Frequently Asked Questions

SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) advocacy involves supporting families to navigate the complex system of special educational needs provision. An advocate helps you understand your rights, prepares you for meetings, reviews documentation, and ensures your child’s voice is heard throughout the process.

At Advocate4SEN, we combine legal expertise with lived experience to provide practical, empathetic support that gets results.

Yes, our expertise is specifically grounded in English SEND legislation, particularly the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland operate under distinct legal frameworks with different processes and terminology.

For cases outside England, we recommend seeking specialists familiar with those specific systems who can provide accurate, jurisdiction-specific advice.

We support children and young people from birth up to age 25, provided they remain in education or training. This includes:

• Early years (0-5) – securing appropriate provision from health and education services
• School age (5-16) – EHCP applications, annual reviews, and school placements
• Post-16 (16-25) – transition planning, further education support, and preparing for adulthood

Our response times depend on the urgency of your situation:

• Standard enquiries: Response within 24 hours (Monday-Friday)
• Urgent matters: Response within 2-4 hours during business hours
• Tribunal deadlines: Same-day response for imminent deadlines

For time-sensitive situations, we recommend booking our Priority Support package which guarantees expedited handling.

An Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is a legal document that describes a child or young person’s special educational needs, the support they require, and the outcomes they should achieve. It replaces the old Statement of SEN.

Your child may need an EHCP if:

• They have significant special educational needs that cannot be met through the school’s usual SEN support
• They require specialist provision or equipment
• They need support from health or social care services as well as education
• They are not making expected progress despite additional support

We offer a free Discovery Call to help you assess whether an EHCP application is appropriate for your situation.

The statutory timeframe for the EHCP process is 20 weeks from the initial request to the final plan being issued. However, this timeline is often missed. The process involves:

• Weeks 1-6: Local authority decides whether to assess
• Weeks 6-16: Assessment period (if agreed)
• Weeks 16-20: Draft plan issued, consultation on content, final plan

If the local authority refuses to assess or refuses to issue a plan, you have the right to appeal to the SEND Tribunal.

If your local authority refuses to assess or refuses to issue an EHCP, you have the right to appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (SEND). You must:

1. Consider mediation (mandatory in most cases before appealing)
2. Obtain a mediation certificate if mediation is unsuccessful or you decide not to mediate
3. Submit your appeal to the Tribunal within 2 months of the decision letter (or 1 month from the mediation certificate, whichever is later)

We strongly recommend seeking advocacy support for appeals, as the process involves legal arguments and evidence preparation. Our team can guide you through every step.

Yes, EHCPs must be reviewed at least annually, but you can request an earlier review if:

• Your child’s needs have changed significantly
• The provision is not being delivered as specified
• You are preparing for a transition (e.g., primary to secondary, or post-16)

You can also appeal to the Tribunal if you disagree with the content of the final EHCP, including the description of needs, provision specified, or the named school/setting.

The First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability) is an independent judicial body that hears appeals against decisions made by local authorities regarding SEND provision. The Tribunal has the power to:

• Order a local authority to carry out an EHC needs assessment
• Order a local authority to issue an EHCP
• Order changes to the contents of an EHCP (sections B, F and I)
• Order a particular school or setting to be named in the plan

Tribunal hearings are formal but not as intimidating as court proceedings. They are currently held remotely via video link.

No, you do not need legal representation. Many parents represent themselves successfully, especially with good advocacy support. You can have:

• A friend or family member to support you
• A SEND advocate (like ourselves) to help prepare and present your case
• Legal representation (solicitor or barrister) – though this is not usually publicly funded for SEND appeals

Our advocacy service includes preparing your appeal bundle, drafting witness statements, and attending the hearing with you to provide support and ensure your case is presented effectively.

From registering your appeal to the final hearing typically takes 4-6 months, though this can vary depending on the complexity of the case and Tribunal availability.

