Your statement should clearly explain:
- What your child’s needs are
- How those needs affect school life
- What support has been tried already
- Why an EHCP is still needed
Keep it clear, factual, and based on real examples.
A simple structure that works
1) Short introduction
Include:
- Your child’s name, age, year group, school
- Main needs (diagnosed or suspected)
Example sentence:
“My child has ongoing difficulties with communication, learning and emotional regulation, which affect their ability to cope in school.”
2) Your child’s needs (use headings)
Use short sections like:
- Communication & social skills
(e.g. struggles to understand instructions, make friends, explain feelings) - Learning
(e.g. needs lots of repetition, finds writing hard, struggles to work independently) - Emotions & behaviour
(e.g. anxiety, meltdowns/shutdowns, becomes overwhelmed, avoids tasks) - Sensory needs
(e.g. noise sensitivity, busy rooms cause distress, needs movement breaks) - Independence
(e.g. needs adult support for transitions, organising, staying safe)
3) Give real examples (this is important)
Try to include examples that show frequency and impact, such as:
- “Needs adult help to start and finish work.”
- “Finds it hard to cope in busy classrooms.”
- “Often becomes distressed and can’t continue learning.”
- “Struggles with changes to routine.”
- “Needs support to manage friendships and social times.”
4) What school has already tried
List any support already in place, for example:
- SEN Support plan
- small group work
- behaviour or regulation plan
- visual timetable / now-next board
- nurture group / ELSA / pastoral support
- speech and language or OT strategies
Then add one line on the outcome:
Example sentence:
“Despite these supports, my child still struggles to access learning and needs more help than the school can provide without an EHCP.”
5) Why an EHCP is needed
End with a clear reason:
Example sentence:
“My child needs consistent, planned support that is specific and legally set out, so they can access education and make progress.”
Helpful wording to use
- “This affects their ability to access learning.”
- “This happens daily / most days.”
- “They need adult support to manage this.”
- “Support at SEN Support level has not been enough.”
- “An EHCP is needed to ensure consistent support.”
EHCP Parent Statement Template (Copy & Paste)
Child details
Child’s name: [ ]
Date of birth / age: [ ]
School and year group: [ ]
Diagnosis / suspected needs (if relevant): [ ]
Summary of needs
My child, [name], has ongoing difficulties with [communication / learning / attention / sensory needs / emotional regulation]. These needs affect [his/her/their] ability to cope in school, access learning, and make progress.
Despite support already in place through SEN Support, [name] continues to need more help than the school can reasonably provide without an EHCP.
Strengths and interests
[Name] is a child who enjoys [e.g. Lego, animals, drawing, maths, reading, computers] and responds well to [clear routines / calm adults / one-to-one support / praise / visual support].
Needs and how they affect school
1) Communication and social interaction
[Name] finds it difficult to:
- understand spoken instructions
- express thoughts or feelings clearly
- manage conversations or play with other children
- cope with misunderstandings or conflict
This can lead to [name] becoming [anxious / withdrawn / frustrated], and needing adult support to communicate and manage social situations.
2) Learning and classroom skills
[Name] finds it difficult to:
- focus and stay on task
- work independently
- follow a lesson at the same pace as peers
- record work (writing/handwriting)
- remember instructions
[Name] often needs [repetition / step-by-step instructions / extra time / adult prompts] to complete tasks.
3) Emotional regulation and behaviour
[Name] struggles to manage emotions, especially when [overwhelmed / anxious / faced with change / asked to do difficult work].
This may result in:
- meltdowns or shutdowns
- refusing tasks or leaving the classroom
- becoming distressed or unable to continue learning
After becoming upset, [name] may need [time / adult support / a quiet space] to calm and return to learning.
4) Sensory needs (if relevant)
[Name] finds it difficult to cope with sensory demands in school, such as:
- noise in the classroom
- busy corridors or the playground
- bright lights or crowded spaces
This can cause [distress / overwhelm / anxiety], which impacts learning and behaviour.
5) Independence and daily routines
[Name] needs support with:
- transitions between lessons
- changes to routine
- organisation and managing equipment
- staying safe and aware of surroundings
Without adult support, [name] may struggle to manage the school day and access learning consistently.
Support already in place (and impact)
The school has already tried the following support:
- SEN Support plan
- small group interventions
- visual timetable / now-next board
- behaviour or regulation support plan
- ELSA / nurture / pastoral support
- differentiated work / extra adult help
- referrals (e.g. SALT / OT / CAMHS)
Despite this, [name] continues to struggle with [main difficulties] and needs a higher level of consistent support to access education and make progress.
Why an EHCP is needed
I believe an EHCP is needed because [name] requires consistent and planned support that is additional to and different from what is normally available in school.
Without an EHCP, [name] is likely to continue experiencing difficulties with [learning / behaviour / anxiety / attendance / progress], and will not be able to access education in the same way as peers.
What support my child needs
My child needs support such as:
- regular adult support in class to access learning
- help with communication and understanding instructions
- support with emotional regulation and anxiety
- sensory breaks and a calm, quiet space when overwhelmed
- social skills support and help during unstructured times
- specialist input (e.g. Speech and Language Therapy / Occupational Therapy)
Signed: [ ]
Date: [ ]
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