist).