The EHCP audit tool

Your child's Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) should be specific, detailed, and measurable. In practice, many are not. Vague wording in Section F (provision) or missing outcomes in Section E are common problems. The EHCP audit tool checks your child's plan against what the law requires and flags areas that may need attention.

What the audit does

The audit reads your child's EHCP and checks each section against quality standards drawn from the SEND Code of Practice, SEND Tribunal case law, and best practice guidance. It looks at:

• Whether provision in Section F is specific and quantified (hours, frequency, who delivers it)
• Whether outcomes in Section E are measurable and time-bound
• Whether needs in Section B match the provision in Section F
• Whether health and social care sections (Sections C, D, G, H) are properly completed
• Whether the plan uses vague language that could be difficult to enforce

How to run an audit

Understanding the RAG ratings

Each finding in the audit is colour-coded:

• Red: A significant issue that could affect your child's provision. For example, Section F says 'regular speech therapy' without specifying how many hours per week, who delivers it, or how often.
• Amber: Something that could be stronger. For example, an outcome that is measurable but does not have a clear timeframe.
• Green: This part of the EHCP meets the expected standard. The provision is specific, quantified, and linked to an identified need.

What to do with the findings

The audit is a starting point, not a verdict. Here is how to use the results:

For red findings:

1. Read the specific issue the audit flagged
2. Ask SpektraBot for help drafting a response. For example: 'Section F says "access to speech therapy". Can you help me write to the LA asking them to specify the hours?'
3. Raise the issue at your next annual review, or write to the local authority requesting an amendment

For amber findings:

1. Consider whether the issue affects your child's day-to-day support
2. Note them for your annual review preparation
3. Ask SpektraBot to explain what best practice looks like for that section

For green findings:

1. Good news. These sections are well written and should be enforceable

Common issues the audit finds

Based on audits run so far, the most common problems are:

• Unquantified provision: 'Access to' or 'opportunities for' instead of specific hours and frequency
• Missing delivery details: No mention of who delivers the provision (teacher, TA, speech therapist)
• Vague outcomes: Outcomes like 'improve reading' instead of 'read at age-expected level by July 2027'
• Needs without matching provision: A need identified in Section B with no corresponding support in Section F
• Empty health or social care sections: Sections C, D, G, or H left blank or marked 'not applicable' without explanation

Privacy and security

Your EHCP is processed securely:

• Personal information is redacted before AI analysis. Names, NHS numbers, addresses, and other identifiable details are stripped out automatically.
• The original document is deleted once the audit is complete. Only the findings and report are kept.
• Audit results are kept for 90 days. You can delete all audit data at any time from the results screen.
• No one else can see your results unless you choose to share them.