How to Write Parent Views That Actually Influence an EHCP

(The Neurodivergent Profile Explained) By SEN Parent Support Group

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Parent views are one of the most important parts of an EHCP yet they’re the section parents struggle with the most. Too many are written like a polite school report, or they focus on behaviour rather than need, or they unintentionally minimise the child’s struggles because parents are so used to coping.

This blog alongside our resource guide will show you how to write parent views that are:

• accurate
• neurodiversity‑affirming
• legally useful
• emotionally truthful
• impossible for the LA to ignore

And most importantly: they reflect your child’s actual profile, not the masked version professionals often see.

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Why Parent Views Matter More Than You Think

Parent views are not a “nice to have”. They are a statutory requirement and a key source of evidence.

They help:

• identify needs that school hasn’t recognised
• explain masking
• show the impact of unmet need at home
• highlight safety concerns
• demonstrate the child’s lived experience
• link needs to provision

Tribunal panels often rely heavily on parent views because they show the real picture not the polished version seen in a classroom for 6 hours a day.

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Start With the Neurodivergent Profile

Most parents begin with behaviour (“meltdowns”, “refusal”, “shutdowns”). But behaviour is the output, not the need.

A strong parent view starts with the profile:

1. Sensory profile

What overwhelms them? What regulates them? What triggers shutdowns or meltdowns?

2. Cognitive profile

How do they process information? Do they need more time? Visuals? Reduced language?

3. Emotional profile

How do they experience anxiety? Transitions? Uncertainty? Social pressure?

4. Communication profile

How do they express needs? What breaks down under stress?

5. Executive functioning profile

What support do they need for planning, organising, starting tasks, switching tasks?

6. Social profile

How do they interpret social cues? What causes distress or confusion?

This creates a foundation that makes the rest of the EHCP make sense.

our Core Needs Assessment helps you capture 1 -6 click here to access and here is a supporting tool that has been completed already to take the guess work out of the overwhelm.

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Explain Masking Clearly and Without Apology

Masking is one of the biggest reasons needs are missed.

You can include:

• how your child presents at school – Example resource here
• how they present at home – Example
  Resource here
• the cost of masking (incorporate the above to evidence this)
• the delayed impact (after‑school restraint collapse) Example here
• how long it takes them to recover

Professionals often say “they’re fine here”. Parent views must show why that is not the full picture.

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Describe the Impact – Not Just the Behaviour

Instead of:

“He refuses to go to school.”

Try:

“He experiences overwhelming anxiety before school, which presents as refusal. This is not a choice — it is a stress response triggered by sensory overload, unpredictability, and unmet need.”

Instead of:

“She has meltdowns after school.”

Try:

“She holds in distress all day, masking to cope. When she gets home, the accumulated stress results in a meltdown. This shows the school day is emotionally unsustainable.”

Impact is what drives provision.

How you communicate to professionals is key to obtaining support sooner in all areas. Watch this vlog to support this. Click here

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Link Needs to Provision (This Is Where Most Parents Miss Out)

A powerful parent view doesn’t just describe need — it shows what the child requires.

For example:

• “Because he processes language slowly, he needs instructions broken down into single steps with visual support.”
• “Because she becomes overwhelmed by noise, she needs access to a low‑arousal space and sensory regulation throughout the day.”
• “Because transitions trigger anxiety, she needs pre‑warning, visual schedules, and adult support during transitions.”

This helps shape Section F. For a deeper dive into this you will find this blog helpful click here

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Avoid the ‘Good Day’ Trap

Parents often write things like:

• “He can do it when he wants to.”
• “She’s fine once she settles.”
• “He’s capable when calm.”

These statements are used against families.

A better approach:

• “He can sometimes manage this with significant effort, but it is not sustainable or consistent.”
• “She can do this on a good day, but good days are infrequent and unpredictable.”
• “He can achieve this only when all conditions are perfect which is rare.”

This reframes the reality.

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Use Concrete Examples

Professionals respond to specifics.

Instead of:

“She struggles with noise.”

Try:

“She becomes distressed in the dining hall and often refuses to enter. At home she covers her ears and cries after noisy days.”

Instead of:

“He struggles with transitions.”

Try:

“He becomes frozen and unable to move when asked to switch tasks. This happens daily and results in lateness, distress, and shutdowns.”

Examples make the need undeniable.

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Structure Your Parent Views Like This

A simple, effective structure:

1. Introduction

Who your child is, their strengths, what they love.

2. The Neurodivergent Profile

Sensory, cognitive, emotional, communication, executive functioning, social.

3. Masking

How it presents, the cost, the after‑school impact.

4. Daily Impact

Learning, safety, wellbeing, attendance, independence.

5. What Helps

What works at home, what doesn’t, what they need consistently.

6. What Happens Without Support

Meltdowns, shutdowns, refusal, anxiety, regression.

7. Your Ask

What you believe they need in school and why.

This structure is parent‑friendly EHCP and Tribunal‑friendly. For information on SENDIST Tribunals and the processes click here

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Parent views are not about being polite or agreeable. They are about telling the truth the whole truth in a system that often only sees the masked version of your child.

When written well, parent views:

• shift the entire EHCP
• expose unmet need
• strengthen your case
• protect your child
• and give professionals a roadmap they can’t ignore

We hope this helps!

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