Stage 2 · If it's not right

The final EHCP isn't right

You can appeal what the EHCP says about your child's needs and the help they'll get. You have two months from the date on the final EHCP.

Appeals about the EHCP usually turn on section B (the needs) and section F (the help). The strongest case points to a report that describes a need, and shows the EHCP doesn't meet it — or describes help too vaguely to count.

The deadline: you have two months from the date on the Local Authority's letter to appeal to the tribunal — or one month from your mediation certificate, if that is later.

Before you can appeal, you must contact the mediation adviser named in the Local Authority's letter. You don't have to go to , but the tribunal won't accept your appeal without the certificate the adviser gives you — and you get one whether or not you go ahead with mediation.

Do these two things first

Write the appeal deadline on the calendar — two months from the date on the final EHCP.

List each need where the help is missing or vague, next to the report that backs it up.