Chapter 3: Writing the Parent/Carer Contribution
Parents and carers often hold information that cannot be captured fully in assessments, school reports or appointment notes. You see the everyday impact of a child or young person’s needs across home life, education, relationships, routines and recovery.
Writing the Parent/Carer Contribution helps you bring that knowledge into the EHCP process in a way that is clear, useful and centred on the individual child or young person.
The guide explores what you might include, how to describe needs and their impact, how to incorporate strengths and aspirations, and how to explain what support currently helps or where difficulties remain.
It is not about presenting your child negatively or proving that everything is difficult. Instead, it is about creating a fuller and more accurate picture of who they are and what they need to access education and everyday life.
It includes:
- Guidance on what a parent/carer contribution can cover
- Prompts for describing strengths, needs and everyday impact
- Support with identifying what is and isn’t working
- Ways to include the child or young person’s views and aspirations
- Practical examples and writing prompts
- Space to organise your contribution
- Harvard-referenced information and further support
This resource relates specifically to the SEND and EHCP system in England and provides general information rather than individual legal advice.
A supportive guide for turning your everyday knowledge of your child into meaningful information that can contribute to their EHCP.
Space to Breathe Therapy / Support - Understand - Empower
