How long does the EHCP process take?

The statutory deadline from request to final EHCP is 20 weeks. However, many local authorities exceed this timeline. If your local authority misses deadlines, there are formal steps you can take to challenge unlawful delays.

What if the local authority refuses an EHC needs assessment?

If the local authority refuses an EHC needs assessment, you have the right to appeal to the SEND Tribunal within 2 months of the decision. 99% of decided SEN appeals are found in the family's favour (MoJ/HMCTS Tribunal Statistics). We can help you prepare a strong appeal.

Do I need an EHCP if my child is doing well academically?

Academic performance is not the legal test for an EHCP. The test is whether your child has special educational needs that cannot be met without the legally protected provision an EHCP provides. Many children who mask their difficulties at school still need significant support.

What areas of England do you cover?

We provide EHCP consultancy for families across England. EHCP law is national, so we can help regardless of your local authority. We work with families in London, Manchester, Birmingham, and all other regions.

How much does EHCP consultancy cost?

We offer transparent pricing with fixed-fee packages for EHCP applications, amendments, and appeals. We also offer document review services starting from £195. Contact us for a quote tailored to your specific situation.

Which council handles my EHCP if I live in Greater Manchester?

It depends on which of the ten Greater Manchester boroughs you live in - Manchester, Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, or Wigan. Each has its own SEND team and processes requests independently, even though the statutory deadlines and your rights are the same everywhere.

Do EHCP waiting times differ between Greater Manchester boroughs?

Yes. While every local authority is bound by the same statutory 6-week and 20-week deadlines, capacity and backlogs vary from borough to borough. We help families understand what is realistic in their specific area and how to escalate effectively when a deadline is missed.

Where will my SEND Tribunal appeal be heard if I live in Manchester?

Most SEND Tribunal hearings are now conducted remotely by video. If an in-person hearing is arranged, the Tribunal tries to use a venue within reasonable travelling distance of your home, and Manchester has historically hosted hearings for appeals from across the North West.

Can you help with a specialist school placement dispute in Greater Manchester?

Yes. Disputes over Section I (the named school or setting) are one of the most common issues we see across Greater Manchester’s ten boroughs, often linked to limited specialist school capacity in the region. We help build the evidence needed to secure the right placement, including at Tribunal if necessary.

EHCP Help in Manchester

Expert EHCP help for families across Greater Manchester.

We help families in Greater Manchester navigate the EHCP process with calm, expert guidance. From EHC Plan applications to SEND Tribunal appeals, we understand how local authorities work and what it takes to secure the right support for your child.

Get EHCP Help in Manchester

How we help Manchester families

Support at every stage of the EHCP journey.

EHCP Applications

We help Manchester families request EHC needs assessments that local authorities cannot dismiss. Our applications are legally sound and evidence-based.

EHCP Amendments

We help Manchester families secure meaningful amendments when your child’s needs change but the plan does not reflect their current situation.

SEND Tribunal Appeals

We help Manchester families prepare strong appeals and navigate the Tribunal process effectively. 99% of decided SEN appeals succeed for the family.

99%

of decided SEN appeals succeed for the family. With the right preparation, Manchester families can secure the support their child is legally entitled to.

*Source: MoJ/HMCTS Tribunal Statistics Quarterly, July–September 2025, SEND annual statistics 2024/25. Applies only to SEN appeals decided by the Tribunal, not all registered appeals. Not an EHCP Help success rate. Individual outcomes vary.

Local coverage

Greater Manchester areas we serve

Manchester City Centre

Didsbury

Chorlton

Withington

Rusholme

Salford

Trafford

Stockport

Tameside

Oldham

Rochdale

Bury

Bolton

Wigan

Sale

Altrincham

Cheadle

Ashton-under-Lyne

Local knowledge

The SEND landscape in Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester is made up of ten separate local authorities (Manchester, Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, and Wigan), each running its own EHC needs assessment process, its own SEND team, and its own "Local Offer". This means the experience of applying for or appealing an EHCP can differ significantly depending on which borough you live in, even though the underlying law (the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice) is exactly the same everywhere.

The ten boroughs have worked jointly through the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership on a shared "Ordinarily Available and Inclusive Provision" framework, which sets out what support schools should provide without needing an EHCP. Even so, funding pressures and the availability of specialist school places vary considerably borough to borough, which is one of the most common reasons families across Greater Manchester come to us for help with amendments and Section I (named placement) disputes.

SEND Tribunal appeals for Greater Manchester cases are registered with the national First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability). The great majority of hearings now take place remotely by video (CVP); where an in-person hearing is needed, the Tribunal aims to use a venue within around 90 minutes of your home, and Manchester has historically been used as a hearing location for appeals across the North West.

Common questions

Manchester EHCP questions we hear most.

Why Manchester families choose us

Local knowledge, national expertise.

Deep understanding of Greater Manchester local authority processes
Experience working with Manchester City Council and surrounding boroughs
Knowledge of the North West’s specialist school landscape
Remote consultancy available - no need to travel across Manchester

You do not have to navigate this alone.

Start with a free 15-minute call. We will tell you honestly how we can help your family in Manchester.

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Also serving: London, Birmingham, Leeds, and families across England.