🎓 The Last Week of Term: Where We’ve Been – and Where We Must Go Next

The Last Week of Term: Where We’ve Been – and Where We Must Go Next

By Rebekah Herbert – Independent SEND Advisor

www.independentsendehcp.co.uk | ✉️ rebekah@independentsendehcp.co.uk

As we reach the end of the school year, many families feel a huge sense of relief. The relentless stress of unmet needs, unlawful delays, and exhausting school days finally eases — even if just for a few weeks.

For some children, this marks the end of a school placement that simply didn’t work. For others, it's a worrying pause in a journey just beginning — navigating the EHCP process, trying to secure support, or dealing with broken promises from Local Authorities (LAs).

This week alone, I’ve supported clients across Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Hounslow in meetings where annual reviews were overdue or unlawfully delayed. I’ve intervened in two cases where young people with EHCPs were receiving just 1 hour of education per day — with no lawful plan in place to increase that.

One LA told me outright, “We don’t do EOTAS.”

My response?

> “You don’t get to choose. The provision is specified in Section F. It must be commissioned and delivered — regardless of what you call it.”

And guess what? They backed down.

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📉 EHCPs Being Quietly Undermined

In one case this week, I saw the EHCP heading “Communication and Interaction” quietly changed to “Communication and Friendships.” It may seem small — but it’s not. LAs are now rewording the four areas of need and watering down the specific statutory language found in the Children and Families Act 2014, SEND Regulations 2014, and SEND Code of Practice (2015).

These changes remove legal clarity and make it harder for parents to challenge support that isn’t being delivered. It’s a worrying trend — one that appears to reflect wording from the proposed (but not passed) Children and Young People’s Wellbeing Bill.

Let’s be clear:

> ⚠️ It is unlawful for Local Authorities to rewrite EHCPs based on a Bill that has not passed into law.

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💥 Why This Matters More Than Ever

The rise in privatisation, outsourcing, and vague EHCPs means families are again being pushed to the sidelines. It feels like we’ve gone full circle — back to pre-2014, when there was no enforceable plan and little accountability.

Every day a child spends in an unsuitable placement is another lost opportunity for learning, therapeutic input, and choice.

It’s another moment where the system chips away at your child’s future.

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✅ What Now? Don’t Pause – Plan.

Summer can feel like a lull. But this is when the groundwork gets laid for real change in September. That’s why I’m offering dedicated 1:1 support over the summer — so no family is left waiting, wondering, or worrying about what to do next.

🔹 1:1 Mentoring Sessions – £30/hour (reduced summer rate)

Tailored support to help you:

Understand your child’s EHCP

Prepare for September meetings

Create structure and independence with visuals over the holidays

Navigate proposed amendments and LA correspondence

Build a clear, proactive support package

🔹 Personal Masterclasses – Booked Individually

Focused 1:1 sessions on:

Section B, E and F – what should be there and how to fix it

How to write pre-meeting letters, complaints and legal challenges

Understanding your legal rights under the Children and Families Act 2014

EOTAS and flexi-schooling: when and how to secure them

How to keep your LA accountable

All sessions come with written notes, templates, and an action plan.

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📩 Let’s talk. Book a free consultation to find out how I can support you — and walk you through your next steps.

🌐 www.independentsendehcp.co.uk

📧 rebekah@independentsendehcp.co.uk

Let’s make sure that by September, you’re not starting from scratch. You’re stepping forward — informed, supported, and ready.

#EHCPsupport #SENDlaw #IndependentSENDAdvice #BackToSchoolSupport #EOTAS #KnowYourRights #ChildrenAndFamiliesAct #SENDCodeOfPractice #SummerSupport #ParentAdvocate