EP report/ehcp plan how accurate/

mark141175

I’m looking for advice regarding my 14 years old daughter with Educational Psychologist (EP) report, which I’ve only recently found after her latest EHCP annual review. I’m still learning about the EHCP process, but I’ve always felt something didn’t seem right with her plan. The EP report is nearly 3 years old and was written while she was still in primary school to support her transition to secondary. It doesn’t reflect her current situation at all — it has the wrong address, school details, and outdated wellbeing cards which she completed back then. If she completed those same cards now, at least 90% of the answers would be different. The coping strategies listed haven’t been used since primary, and it mentions self-harm but with no explanation. That stopped when my child came to live with me, and the report doesn’t explain what was happening at the time or why.

Most importantly, the EP report doesn’t mention the past two years of trauma my child’ has been through — especially the ongoing bullying in and around the SEN classroom — which has caused her to completely reject mainstream school due to its negative impact on her mental health. She now wants to be in a special school, specifically saying she wants to be around pupils like her, with autism or similar needs. I’m trying to get her into a special school as that’s clearly what she needs now, but I’m concerned the outdated EP report (which is mirrored throughout her current EHCP plan) is affecting the consultation responses from specialist schools. Is this correct? Shouldn’t the EP report be up to date and reflect on the child’s current needs so that schools can properly assess if they can meet them? Because at the moment, it’s completely inaccurate and I believe it’s stopping her from getting the support and placement she desperately needs. I would appreciate any advice because the internet is misleading and not accurate.🙏

Mary_Scope

Hi @mark141175

An EHCP and EP report should be up to date with your daughters needs.

From what you have described, it sounds like the the LA should've amended the EHCP as it is no longer up to date. Have they mentioned this?

You can also formally request a re-assessment of EP report.

Section B should describe all your daughter’s special educational needs — including things like her trauma, anxiety, sensory needs, mental health, rejection of school etc.

Section F must describe the provision required to meet those needs — including what support, therapy or placement she needs.

If the EHCP still describes an old version of your daughter (e.g., primary school coping strategies, no mention of trauma, outdated needs), it's not lawful because it’s not “fit for purpose”. The law says EHCPs must be specific, quantified and reflect the child’s current needs.

Specialist schools will review the EHCP and EP report to decide if they can meet a child’s needs. If the report doesn’t reflect her current presentation then it can lead to rejections because schools may not realize how much or what support your daughter actually needs.

But, if you are still going to apply for specialist schools then you can add a parent cover letter directly to them stating that the EHCP and EP report is 3 years old, detail the circumstances have changed and are requesting a reassessment or emergency EHCP review.

If you haven’t already, SENDIASS are very worthwhile reaching out to. They give free, independent advice to families dealing with issues related to education. They can help you navigate the EHCP process, understand your rights, and provide information about EHCP reviews and reassessments.

There is also  IPSEA above who are the legal experts in SEN education so it is definitely worth contacting them for some support and information especially if you are going to tribunal.

I hope this was helpful, please reach out if you would like more information or more support☺️

mark141175

Thank you again for your thoughtful and supportive message — it really means a lot to hear from someone who understands how difficult this journey is.

We haven’t applied for mediation yet as we’re still waiting for the final EHCP draft and decision letter from the Local Authority. But given everything that’s happened, I already know we’re most likely heading to tribunal with regards the EHCP is completely outdated and not fit for purpose — it doesn’t reflect her real needs, the trauma she’s experienced, or the emotional harm she’s still carrying because of both school and earlier life experiences.

We’ve already requested a reassessment, but the Local Authority refused — despite everything we’ve raised and all the changes in Bliss’s situation. It’s beyond frustrating, especially when the Educational Psychologist (EP) report is nearly three years old and no longer relevant to her current needs or emotional state.

She was in a SEN classroom, but she was repeatedly bullied by two specific pupils. Rather than addressing the problem or protecting her, the school planned to move her into a mainstream classroom with more pupils — even though I made it absolutely clear I didn’t agree and my child did but still ignored On the same day they planned this, she was bullied again by two male pupils. Since then, she has refused to go back — and I fully support her. I will not allow her to return to a setting that has already caused her so much emotional and psychological harm.

