For any parent trying to secure the right support for a child with special educational needs, the EHCP process can feel like navigating a system designed to be difficult. The jargon is dense, the timelines are tight, and it can be hard to know your rights or how to push back when things go wrong. The Essential EHCP Guide for Parents and Carers cuts through the confusion with clear, honest, step-by-step guidance that covers the whole process from start to finish.

How it helps

Written by Dr Abigail Fisher, an educational psychologist with years of experience working with families in local authorities and independently, and Eliza Fricker, a Sunday Times bestselling author and illustrator who has navigated the EHCP process as a parent herself, this book brings together professional expertise and personal experience in a way that is rare in this field. The result is a guide that is both technically accurate and emotionally honest -- it acknowledges how hard this process can be, while giving parents the knowledge and confidence to advocate effectively for their child.

Alongside clear explanations of each stage, the book includes real stories from parents, advice on timelines, template letters, and forms for gathering evidence. Downloadable resources are also available to support readers further.

Why it works for SENCOs and school professionals

• Helps schools build better relationships with families: When parents understand the EHCP process clearly, conversations between home and school become more productive. This book supports informed, constructive engagement rather than conflict.
• Written by an educational psychologist with local authority experience: Dr Abigail Fisher has worked directly within SEN systems, giving the content credibility that school professionals and SENCOs can rely on and direct parents to confidently.
• Supports annual review preparation: The book covers maintaining and reviewing an EHCP, making it a useful reference for families ahead of annual reviews -- reducing the time schools spend fielding queries from unprepared parents.
• Widely endorsed across the SEN community: Recommended by SEN authors, autism consultants, and advocacy professionals, this is a title that schools, local authorities, and parent support networks are already recommending.
• Illustrated throughout by Eliza Fricker: Her accessible, warm illustration style makes a complex subject easier to engage with, particularly for parents who find dense text difficult to process under stress.

Who else it suits

This book is primarily written for parents and carers of children with SEN, but it will also be a useful reference for anyone supporting families through the system -- including teaching assistants, family support workers, and parent support advisers. Any family beginning, mid-way through, or reviewing an EHCP will find something relevant here.

If you are buying for a school or organisation and want to discuss a bulk order, please get in touch with our team.

• Covers the full EHCP journey: From identifying your child's needs and applying for an EHCP, through to mediation, implementation, and annual review.
• Written by Dr Abigail Fisher: Educational psychologist, qualified teacher, and independent SEN practitioner with extensive local authority experience.
• Illustrated and co-authored by Eliza Fricker: Sunday Times bestselling author and illustrator, and parent with direct experience of the EHCP process.
• Includes real parent stories: Providing perspective and reassurance from families who have been through the process.
• Includes practical resources: Advice on timelines, template letters, and evidence-gathering forms.
• Illustrated throughout: Eliza Fricker's illustrations appear throughout, making the content accessible and engaging.
• Format: Trade Paperback.
• Pages: 208.
• Dimensions: 214 x 136 mm.
• Weight: 218 Grams.
• Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
• Published: 21 January 2026.
• What's included: 1 x trade paperback book.

• What is an EHCP and who is this book for?
  An Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is a legally binding document for children and young people with significant special educational needs. This book is for parents and carers who are applying for, navigating, or reviewing an EHCP for their child. No prior knowledge of the system is needed.
• Does this book cover the entire EHCP process?
  Yes. The book takes readers from identifying their child's needs and submitting an application, through to assessment, drafting, mediation, implementation, and the annual review process. It also covers what to do when things go wrong.
• Is this guide specific to England?
  Yes. EHCPs are a feature of the English SEN system, introduced by the Children and Families Act 2014. The guidance in this book is specific to England. Parents in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland should note that different frameworks apply in those nations.
• Can SENCOs or school staff recommend this to parents?
  Yes, and many already do. The book has been endorsed by SEN advocates, autism consultants, and educational psychologists, and it is designed to help parents engage constructively with schools and local authorities rather than in opposition to them.
• Who wrote this book?
  Dr Abigail Fisher is an educational psychologist and former teacher with extensive experience in SEN and local authority settings. Eliza Fricker is a Sunday Times bestselling author and illustrator who has direct personal experience of navigating the EHCP process for her own child.
• Are there downloadable resources included?
  Yes. The book includes access to helpful tools such as template letters, evidence-gathering forms, and timeline guidance that readers can use alongside the text.