Parent resources • Practical tools
SEND templates, checklists & downloads
Prepare for meetings, organise evidence and explain your child’s needs with greater clarity.
Choose resources for school support, an EHC needs assessment, statements, plan reviews or appeals. Start with the task in front of you.
Choose one useful starting point
Use the resource that matches your next step
You do not need to download everything. Open the relevant guide, read the instructions and adapt any template or checklist to your child’s circumstances.
Requesting assessment
Applying for an EHCP
Organise the needs, impact and supporting information you want the local authority to consider.
Request letter and application guide
Explore how to structure an EHC needs assessment request and the key information to explain.
Open the application guide →Application checklist
Use the checklist within the application guidance to review your request before sending it.
Review application preparation →Evidence checklist
Consider relevant school records, support plans, reports, parent information and evidence of support already tried.
Explore the evidence checklist →The family’s perspective
Parent statements and your child’s views
Parent statement guide and checklist
Explain strengths, needs, everyday experiences and support requirements. Connect the difficulty with its impact and the help needed.
Open parent statement resources →Child or young person statement
Use prompts to help record views, wishes and aspirations in a way that suits your child’s communication and understanding.
Open child and young person resources →Checking the plan
Reviewing an EHCP and preparing for review
Look at how identified needs connect with provision and outcomes. Note anything unclear, missing or inconsistent with the evidence.
EHCP review checklist
Work through questions about the content of your child’s plan.
Open the review checklist →EHCP parent checklist
Use a broader reference to organise questions and prepare for discussions about the plan.
Open the parent checklist →Organise the evidence before a review
Bring together the current plan, relevant reports, progress information and your child’s views. Identify what has changed and the questions you want answered.
If you want an individual review of your documents, our evidence review and preparation service is a separate paid support option.
A clear evidence picture
Appeal and tribunal preparation
Organise information around the decision being challenged, what remains disputed and how the evidence supports your position.
Appeal evidence pack checklist
Explore preparation for decision letters, appeal documents, professional reports, school evidence, parent evidence and a chronology.
Open appeal evidence resources →Keep the purpose clear
Explain which needs, provision or disputed points each document helps address. Keep original reports intact and separate your commentary from the source evidence.
Check the tribunal’s directions and deadlines for your own case.
Before the SENCO meeting
Prepare for a school support conversation
Not every child needing additional help requires an EHCP. Start by understanding the needs, current support and what the next review should address.
Bring your priorities
- Your main concerns and specific examples.
- Your child’s views and what helps.
- Current support plans and relevant feedback.
- Questions about what has been tried.
Ask for clear next steps
- What support will be provided?
- Who will deliver it, and how often?
- What outcomes are being worked towards?
- How will progress be checked and reviewed?
Make it personal and accurate
Templates are a starting point
Adapt wording to your child’s needs, education, progress, support and professional evidence. Remove statements that do not apply and check names, dates and factual details before using a document.
Guidance here uses England’s SEN support and EHCP terminology. Education systems differ across the UK.
Common questions
Using the resources
Are all templates free?
Some guidance, templates and checklists are free. Specialist resources and personalised services may be paid. Check the access information on each resource page.
Do these buttons download files immediately?
No. They open the relevant resource pages so you can read the guidance and find any available templates or download instructions.
Can I adapt the wording?
Yes. Use accurate examples and wording that reflects your child. A template should help organise information, rather than replace your own evidence.
Can my child contribute without writing a statement?
Explore prompts and ways of recording views that suit their communication, such as supported conversation, pictures or another preferred method.
Can you review completed paperwork?
Individual document review is a separate service. Contact us to discuss your enquiry, scope and fee.
Where are the free parent learning modules?
Visit the Free Parent Hub for information about ADHD, autism, dyslexia and dyscalculia parent learning options.
School of Diversity
Need help with your child’s documents?
Tell us what you are preparing and where you need support. We can explain relevant personalised service options.