EHCP guidance

After diagnosis

A guided walkthrough of what happens after an autism diagnosis in England — who you'll see, what to ask your council, and how to request an EHC needs assessment.

Step 8 of 8

Free help with EHCP forms and appeals

Real free help exists for exactly the kind of form-filling and process support people often pay for.

If you've been quoted or have already paid for help filling in EHCP-related forms, that's most likely an independent SEN advisor or advocate -- a private, unregulated market with no set fees. Worth trying the free options below first; they cover much of the same ground.
  • SENDIASS -- statutory, free, and independent of the council; a service exists in every local authority area. Explicitly helps with understanding paperwork, form-filling, and preparing for meetings.
  • IPSEA -- free advice line, free template letters for nearly every stage of this process, and a free Tribunal Support Service if it gets that far.
  • SOS!SEN -- free helpline plus monthly walk-in advice sessions, including help preparing appeal documents.
  • Contact -- free helpline, and a directory of local Parent Carer Forums for peer support and local knowledge.
Sources
You've been through the whole pathway

Whenever you're ready, on-the-spectrum can help with the next part -- finding the right school or support near you.

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