Advocate Of Hope

EHCP Battle Field

The journey towards securing an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) for a child with needs or disabilities can feel like entering a battlefield. It’s fraught with obstacles, so much so that many of us find ourselves in the daunting position of having to take legal action against councils for their failure to assess, or for issuing EHCPs that completely overlook the unique needs of our children.

Councils, overwhelmed by the increasing demand for EHCPs, often prolong these processes in a bid to save resources. Consequently, numerous parents, constrained by time, finances, or confidence, feel compelled to surrender.

However, it’s crucial to remember that when parents persevere, when they take their cause to a tribunal, a staggering 95% of these cases rule in favour of the child. This statistic is a beacon of hope and a testament to the importance of not giving up.

Yet, I can’t lay all the blame at the council’s door, because it is also the result of the previous conservative governmental policies that, while extending the maximum age for EHCP entitlement to 25, failed to allocate the necessary funding to support this extension. Combine this with cuts to council budgets, reduced school resources, and fewer teaching assistants, is it any wonder mainstream schools are struggling to support children with complex needs?

The EHCP stands as one of the few lifelines for receiving adequate support, a legally binding document that promises our children the help they deserve. But as long as the focus remains on cost-cutting rather than on the welfare of SEND children, we will continue to witness the sidelining of those with the most complex needs.

So let this be a call to action for each one of us. We must raise our voices, vote, sign petitions, and lobby parliament. The children of this generation, more than any before, need us to champion their cause. While this journey may seem daunting for any one of us to face alone, remember, that there is strength in numbers. I believe together, we can shift the tide.

Please follow for more support and encouragement, because together, we can ensure that our children are not merely surviving but thriving, equipped with the support and opportunities they rightfully deserve.

Thank you for reading, and all the best to you and your family