A single snapshot of a child's presentation can be misleading. On a good day, they may appear entirely fine. On a bad day, the opposite. Both are true, but neither tells the full story.
What matters is the pattern the trajectory over time. Is the child recovering more slowly after each school week? Is the weekend no longer sufficient to restore them?
Recovery patterns reveal the underlying sustainability of a child's current situation. When recovery time is short and consistent, the placement is likely working. When it is lengthening, the trajectory is unsustainable.
This is why continuity of observation matters. A professional who sees a child once sees a snapshot. They cannot see the trajectory. Only people with longitudinal access to the child's experience can track how recovery patterns change over time.
Parents are the primary holders of this longitudinal knowledge. Their observations constitute evidence that is often more revealing than any single professional assessment.
An EHCP that is built on longitudinal recovery data tells a different story from one built on classroom observation alone. It reveals the invisible costs. It shows what the child's participation actually requires.