The process includes:

• Registration and initial response from the local authority
• Working document process (negotiating agreed facts)
• Evidence gathering and witness statements
• Final hearing (usually 1-2 days)
• Decision (usually sent within 10 working days of the hearing)

We can help you prepare a strong case from the outset to maximise your chances of success.

Strong evidence is crucial for Tribunal success. Useful evidence includes:

• Professional reports: Educational psychology, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, paediatric assessments
• School records: IEPs, provision maps, incident reports, attendance records
• Your own evidence: Diary of incidents, examples of unmet needs, witness statements
• Comparative information: Details of the school you want named and why it can meet needs

We help you identify, obtain and present the right evidence to build a compelling case.

We offer a range of advocacy services to support families at every stage:

• Discovery Call (Free): 30-minute introductory session to explore your situation and outline options
• Comprehensive Review (£150): 60-minute in-depth case analysis with written summary and action plan
• Priority Support (£200): 90-minute accelerated assistance for urgent situations
• EHCP Application Support: Guidance through the entire assessment process
• Tribunal Representation: Full support from appeal registration through to hearing
• Annual Review Support: Preparation and representation at EHCP review meetings
• School Exclusions: Support for managed moves and permanent exclusion appeals

Our free 30-minute Discovery Call is an opportunity for you to:

• Explain your current situation and concerns
• Learn about your legal rights and entitlements
• Understand the relevant processes (EHCP, Tribunal, etc.)
• Receive preliminary guidance on your options
• Discuss how we might help if you need ongoing support

There is absolutely no obligation to use our paid services after this call. We believe in empowering families with knowledge, regardless of whether you choose to proceed with us.

Yes, depending on your package and location, we can attend meetings with you including:

• EHCP assessment meetings
• Annual review meetings
• Multi-agency meetings
• SEND Tribunal hearings

We also offer remote support via video call for families further afield. Our presence ensures your voice is heard and that the meeting stays focused on your child’s needs.

Getting started is simple:

1. Book a free Discovery Call via our booking page or email us at hello@advocate4sen.com
2. Tell us about your situation – the more detail you provide, the better we can help
3. Receive tailored guidance on your options and next steps
4. Decide on ongoing support if you need it – no pressure either way

You can also join our Facebook Community Group for peer support and regular tips.

Our pricing is transparent and designed to be accessible:

• Discovery Call: FREE (30 minutes)
• Comprehensive Review: £150 (60 minutes + written summary)
• Priority Support: £200 (90 minutes for urgent cases)
• Tribunal packages: From £500 depending on complexity
• Ongoing advocacy: Hourly rates or fixed-fee packages available

We provide detailed quotes before any work begins so you know exactly what to expect.

Yes, we recognise that accessing SEND support can strain family finances. Options include:

• Payment plans: Spread the cost of larger packages over several months
• Pro bono support: Limited free support for families facing significant hardship, funded by our National Lottery grant
• Sliding scale: Reduced rates for families on means-tested benefits

Please discuss your circumstances with us – we’re committed to ensuring every child receives appropriate advocacy, regardless of ability to pay.

Possibly, depending on your circumstances:

• Legal expenses insurance: Check your home or car insurance policy for legal cover
• Charitable grants: Some charities provide grants for SEND advocacy – we can advise on applications
• Tribunal costs: If successful at Tribunal, you can apply for costs in certain circumstances, though this is rare
• Personal budgets: In some cases, advocacy can be funded from a personal budget or direct payments

We provide invoices for all services to support any reimbursement claims you make.

Yes, we offer several free resources:

• Free Discovery Call: 30 minutes of expert guidance
• Facebook Community Group: Peer support and regular tips from our team
• Resource Library: Guides, templates and fact sheets (coming soon)
• Email advice: Quick queries answered within 24 hours

Additionally, organisations like IPSEA and SOS!SEN offer free advice lines, though they cannot provide the ongoing, tailored support we offer.