Refusal to issue an EHC plan (appealing the decision)

The  SEND Code of Practice 2015 says…

‘Where, despite appropriate assessment and provision, the child or young person is not progressing, or not progressing sufficiently well, the local authority should consider what further provision may be needed. The local authority should take into account:

• whether the special educational provision required to meet the child or young person’s needs can reasonably be provided from within the resources normally available to mainstream early years providers, schools and post-16 institutions, or
• whether it may be necessary for the local authority to make special educational provision in accordance with an EHC plan’ (9.55)

So what does this mean?

In reaching their decision the local authority should consider:

• the information gathered during the EHC needs assessment
• the child or young person’s SEN
• the Special Educational Provision being made

Where the child ot young person is not making expected progress, despite appropriate provision they should consider:

• any further Special Educational Provision needed
• whether the required provision could reasonably be provided from within the resources normally available to the education setting or

whether it is necessary for the local authority to make special educational provision in accordance with an EHC plan

Your appeal needs to explain and evidence reasons why you believe it is necessary for the special educational provision to be set out in an EHC plan.

Key reasons usually fall into these categories:

1. there were gaps in understanding your child’s SEN prior to assessment, and the provision may not have been ‘well-matched’
2. progress* is not sufficient despite appropriate provision and
3. the required special educational provision cannot be provided without an EHC plan (eg. the setting cannot be reasonably expected to provide from within their own resources or where you are seeking a specialist setting**

*progress is not limited to academic attainment and can be across any of the four broad areas of need (communication and interaction; cognition and learning; social, emotional and mental health difficulties; sensory and/or physical. See 6.28 to 6.34 of the
SEND Code of Practice for a full definition)

**Read our information about Funding – settings can apply for top-up (high needs) funding without an EHC plan. You will need to consider how you can show the needs of your child are over and above what the setting can provide within the available funding.

With point 1 it may be difficult to counter a local authority view that the EHC needs assessment process has identified further provision which can be reasonably provided by the setting.

With points 2 & 3 it will be essential to look at what the local authority expect schools and settings to provide, what is already being put in place, and what progress is being made.

You can find out what is generally available within the Suffolk Local Offer , but if you can’t easily find what you need, you can request this with the local authority by letter or email.

Supporting evidence

Read the school’s SEN policy, SEN Information report and accessibility plan (explains adjustments made for disabled pupils and ongoing plans to improve access). You can print off or screenshot anything that is relevant. If you can’t find something you can request information from school – see also within appeal process dropdown.

See below for some examples of supporting evidence…

• Your child/young person’s views
• Progress reports
• IEP/support plan/pupil passport/provision map
• School costs – budget required for provision
• Home/school diaries
• Assesment/specialist reports
• Exclusion letters/reports
• Letters/emails from setting/local authority/health/specialist
• Examples of school or homework (can be helpful where rate of progress is in dispute)
• You can request a copy of your child’s school record (you will likely be charged for photocopying)

Consider the local authority view

The decision letter from the local authority should explain why they decided not to issue an Education Health and Care plan.

They may have suggested changes to provision and you will need to consider your counter-argument here as to why you believe this provision can only be met by having an EHC plan.

Have the local authority taken everything into account? Read our information ‘deciding whether to issue a plan‘ or take a look at the
SEND Code of Practice (9.55).

Consider the setting/school view

Where the setting are in support of your case, they are likely to be happy to share with you any supporting evidence, for example, a provision map outlining the required provision and related costs. They may also agree to provide a witness statement in support of your case – see further down information about witnesses.

What if school are not in support?

In this circumstance the local authority will be likely to include information from school as evidence for their case, so it is important to understand the arguments you will be up against.

Talk to school about why they do not feel an EHC plan is necessary, and how they will be able to make the provision without one. Where they disagree about the rate of progress, use the opportunity to unpick this further.

Remember when we talk about progress this should not be limited to academic attainment, there may be wider needs which are having an impact to your child’s learning. Consider whether the provision proposed meets all the needs of your child.

Witnesses

You can ask professionals to be your witness, establish whether they will be in support of your appeal. You can ask if they will provide a letter or report which helps you to evidence your key points, that you can include in your appeal.

You could ask if they will come along to the hearing, if they decline you can request a summons for them to attend – before you do this be sure they intend to support your case!

Private therapists and psychologists are likely to charge a daily fee to attend a hearing, which will be your responsibility to cover.