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A Parent's Guide: How Can I Get An EHCP & Alternative Provision Support for My Child In Wokingham, Reading, Bracknell & RBWM

  • Writer: uGroup
    uGroup
  • Sep 25
  • 3 min read

Watching your child struggle at school is one of the toughest challenges a parent can face. When the mainstream environment is no longer working, alternative provision (AP) can be a powerful solution. This guide walks you through the steps to secure the right support for your child, empowering you to be their strongest advocate by working in partnership with the school.


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1. Start a Dialogue and Collaborate with the School 🤝

Before taking any formal steps, open a clear and collaborative dialogue with your child’s school. Working in partnership with the school is critical because their actions, or inaction, will form the basis of your case. Your first point of contact should be the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO).


What to do:

  • Document Everything: Keep a detailed record of every conversation, email, and meeting you have with the school. Log the dates, who you spoke to, and what was discussed.

  • Gather Evidence: Collect any reports from educational psychologists, paediatricians, or other professionals. Document your child’s behavior, emotional state, and attendance. This evidence will be invaluable later on.

  • Discuss Interventions: Ask the school what internal support and "reasonable adjustments" they have already put in place. This could include things like a personalized timetable, a quiet space to de-escalate, or additional in-class support.


2. Request an EHC Needs Assessment 📃

If you feel that the school's efforts are not sufficient, or if they suggest AP is needed, you have the legal right to request an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHC) needs assessment from your local authority. This is the official process to determine if your child needs an EHC plan.


How to make the request:

  • You can make a written request yourself. Many parents use a template letter from a reputable source like IPSEA (Independent Provider of Special Education Advice) to ensure they include all the necessary legal points. You can use their model letter to request an EHC needs assessment.


  • The written request for an EHC needs assessment should be sent to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) team of the specific local authority.

  • The legal test is simply whether your child “may have special educational needs” and whether “it may be necessary for special educational provision to be made in accordance with an EHC plan.” This is a low threshold, so even if the school has only provided basic support, you have a right to ask for an assessment.


  • The local authority must respond within 6 weeks of receiving your request.


3. Understand the EHC Plan 💭

If the EHC needs assessment shows your child requires more support than a mainstream school can provide, the local authority must issue a final EHC Plan within 20 weeks of your initial request.

  • A Legal Document: The EHC Plan is a legal document that outlines your child’s specific needs and the provision required to meet them. It is divided into clear sections that detail a child’s educational, health, and social care needs and the support they are entitled to.

  • Funding and Provision: The EHC plan will not typically name a specific AP provider, as AP is often a temporary measure. Instead, it will detail the type of provision that is needed, such as small group learning, therapeutic support, or a bespoke curriculum. The local authority is then legally obligated to fund this provision, which is how a placement in an AP like uReach is secured.


4. Don't Go It Alone: Seek Independent Support 📞

The journey to an EHCP can be long and challenging. You don’t have to do it alone—there are people and services who can help you.


  • SENDIASS: Every local authority has a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice, and Support Service (SENDIASS). This service is free, impartial, and confidential. They can help you write letters, understand the legal process, and attend meetings with you.

    • Wokingham: 0118 908 8233

    • Bracknell Forest: 01344 354011

    • Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead: 01628 683 182

    • Reading (Brighter Futures for Children): 0118 937 3421


  • Advocacy Groups: Organisations like IPSEA and SOS!SEN provide free legal advice and guidance on the EHC Plan process and your rights as a parent.

 
 
 

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