Q:

Should I prioritise requesting a SALT or OT assessment over the EP report in my EHCP appeal, considering the potential for necessary therapy and interventions to support my child’s needs?

I am currently in the process of appealing my child’s EHCP, as the LA has omitted both an OT and a SALT assessment. The EP report submitted is from October 2023, but I am not sure whether I should prioritise further assessments.

In my appeal, I have requested that the LA carry out both an OT and SALT assessment, but I am concerned about their follow-through, given my lack of trust in the process. I’d appreciate your advice on which assessment would be more urgent to prioritise — the EP report, which is broader in scope, or a SALT assessment, which could potentially lead to therapy for my child.

Thank you.

MZ

M Z
03 Feb 2025

A: SenseCheck

  • 0 Yes
  • 0 No
  • 1 Other

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  • 08 Feb 2025
  • Other

    Simple

    Can't answer yes or no.:

    As you are aware, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists are the most suitably qualified professionals to provide evidence on the following matters:

    a) Special educational needs pertaining to occupational therapy and speech and language therapy.  
    b) Where applicable, the extent to which these therapies should be explicitly specified, quantified, and detailed in Section F of the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

    While an educational psychologist may offer observations in these areas, it is the occupational therapist and the speech and language therapist who should address the above.

    With regard to your appeal, it appears that you are not submitting reports from independent professionals. One potential course of action would be to submit a Request for Changes (RFC) to the Tribunal, asking it to order the joint instruction of an occupational therapist, a speech and language therapist, and an educational psychologist. This would necessitate collaboration between yourself and the Local Authority (LA) to jointly instruct these experts.

    If you are unable to independently instruct specialists, you may wish to explicitly state this in your request.

    Ultimately, the decision rests with the Tribunal’s discretion; however, making such a request is entirely reasonable and procedurally sound.

    I hope this guidance proves beneficial, and I look forward to the insights of others.

    Sean Kennedy

    Sean Kennedy
    Talem Law