EHCPs and Tribunals
EHCP advice and SEND Tribunal reports
A speech therapy report for an EHCP needs to be plain, specific and written so it can go straight into the plan. That's what I aim to give you.
Why does an independent report matter?
An EHC plan only helps a child if its wording is exact. Vague descriptions of need and loose promises of "access to speech therapy" are hard to enforce. The SEND Code of Practice says provision in Section F must be detailed and specific and should normally be quantified.1 I write advice that spells out what your child needs and what should be provided.
I work part time for a local authority as a Highly Specialist Band 7 therapist in an Alternative Provision Specialist Taskforce Team, so I see the system from inside as well as outside. I'm Bond Solon trained in writing expert witness reports, which matters if your case goes to the SEND Tribunal.
My advice does not change according to who pays for it. Whether a parent, a school or a local authority asks me, I say what I find. Schools can read more on the schools page.
What's in a report?
- Section B: your child's needs described plainly and specifically, tied to how they access education, so they can be lifted straight into the plan.
- Section F: provision specified and quantified, with hours, frequency, group size, who delivers it, who supervises it and what happens in the holidays. Provision that isn't quantified is hard to enforce.
- Outcomes written so that in twelve months anyone can say plainly whether they were met.
- Clear reasoning for my recommendations, including why speech and language therapy belongs in Section F for the children I see.
- The assessment results and the evidence they rest on, in language you can follow.
How does it work?
A free call
We talk about where you are: first request, an annual review, a draft plan you're unhappy with or a Tribunal appeal. You can ask me anything and decide afterwards.
Assessment, then the report
I assess your child (£270), watching them where it helps in their setting. The written report is £95 on top. It's separate because not every family needs one.
Tribunal, if it comes to it
For SEND Tribunal appeals I act as an independent expert witness for a fixed £1,650. The package covers an initial consultation, review of reports and EHC plan documents, direct assessment, observation in the setting where appropriate, liaison with other professionals, the expert witness report, one round of factual corrections, attendance at one hearing, and reasonable travel within London.
The Tribunal hears appeals against a local authority's decisions on whether to assess, what an EHC plan says, or whether to maintain it.2 I can't promise what a panel will decide. My advice will be honest, and specific enough to stand up.
What does it cost?
- £270Assessment
- £95Written report, extra
- £1,650SEND Tribunal package
Annual reviews and professional meetings are £85 an hour, and can be held online. Work starts once the agreed payment is received. Full details on the fees page, or get in touch to talk it through.
Questions parents ask
Should speech therapy be in Section F?
For the children I see, almost always. Teaching a child to speak is as much education as teaching them to write, and the SEND Code of Practice agrees: speech and language impairment should normally be recorded as special educational provision unless there are exceptional reasons, with each decision made on an individual basis, not by blanket policy.1,3
What goes in an independent report?
Your child's needs for Section B, quantified provision for Section F, and outcomes you can check at the annual review, plus the assessment evidence behind them.
What does an expert witness do?
An expert witness gives independent, evidence-based opinion to the Tribunal, not to whoever is paying. My report is written for the panel and I can attend one hearing as part of the package.
Do you work within a set area?
I accept instructions within my areas of professional expertise. Tell me about your case and I'll say honestly whether I'm the right person.
References
Sources checked on 18 October 2026.
- Department for Education and Department of Health and Social Care. (2015). Special educational needs and disability code of practice: 0 to 25 years, paragraphs 9.61 and 9.74. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-code-of-practice-0-to-25 ↩ ↩
- HM Courts & Tribunals Service. (n.d.). First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability). https://www.gov.uk/courts-tribunals/first-tier-tribunal-special-educational-needs-and-disability ↩
- UK Parliament. (2014). Children and Families Act 2014, section 21: special educational provision, health care provision and social care provision. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/6/section/21 ↩
Related services
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Late talking, short sentences, trouble following instructions.
Read more about Language and communication
Autism and social communication
Neurodiversity-affirming support for autistic children.
Read more about Autism and social communication
Speech sounds and apraxia
For children who are hard to understand.
Read more about Speech sounds and apraxia
Need advice you can put in a plan?
Tell me about your child's situation in a free 15-minute call. It costs nothing and commits you to nothing.