EHCP Section F Support Is Missing: What Can Parents Do?
Updated: Oct 11
If support in your child's education, health and care plan (EHCP) did not happen, start with the exact wording in Section F. Record what was due, what happened and how the gap affected the child. Ask the local authority and setting in writing how they will resolve it.
This article is general information for families in England, checked in September 2026. It is about delivering an existing final plan; changing the wording of that plan involves a different process.
If your child attends alternative provision, our EHCP and AP guide explains how placement and support interact.
What should Section F say?
Section B identifies special educational needs; Section F specifies provision for each of them. The SEND Code of Practice, paragraph 9.69 and section-by-section guidance says Section F must be detailed and specific and should normally quantify support by type, hours, frequency and expertise. Provision that educates or trains a child may belong there even if delivered by a health or social care professional; classification depends on the individual provision.
Read the final plan, rather than a draft or school timetable. Highlight who provides support, how often and where. Vague wording such as “access to support as required” may need consideration at review; missed delivery is a separate issue.
Who is responsible if the school says it has no staff or funding?
Under section 42 of the Children and Families Act 2014, the local authority must secure the special educational provision specified in a maintained EHCP. The authority may arrange for a school or provider to deliver it, but delegation does not remove that duty. The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman's SEND fact sheet confirms it can examine how a council ensured a school delivered support in a plan. The law has a specific exception where parents or a young person have made suitable alternative arrangements and the authority has satisfied itself of their suitability; do not assume the exception applies because a child has changed setting.
Ask: “Section F says X. The setting says Y. Please confirm how you will secure X and when.” The school can clarify timetables and staffing.
What evidence should I keep without creating a huge file?
Make a short provision-versus-delivery record: date, exact Section F item, planned and actual support, information source, child's view, and effect on learning or wellbeing. Record effective alternatives or catch-up too, and distinguish confirmed facts from reports awaiting confirmation. Keep the final EHCP and relevant school and council correspondence private.
Hypothetical example: A plan specifies weekly 30-minute language support. Four sessions appear missing because the practitioner is absent. A parent records the four dates, checks what the school provided, and asks the council what support starts now and how it will consider the impact. Any remedial provision depends on the child's circumstances.
What should I ask the local authority in writing?
Send a concise email to the named SEN officer or council SEN team, copying the setting where appropriate:
Please confirm whether each quoted Section F item has been delivered during the dates listed, using the information the council and setting hold.
If it has not, what provision will begin now, who will arrange it, and when will we receive an update?
How will you consider the impact of missed support and whether additional provision is needed to address the gap?
If you think the plan no longer reflects my child's needs or setting, will you arrange an earlier review and tell us the timetable?
For an urgent safety or health concern, use the relevant urgent procedures now.
Is the next step a complaint or a SEND Tribunal appeal?
For failure to arrange existing provision or annual review delay, complain to the council and keep a copy. The Ombudsman may investigate after the council process. If you dispute what Section F should say, or the school named in a final plan, the SEND Tribunal is generally the route after an appealable decision. The Ombudsman has limits where an appeal right exists. Check mediation information and deadlines promptly; a complaint does not automatically pause them. The Ombudsman's guide explains the distinction; local SENDIASS offers independent information.
For help turning notes into a focused question, see our EHCP Evidence Builder Workbook & Templates (£5.85), or start with a free 30-minute consultation. One hour of EHCP and SEND support costs £35, with preparation of agreed documents included. We can help organise evidence and practical next steps; we do not provide legal representation or guarantee a council, Ombudsman or Tribunal outcome.
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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