EHCP Placement Delayed: What Should Parents Ask the Local Authority?
Updated: Oct 11
A placement delay needs a clear written plan
If your child has an education, health and care (EHC) plan but the next placement is unresolved, ask the local authority for a dated update. A list of schools consulted is a useful start, but it does not show what education and special educational provision the child is actually receiving today. Keep the latest final plan, consultation correspondence and a short record of the support delivered.
What should I ask the SEND team?
Ask which settings were consulted, when each consultation was sent, whether replies have arrived and what the authority will do next. Ask which setting is currently named in Section I, what provision in Section F is being secured now, who is delivering it, and how any gaps will be remedied. If your child is in alternative provision, ask how the current timetable meets their needs, who oversees progress and when the placement will be reviewed. Request a named contact and a date for the next written update.
What evidence helps?
Compare each specified item in Section F with a typical week: frequency, staff expertise, therapies, communication and adjustments. Note what happened, when, and its effect on learning, attendance or wellbeing. Include your child's views and strengths. Share this factual record with the local authority and ask for a response to each missing item; avoid sending sensitive information to people who do not need it.
Where can families check their rights?
The SEND Code of Practice sets out the EHC plan and placement process. Section 42 of the Children and Families Act 2014 concerns the authority's duty to secure the special educational provision specified in an EHC plan. The route to challenge a particular decision depends on the current final plan and the decision notice. Get case-specific advice from your local SENDIASS or IPSEA if deadlines or appeal rights are in question.
How Looking Glass Care can help
We can help organise a timeline, compare the plan with what is delivered, prepare questions for a meeting and create a clear follow-up record. Start with a free 30-minute consultation through lookingglasscare.co.uk. This article is general information for England, checked 27 September 2026, and is not legal advice.
Official reading
Department for Education, SEND Code of Practice: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-code-of-practice-0-to-25-years . Children and Families Act 2014, section 42: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/6/section/42 .
Useful resources for this topic
If you would like a practical record to use alongside this article, the resources below explain their scope, format and price. Choose only the material that fits your circumstances; a completed template is a starting point for action and review.
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