You don't need to have all the answers. That's what the call is for. Expert EHCP guidance from a former Headteacher, SENCo — and a SEND parent who has been exactly where you are.
No commitment · No jargon · No pressure · Just an honest conversation
You're not alone — and you're not powerless. The law is on your side. Let's find the path through.
From first application to full tribunal — we guide families through every stage of the SEND process.
Build a compelling, evidence-based case for a new Education, Health and Care Plan — the kind LAs find difficult to refuse.
We audit your existing EHCP section by section, identifying every weakness, vague provision, and area where the LA's duties are unmet.
Challenging a refusal? We build your full legal case, draft the appeal grounds, and prepare you for the SEND Tribunal.
When the LA won't name your preferred school in Section I, we argue the case under s.33 and s.39 CFA 2014.
Solicitor-quality legal analysis, evidence summaries, appeal grounds, and correspondence — all personally produced.
We attend the SEND Tribunal with you as a McKenzie Friend, managing documents and advocating on your behalf.
Every document we produce is personally written by our founder, grounded in statute, and structured to be compelling to both the LA and the Tribunal. See what our work actually looks like.
All examples are anonymised. Client confidentiality is paramount.
We were exhausted and had no idea how to fight the LA's decision. SEND Navigate not only explained exactly what our legal rights were — they produced documents that were more thorough and more professional than anything we had seen before. For the first time, we felt like we had someone truly in our corner.— Parent of an autistic child, currently in proceedings
Book a free 15-minute call. We'll listen to your situation, tell you honestly what we think, and only suggest a service if we genuinely believe it will help.
SEND Navigate provides consultancy, advocacy, and document preparation services. We are not solicitors and do not provide legal advice. All work is carried out within the framework of the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice 2015.
Built on expertise. Driven by lived experience. Committed to finding solutions.
SEND Navigate was founded by Stephen Mallett — a former Headteacher and Special Educational Needs Coordinator with over 25 years' experience across the full spectrum of SEN education. Stephen has managed SEND provision, worked with local authorities, sat in review meetings, and made decisions about EHCPs from the institutional side.
That means he knows exactly how local authorities think — what arguments move them, what language they respond to, and where they are legally vulnerable. He can anticipate their responses before they make them, because he has made them himself.
But the thing that makes SEND Navigate truly different is that Stephen isn't only a professional. He is also a SEND parent. He has two children of his own with special educational needs, and he has navigated the same system his clients face — the jargon, the delays, the frustration of being told "no," and the determination it takes to keep going.
That combination — institutional insider knowledge plus parental lived experience — is genuinely rare. Every family we work with gets both.
"I've sat in the headteacher's chair when a parent was fighting for their child. Now I sit on the other side of the table. Both experiences have made me a better advocate — and a more honest one. I know what arguments work. And I know what the LA is going to say before they say it."
Every recommendation cites legislation. The Children and Families Act 2014, the SEND Code of Practice 2015, and the Equality Act 2010 are our framework — not opinion.
We start with one question: what does your child actually need? Then we work backwards to find the most effective legal route to get it.
We won't take a case we don't believe in, and we'll always tell you where the risks lie. Our reputation is built on giving you the truth, not just telling you what you want to hear.
Transparent fixed pricing. Every service is delivered personally by our founder. Not sure which you need? The free call will tell you.
A 15-minute conversation to understand your situation, give you an honest first view of your options, and help you decide whether — and how — we can help. No commitment and no charge. This is about finding the right solution for your family, not selling you a service.
A focused 60-minute deep-dive into your case. We review your documents in advance, give you a clear picture of your legal position, and produce written notes so you leave knowing exactly where you stand and what your options are.
Comprehensive support for families applying for an EHCP for the first time, or challenging a refusal to carry out a statutory assessment. We build a compelling, evidence-grounded case that local authorities struggle to dismiss.
For families who have an EHCP but believe it fails to adequately describe their child's needs or specify the right provision. A vague or weak plan is one of the most common — and most damaging — problems in SEND.
Full support when the LA has refused an assessment, issued a plan you disagree with, refused amendments, or declined to name your preferred school. We build your case from the ground up — the same quality you'd find in a specialist law firm.
For families taking their case to the First-tier Tribunal (SEND). We attend as McKenzie Friend, manage your evidence bundle, prepare you thoroughly for the hearing, and advocate for your child on the day. Pricing depends on complexity.
Important: SEND Navigate provides consultancy, document preparation, and McKenzie Friend advocacy services. We are not solicitors and do not provide legal advice as defined under the Legal Services Act 2007. We recommend that families in complex proceedings also seek independent legal advice from a qualified SEND solicitor where appropriate.
Every document we produce is personally written, legally grounded, and built to be compelling — to the LA before tribunal and to the Tribunal itself. Below are anonymised examples of the work we do.
This document sets out the legal basis for challenging the Local Authority's refusal to name ████████████ School in Section I of the Education, Health and Care Plan issued on ██ ████ 2025.
We have identified 10 material errors in the LA's decision-making process and in the content of the EHCP itself, each constituting a failure to comply with the duties imposed by the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice 2015.
| Error | Legal Provision | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Failure to specify provision with sufficient particularity in Section F | s.37(2) CFA 2014; SEN CoP 9.69 | Critical |
| Failure to have regard to parental preference for named school | s.39(4) CFA 2014 | Critical |
| Section B fails to describe all of child's SEN | s.37(2)(a) CFA 2014 | Critical |
| No consideration of whether LA can meet preference without prejudice | s.39(4)(a)–(c) CFA 2014 | High |
| Inadequate reasons provided for school placement decision | SEN CoP 9.78; reg.15 SEND Regs 2014 | High |
Section 39(4) of the Children and Families Act 2014 creates a duty on the LA to specify the school named by the parent unless one of three exceptions applies. The LA has failed to demonstrate that any of these exceptions are engaged in this case...
