The Local Authority has agreed to carry out an EHC needs assessment. Now you’ve been asked to provide your parental views — but what exactly should you write?
Your parental contribution is your opportunity to help the Local Authority understand the whole picture of your child: who they are, their strengths, their special educational needs, how those needs affect everyday life, what support makes a difference, and your hopes for their future.
But when you’re faced with a blank form and questions asking you to describe your child’s needs, knowing what to include — and how to put it into words — can feel overwhelming.
Your Voice Matters has been created to guide you through it, step by step.
This guide is specifically designed for parents and carers AFTER the Local Authority has agreed to carry out an EHC needs assessment and you have been asked to provide your parental advice, views and information.
This is not a guide to requesting an EHC needs assessment or challenging a decision not to assess.
Rather than simply explaining what parental advice is, this guide helps you actually build your contribution.
Inside, you'll be guided through:
Introducing your child as a whole person
Understanding and writing about the four broad areas of SEND
Describing needs using specific examples and evidence
Explaining the impact on school, home and everyday life
Including attainment, interventions and professional involvement
Showing what support has already been tried and what works
Capturing your child’s views, wishes and feelings
Writing your hopes and aspirations
Understanding relevant health and social care information
Understanding Section K and parental advice
Clearly communicating the support you believe your child requires
One of the hardest parts can be knowing what a strong parental contribution actually looks like.
That's why this isn't simply an information guide.
Throughout the resource, you'll follow a detailed fictional example showing how a parent can take their knowledge and experiences and turn them into clear, meaningful information.
You'll also find:
Sentence starters • Writing structures • Example paragraphs • Prompts • Checklists • Section K guidance • Provision examples
So rather than being told “describe the impact of your child's needs”, you'll be shown what that can actually look like in practice.
You know your child in a way that no assessment or report can fully capture.
The difficult mornings. The preparation required for seemingly simple activities. What happens after school. The support you already provide. What triggers overwhelm. The strategies that make a difference.
This guide helps you turn that knowledge into a clear contribution using a simple approach:
You don't need complicated terminology.
You need to help the people reading your contribution understand your child.
Digital resource • Complete at your own pace • Designed for parents and carers in England
Please note: This resource provides general information and practical guidance for parents and carers contributing to an EHC needs assessment in England. Local Authority forms and processes can vary. It does not constitute legal advice or replace individual legal, educational or professional advice.
The Local Authority has agreed to carry out an EHC needs assessment. Now you’ve been asked to provide your parental views — but what exactly should you write?
Your parental contribution is your opportunity to help the Local Authority understand the whole picture of your child: who they are, their strengths, their special educational needs, how those needs affect everyday life, what support makes a difference, and your hopes for their future.
But when you’re faced with a blank form and questions asking you to describe your child’s needs, knowing what to include — and how to put it into words — can feel overwhelming.
Your Voice Matters has been created to guide you through it, step by step.
This guide is specifically designed for parents and carers AFTER the Local Authority has agreed to carry out an EHC needs assessment and you have been asked to provide your parental advice, views and information.
This is not a guide to requesting an EHC needs assessment or challenging a decision not to assess.
Rather than simply explaining what parental advice is, this guide helps you actually build your contribution.
Inside, you'll be guided through:
Introducing your child as a whole person
Understanding and writing about the four broad areas of SEND
Describing needs using specific examples and evidence
Explaining the impact on school, home and everyday life
Including attainment, interventions and professional involvement
Showing what support has already been tried and what works
Capturing your child’s views, wishes and feelings
Writing your hopes and aspirations
Understanding relevant health and social care information
Understanding Section K and parental advice
Clearly communicating the support you believe your child requires
One of the hardest parts can be knowing what a strong parental contribution actually looks like.
That's why this isn't simply an information guide.
Throughout the resource, you'll follow a detailed fictional example showing how a parent can take their knowledge and experiences and turn them into clear, meaningful information.
You'll also find:
Sentence starters • Writing structures • Example paragraphs • Prompts • Checklists • Section K guidance • Provision examples
So rather than being told “describe the impact of your child's needs”, you'll be shown what that can actually look like in practice.
You know your child in a way that no assessment or report can fully capture.
The difficult mornings. The preparation required for seemingly simple activities. What happens after school. The support you already provide. What triggers overwhelm. The strategies that make a difference.
This guide helps you turn that knowledge into a clear contribution using a simple approach:
You don't need complicated terminology.
You need to help the people reading your contribution understand your child.
Digital resource • Complete at your own pace • Designed for parents and carers in England
Please note: This resource provides general information and practical guidance for parents and carers contributing to an EHC needs assessment in England. Local Authority forms and processes can vary. It does not constitute legal advice or replace individual legal, educational or professional advice.
