How to Record Parent Contributions and a Child’s Views for EHCP Meetings
Updated: Oct 11
A useful EHCP meeting record should make the child or young person’s views visible and preserve the contribution of parents or carers without merging different perspectives into one account.
Why this matters
Clear records help everyone understand what is working, what is difficult and what support may need to change. They also reduce disputes caused by vague summaries or missing actions.
Common weaknesses to avoid
Adult views being presented as if they were the child’s own words
Important concerns recorded without examples, dates or impact
Actions agreed verbally but not assigned or followed up
A practical workflow
Prepare prompts in advance and offer accessible ways to contribute
Record the child or young person’s views in their preferred format
Keep parent or carer observations clearly attributed
Use specific examples of needs, support, progress and barriers
Confirm disagreements as well as agreed points
Finish with actions, owners, dates and a follow-up route
Evidence to keep
Keep evidence proportionate and easy to retrieve. Useful records include the child’s views or communication evidence, parent or carer contribution notes, meeting actions and follow-up records. Record where the source evidence is held, who reviewed it and what action followed. Use the record to explain the child's needs and strengths, agree practical actions and check what changed.
Use the matching resource and training
Looking Glass Care has paired this guide with a practical resource and a concise self-paced course. Adapt the downloadable document for the individual person, organisation, service and local arrangements, then use the course to reinforce roles, decision-making, recording and review.
Put this into practice: explore the relevant collection below and check each listing for its audience, contents, format and current price.
Keep your evidence dated and review it before your next meeting. Record agreed actions, the person responsible and the follow-up date. This guide provides practical information, not legal advice or a guarantee of an EHCP decision.
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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