A comprehensive legal analysis of the LA's decision, produced for every appeal case. Identifies statutory errors, maps them to the relevant legal provisions, and constructs the case for the Tribunal.
Included in: LA Decision Appeal Package (£899) and Full Tribunal Support
| # | Document | Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Educational Psychologist Report (████) | High |
| 2 | Speech & Language Therapy Assessment | High |
| 3 | Final EHCP (██ ████ 2025) | Critical |
| 4 | School Annual Review Report | Medium |
| 5 | Parental submission (Section A) | High |
✓ EP report explicitly states specialist provision required — directly supports Tribunal argument
✓ SALT assessment confirms needs significantly exceed mainstream capacity
✓ Current school unable to evidence measurable progress over 18 months
✓ Parental preference formally stated and documented — s.39 CFA 2014 duty engaged
A detailed review of every document in the case file, identifying what helps and what risks the appeal — so nothing is missed and the strategy is built on the full picture.
Included in: LA Decision Appeal Package (£899) and Full Tribunal Support
This document audits every section of the Education, Health and Care Plan issued by ████████ Local Authority. Each section is assessed against the requirements of s.37 CFA 2014 and SEN Code of Practice Chapter 9.
| Section | Assessment | Issues |
|---|---|---|
| A — Child's Views | Adequate | None identified |
| B — SEN Description | Critical | Fails to describe all needs; lacks specificity re: sensory processing |
| F — Provision | Critical | 7 of 12 provisions are non-specific; cannot be enforced |
| I — Placement | Disputed | Named school does not meet needs identified in Section B |
Current (unlawful): "Speech and language therapy support as required."
Recommended (lawful): "3 × 45-minute individual SALT sessions per week, delivered by or under the supervision of a qualified Speech and Language Therapist. Progress to be reviewed termly against measurable targets set by the SALT."
A systematic audit of every section of an existing EHCP, identifying legally deficient language and producing specific recommended amendments — the foundation for annual review challenges.
Included in: EHCP Review & Strengthening (£299)
Between: ██████████████ (Appellant)
And: ████████ Local Authority (Respondent)
Appeal against: The decision of the Local Authority dated ██ ████ 2025 to name ████████████ School in Section I of the Education, Health and Care Plan of ████████, contrary to the parental preference expressed under s.39(4) CFA 2014.
Ground 1 — Failure of Parental Preference Duty (s.39 CFA 2014)
The Local Authority has failed to comply with its duty under s.39(4) of the Children and Families Act 2014. The Appellant expressed a preference for ████████████ School. The LA has not demonstrated that any of the exceptions at s.39(4)(a)–(c) are engaged...
Ground 2 — Section F Fails the Specificity Test
The provision specified in Section F of the EHCP is insufficiently specific to be enforceable. The Tribunal is referred to L v Clarke and Somerset CC [1998]...
The Appellant seeks an order that ████████████ School be named in Section I of the EHCP and that Sections B and F be amended to accurately reflect the child's needs and appropriate provision.
The formal document lodged with the SEND Tribunal. Precisely drafted, legally referenced, and structured for maximum persuasive impact before the judge.
Included in: LA Decision Appeal Package (£899) and Full Tribunal Support
A note on confidentiality: All examples above are fully anonymised composites for illustrative purposes. No actual client information is displayed. SEND Navigate treats all client information as strictly confidential in accordance with our Privacy Notice.
Start with a free 15-minute call. We'll tell you honestly whether we can help.
A clear, step-by-step process. No surprises, no jargon — just a straightforward path to the right outcome for your child.
You tell us your situation. We listen, ask a few questions, and give you an honest initial view of your position and options. No commitment, no charge — this is about finding the right path, not selling you something.
If you decide to proceed, you share the relevant paperwork — EHCP drafts, LA letters, assessment reports. We read everything carefully and build a complete picture of the case before advising you further.
We produce a written summary of your legal position, the strengths and risks in your case, and a clear recommended course of action. You'll know exactly where you stand.
We draft your documents — legal analysis, evidence summary, appeal grounds, LA correspondence — personally. No templates, no juniors. Every word is written by our founder with your child's specific situation in mind.
We stay alongside you — answering questions, adjusting strategy as things develop, and making sure you're never left without guidance when it matters most. If the case goes to Tribunal, we go with you.
No pressure. No commitment. No charge. Just 15 minutes to understand your situation — and to find the right path forward for your family.
Many families come to us not knowing where to start — overwhelmed by the process, confused by the jargon, and unsure whether they even have a case. That's completely normal. You don't need to have read the Children and Families Act 2014 before we speak.
Just tell us your situation. We'll listen, ask a few questions, and give you our honest view — including if we don't think we're the right fit. There is no obligation to proceed further, and the call is completely free.
SEND Tribunal appeals must be lodged within 2 months of the LA's decision letter. If you've received a letter recently, please mention the date in your form. Deadlines are fixed — contact us today, not tomorrow.
We'll confirm your call time by email shortly. If you have an urgent deadline, we'll try to reach you the same day.
In the meantime, if anything urgent comes up, email us directly: hello@sendnavigate.org
SEND Navigate is a specialist consultancy and advocacy service. We are not solicitors and do not provide legal advice. Completing this form does not create a client relationship.