When a Draft EHCP Looks “Good” but Still Isn’t Strong Enough

By the time most parents receive a draft Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), they are exhausted.

They have filled in forms, gathered evidence, chased professionals, attended meetings, and waited months, sometimes longer, just to reach this stage. So when the draft finally arrives, it is completely understandable to feel relief.

Many parents read it and think, “This looks good. Surely this will meet my child’s needs.”

But for many families, it is only after the EHCP has been implemented that they realise the plan is not as strong as they thought.

Parents Are Expected to Understand a Complex Document They Have Likely Never Seen Before

Most parents have never read a full EHCP before receiving their child’s draft. Yet they are suddenly expected to understand what each section of the plan is for, how the sections should link together, what wording is legally meaningful, and how to request changes within a short timeframe.

All of this happens at a point when parents are often emotionally drained and already stretched thin. The EHCP is a legal document, but parents are rarely supported to understand how it works in practice.

A Draft EHCP Is Not Just One Document

Reviewing a draft EHCP is not simply about reading the plan itself. To properly understand whether it is accurate and robust, it needs to be cross-referenced with the professional reports used during the assessment.

This is an area where issues commonly arise.

It is not unusual for recommendations in reports, particularly educational psychology reports, to be altered when they appear in the EHCP. For example, a report might state that a child will read daily for 10 minutes on a one-to-one basis, but the EHCP may say the child will read daily in small groups.

Although this change may appear minor, it significantly alters the level and type of support. These differences are not always obvious, especially when parents are reading a lengthy draft for the first time.

Why These Changes Are Often Missed

Parents are expected to look for inaccuracies, omissions, unclear wording, and inconsistencies between reports and the EHCP, all while navigating a document that can run to many pages.

To properly check a draft EHCP against all supporting evidence can take hours. This is time that many parents simply do not have, particularly after the long and demanding process of getting to this stage. As a result, important changes can be missed, even by parents who are doing their absolute best.

When Wording Is Too Loose, Support May Not Be Enforceable

Many parents assume that if support is written into an EHCP, it will automatically be put in place.

In reality, wording matters a great deal.

If provision is described too loosely, it can be difficult to ensure it happens consistently, because the plan does not clearly define what must be delivered, how often, or by whom. Parents may believe something should be happening, while schools are working within the wording of the EHCP as it is written.

Over time, this can lead to frustration and strain relationships between parents and schools, even when everyone involved is trying to do the right thing.

Lengthy or Unfocused Information Can Weaken a Plan

Another common issue is that information taken from parent submissions and evidence is sometimes included in the EHCP without being refined.

This can result in long, wordy sections where key points are buried within unnecessary detail. Schools use EHCPs to determine if they will be able to meet a student’s needs. When plans are overly lengthy or unfocused, it can make it harder for staff to quickly identify what is essential and what needs to be prioritised.

Clear, concise wording helps everyone involved.

Why the Draft Stage Matters So Much

The draft stage exists to allow time for reflection and refinement before the plan becomes final and legally binding.

It is the point where parents can consider whether the wording accurately reflects professional recommendations, whether the support means in practice what they expect it to mean, and whether the plan will be clear and usable for the school.

Once an EHCP is finalised, changes often take much longer and usually only happen once difficulties have already arisen.

Support for Parents Reviewing a Draft EHCP

If you are reviewing a draft EHCP and feeling overwhelmed or unsure what to focus on, you are not alone.

I offer a service to review draft EHCPs and provide clear, practical feedback on the strength and clarity of the plan. Information about this can be found under Services, you can also see up to date pricing for this.

I have also created a Draft EHCP Review Guide for Parents, A Parent's Guide to Reviewing a Draft EHCP: by SEND Meadow - Etsy UK, designed to help families understand what really matters at the draft stage and why. This can be bought on Etsy using the link above, or you can message us on social media or via email to buy the draft directly (it works out a little cheaper this way!).

Because a plan that looks good on paper should also work well in practice, for your child and for the school supporting them.