EHCP for autism or ADHD: what councils look for
Does a diagnosis of autism or ADHD get you an EHCP? What evidence actually matters, what provision to ask for, and how to apply — a plain-English guide.
One of the most common misconceptions: "my child has a diagnosis, so they'll get an EHCP." A diagnosis alone does not create entitlement — and equally, the council cannot refuse an assessment just because there is no diagnosis yet. What matters is the needs and the support they require.
What councils actually assess
- Is the child making adequate progress with the school's existing SEN support?
- Do the needs require provision beyond what a mainstream school can ordinarily provide?
- Is there health or social care involvement that needs coordinating?
Evidence that makes a difference for autism/ADHD
- School records showing what interventions were already tried and what happened
- Attendance and exclusion data (both tell a story in SEND cases)
- Reports from any paediatrician, CAMHS, or therapist — even waiting-list letters
- Your own dated log of incidents, meltdowns, homework battles, and what school did
Provision to ask for in Section F (examples)
- Structured sensory breaks — specify when, where, and supervised by whom
- Small-group or 1:1 support for executive function and organisation — specify frequency
- Speech and language therapy for social communication — specify who delivers it and how often
- Reasonable adjustments embedded as provision, not "considered" (Equality Act duties still apply alongside)
Waiting for a diagnosis?
NHS Right to Choose can dramatically shorten autism/ADHD assessment waits at no cost. And EHCP applications do not wait for diagnoses — assessment is about needs, not labels.
When the draft plan lands, run it through the free checker — autism and ADHD provisions are among the most commonly written vaguely ("sensory breaks as required"), and vague wording is what our response letters fix.