She still shakes when she sees those pupils. Her heart races, she freezes, and she looks at the floor to avoid being noticed. She’s constantly in a state of fear. She told me if she’s ever forced to go back, she doesn’t want to live — and as a parent, that’s the most painful thing you can ever hear. I check on her every hour during the night now, because I worry constantly.

She used to self-harm when she lived with her mum, due to what she witnessed and what she had to go through. That stopped when she came to live with me permanently. But the EP report just mentions self-harm without any explanation or context. And the worst part? There’s not a single mention of bullying in either the EP report or the EHCP plan — as if none of it ever happened. Instead, they talk about past “emotional-based school avoidance” — which was actually just down to her mum keeping her off school when she didn’t want to get up. It’s all outdated and completely disconnected from what she’s living through now.

Getting mental health support for her has also been incredibly difficult. CAMHS discharged her. So did “With Me in Mind” — both without properly talking to her. No real assessment, no plan, no follow-up. And with her being autistic, she’s been let down by the system her entire life. She struggles to trust anyone and only really opens up to me. If she’s ever going to trust another professional, it’ll take time and patience — but no one has been willing to give her that.

We recently visited two specialist schools, and my daughter asked me if she can stay there while I go home she loved them both. They’ve both been added to the draft EHCP for consultation. One of the schools has already declined — and I strongly suspect it’s because of the outdated EP report and the EHCP failing to reflect the true picture of her needs. I’m desperate to get her into a setting that’s right for her, but the current school seems to be doing everything it can to block that move. It feels like they want to keep her there regardless of how harmful it is.

There was an EHCP annual review held on 27th February. Apart from the parts where I gave my views, I had no real say in the rest of the process. We challenged the school’s outcomes with actual facts — explaining why some outcomes weren’t met and how the support in place wasn’t working. But it made no difference. The school still marked all their original outcomes as “progress achieved,” completely ignoring what we said. It was like our voice didn’t matter.

Since September 2024, I’ve also been shut out from proper communication. I’m not allowed to speak to the SENCO directly — I have to go through admin only. Emails sent to others are ignored. And when there are meetings, I’m forced to deal with the company that owns the school and their Director of Inclusion — and I hate it. It feels cold, disconnected, and more about protecting the school than supporting my daughter. The Local Authority hasn’t helped either — every complaint I make is just passed back to the school with no real action.

My child hasn’t received any education since before the Christmas holidays.i did request alternative education and was completely ignored,And the truth is, I have no formal evidence for tribunal — just my daughters words and my voice. But that should be enough. Her voice matters. Her lived experience matters. The system has failed her time and time again, and all I’m doing is trying to protect her and get her into an environment where she can feel safe and supported.

Right now, it feels like both the Local Authority and the school are against me, and I’m doing this completely alone. It’s exhausting. But one thing I do know, without a doubt, is that I cannot — and will not — allow my daughter to go back to that school. It is no longer safe. It is no longer right

Thank you again for your time, kindness, and support

Mary_Scope

Hi again @mark141175

It sounds like you're doing everything right. Your voice and your daughters voice does matter and tribunals do consider lived experience. So it may be helpful to keep a diary of..
• Her emotional state, triggers and behaviours day-to-day
• Any instances of panic, distress, sleep disturbances etc.
• Any attempts you’ve made to get support (emails, calls, refusals from services)
• Anything she’s said to you that reflects her experience (word for word if you can)
This can all be be used in tribunal as evidence because it is backing up how your daughter is now in comparison to the outdated reports and EHCP as you are showing consistent pattern and parent observations.

If the LA has turned down an updated educational psychologist assessment, you may be able to get independent psychological assessment though this can vary in price.

I really recommend contacting SENDIASS or IPSEA about this because it really does like both you and your daughter have been continually let down by the system.

Your love and your advocacy for your daughter really shines through your comment and you sound like an absolutely brilliant advocate for her😄

mark141175

Thank you again for validating our experience and for the encouragement.