The clocks

The SEND system runs on clocks. The Local Authority has time limits it must meet, and you have time limits you must not miss. Knowing the main ones is one of the simplest ways to protect your child, because a missed deadline is where many cases are quietly lost.

Here are the well-established ones. Treat them as the shape of the timeline, and always check the exact date written on your own letter, because your dates are what count.

The decision on whether to assess. When you ask for an EHC needs assessment, the Local Authority must decide whether to carry one out within 6 weeks of receiving your request. A “no” at this stage is not the end of the road; it usually comes with a right to appeal.

The time to a final plan. If the Local Authority does assess and decides to issue a plan, the whole process, from your request to the final EHC plan, must normally be completed within 20 weeks. Late plans are common, but late does not mean lawful. A delay is something you can chase and challenge.

The annual review. Once your child has an EHC plan, it must be reviewed at least once every 12 months. After the review meeting, the Local Authority must tell you its decision (keep the plan, amend it, or cease it) within 4 weeks of the meeting. The review can be the start of a fresh right of appeal, so take it seriously.

There are also deadlines that fall on you, and these are the ones to guard most carefully. If you decide to appeal a decision to the SEND Tribunal, there is a strict time limit to lodge it. The exact deadline depends on your decision letter and your mediation certificate, so do not work from memory: read the dates on your own paperwork and diarise the deadline the day the letter arrives.

This is information and preparation help, not legal advice, and it covers England only. The law differs in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. If a deadline is near or you are unsure which one applies, contact IPSEA straight away.