How I Beat the Council | EHCP & SEN School Placement Nailed: What Nobody Tells You

How I Beat the Council: EHCP & SEN School Placement Nailed | What Nobody Tells YouIn this episode of Beyond All Borders, Kelly Halls shares how she secured her son Forrest's Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and the specialist SEN school placement she wanted for him.Kelly started the process when Forrest was around two and a half. He was autistic, non-speaking, still in nappies and had significant communication and developmental needs. His mainstream nursery was supporting him, but Kelly was already thinking ahead to primary school.She explains why she requested the EHC needs assessment herself, what happened when Essex County Council refused to assess Forrest, her experience of mediation and why she prepared an appeal to the SEND Tribunal.When Essex eventually agreed to assess but an educational psychologist shortage threatened delays, Kelly paid around £1,300 for a private EP assessment. Essex accepted and used the report, but later refused to reimburse her. She challenged the decision through the complaints process and ultimately the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, which found in her favour.The journey continued through draft and final EHCPs, placement panels and another Tribunal appeal.In This Episode• What an EHCP is and how the process works• Requesting an EHC needs assessment yourself• Essex's refusal to assess• Mediation and SEND Tribunal• Getting the council to agree to assess• Paying privately for an educational psychologist• Draft and final EHCPs• Fighting for a specialist SEN school placement• Placement panels and school consultations• Keeping the Tribunal appeal open• Securing Forrest's specialist school• Blending specialist and mainstream nursery• Challenging the £1,300 EP cost• Ombudsman decision and refund• Why documenting everything mattersTimestamps00:00 - Understanding the EHCP Process04:56 - Facing Rejections and Mediation10:09 - Securing the Draft EHCP15:19 - Finalising the EHCP and School Acceptance20:33 - Achieving a Blended Nursery PlanUseful SEND ResourcesIPSEA - SEND law and EHCP advicehttps://www.ipsea.org.ukEssex SEND IASS - Free SEND information and advicehttps://www.essexsendiass.co.ukThis episode shares our personal experience and is not legal advice.Find Us🌐 Journawell: https://journawell.com🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/journawell-beyond-all-borders/id6794880683?l=en-GB▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Journawell-beyondallborders📱 TikTok: @kellyjacehallshttps://www.tiktok.com/@kellyjacehalls📸 Instagram: @journawellhttps://www.instagram.com/journawell/💙 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/journawellBecause no one should have to navigate life alone.