Free guidance for parents on Education, Health and Care plan assessments, annual reviews, choosing a school placement, tribunal appeals, and what your local authority is legally required to provide.
↓ Try the Checker NowChildren and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) have the right to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan if their needs cannot be met by the school alone. In England, the local authority must decide within 6 weeks whether to assess and complete the plan within 20 weeks.
Parents can appeal to the SEND Tribunal if they disagree with the EHC plan, the placement named, or a refusal to assess. Free impartial advice is available from SENDIASS in your area.
Key areas covered: SEND rights, EHC plan, SENDIASS, SEND tribunal, local authority, school placements, IPSA. Checked against official sources.
You can appeal the decision not to assess, not to issue a plan following assessment, or the specific content of sections relating to needs and provision — the SEND Tribunal is the independent body that hears these appeals, separate from the local authority itself.
You must consider mediation and obtain a certificate confirming this before appealing to the Tribunal, though you can decline to actually attend mediation itself and still proceed to appeal — this step exists to give both sides one more chance to resolve things without a formal hearing.
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Our guidance covers many common situations, but complex or high-stakes cases need professional advice. Official information: GOV.UK (England), GOV.WALES (Wales), mygov.scot (Scotland) and nidirect (Northern Ireland). For free help, contact Citizens Advice (England 0800 144 8848, Wales 0800 702 2020), Citizens Advice Scotland (0800 028 1456) or Advice NI (0800 915 4604), or speak to a solicitor.
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Describe your situation and we'll check your child's SEND rights
Scotland/Wales/NI: Different systems apply. Scotland uses Co-ordinated Support Plans. Wales uses Additional Learning Needs (ALN). N. Ireland uses Statements of SEN. Select your nation above for correct guidance.
Describe your SEND situation — include your child's age, what difficulties they have, what stage of the EHC process you are at, and what question you need answered.
Pick the closest one — any boxes you need will appear below.
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What can I actually appeal about an EHC plan?
You can appeal the decision not to assess, not to issue a plan following assessment, or the specific content of sections relating to needs and provision — the SEND Tribunal is the independent body that hears these appeals.
Do I need to try mediation before appealing?
You must consider mediation and obtain a certificate confirming this before appealing to the Tribunal, though you can decline to actually attend mediation itself and still proceed to appeal.
How long do I have to appeal an EHC plan decision?
In England, generally 2 months from the date of the decision, or 1 month from receiving a mediation certificate if that's later — missing this deadline can mean losing the right to appeal that specific decision.
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The checker answers only from the guide for the nation you choose, plus what you tell it. If your question is not covered there, it says so instead of guessing. Each guide was checked against primary sources on 24 September 2026.
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Directed and published by Matt Thompson, founder of UK Work Rights. Guidance checked against GOV.UK, ACAS and legislation.gov.uk. This is general rights guidance, not legal advice.
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