The complete legal guide to fighting for your child's EHCP — written by a former Headteacher, SENCo, and SEND parent who has been on both sides of the table.
By Stephen Mallett, Founder of SEND Navigate
Kindle £9.99 · Paperback £14.99–£19.99
Most parents enter the EHCP system completely unprepared. They don't know the law, they don't know their rights, and they don't know that local authorities make decisions they are not legally entitled to make.
The Parent's Shield changes that. It is the book that gives you what the LA hopes you don't have: a clear, practical understanding of exactly what the law says, what you are entitled to, and how to use that knowledge to fight — and win — for your child.
Every chapter is grounded in the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice 2015. This isn't opinion. These are your legal rights, explained in plain English by someone who has spent 25 years inside the system — and is also fighting it as a parent himself.
"I wrote this book because the information parents need exists — it's just buried in legislation and legal guidance that is deliberately impenetrable. Every family navigating the EHCP system deserves access to it." — Stephen Mallett, Author
Whether you are taking your first steps or facing a Tribunal hearing in weeks, The Parent's Shield meets you at your stage.
You're at the beginning and that's the best place to start. This book gives you a roadmap — from initial application through to a finalised plan that actually works.
A refusal to assess is one of the most common LA decisions — and one of the most challengeable. The book sets out your rights and exactly what to do next.
A poorly written EHCP is almost worse than none. You'll learn how to audit every section, identify what must be changed, and how to force meaningful amendments.
Section 39 of the Children and Families Act 2014 gives you a parental preference right. This book shows you how to use it — and what to do when the LA ignores it.
The tribunal chapters are written as a practical guide to building your case, understanding what the panel expects, and presenting your evidence effectively.
Annual reviews are a legal obligation — not a bureaucratic nicety. You'll learn what must happen at a review and how to ensure it produces meaningful outcomes.
"The local authority is not your enemy. But they are under-resourced, subject to budget pressures, and guided by people who sometimes rely on parents not knowing their rights. Knowledge is the single most powerful thing you can have in this process — and this book gives it to you."— Stephen Mallett, The Parent's Shield
A structured guide through the entire EHCP journey, grounded in law at every step.
The Children and Families Act 2014, the SEND Code of Practice, and why they matter more than any LA policy document.
A section-by-section breakdown of what every part of a legally sound EHCP must say — and the warning signs of a weak one.
The 20-week timeline, what the LA must do, and how to write a parental request that is hard to refuse.
Refusal to assess, refusal to issue, refusal to amend. For each decision, the legal test, the right of appeal, and the process.
What evidence matters, how to gather it, which professionals can help, and how to present it compellingly.
Registration, directions, case management — everything that happens between filing an appeal and the Tribunal hearing.
Who's in the room, how hearings run, how to present your case, and what happens after a decision is made.
Your parental preference right under s.39 CFA 2014 and the legal arguments the LA must overcome to override it.
What must happen at every review, how to prepare, and how to use the review process to force meaningful changes.
Sections C and D, health provisions, and what happens when health and social care fail to play their part.
Mainstream vs. specialist vs. independent specialist schools — the law, the evidence needed, and how to make the case.
Honest guidance on when a parent can self-advocate and when the complexity genuinely calls for professional support.
The Parent's Shield is designed to empower you to do as much as possible yourself. But sometimes the situation is complex enough that you need a professional in your corner. SEND Navigate exists for exactly that moment.
Many parents find the book gives them everything they need. For those who want professional support, the free call helps us understand your situation and suggest the most effective next step.
Available in Kindle and paperback. Written specifically for parents in England navigating the EHCP system under the Children and Families Act 2014.
Available on Amazon.co.uk · Instant Kindle delivery · Paperback ships to UK addresses
Start with the book. Or start with a call. Either way, you don't have to face this alone.