SEND therapy & EHCP
You are operating at the sharp end of the SEND system — meeting statutory duties with stretched budgets, rising demand, and rising expectations. We work with state and local authority schools to deliver high-quality therapeutic provision that meets the standards your pupils need and the evidence requirements your inspectors and tribunals require.
Why state schools work with us
Your school is responsible for delivering the SEN provision in every child’s EHCP. You’re managing a graduated approach across hundreds of pupils, working within a Local Offer that doesn’t always cover what your children need, and answering to Ofsted, your governors, and your local authority for the impact you can demonstrate.
Whole Child Therapy partners with state schools and local authorities across the UK to deliver therapeutic provision that holds up to scrutiny. We provide direct therapy, named EHCP provision, staff training, strategic SEND consultation, and full Annual Review and tribunal support.
Consistency, not turnover
State schools tell us that the biggest barrier to effective therapy isn’t the therapy itself — it’s the churn. Different therapists, different approaches, different recommendations every term. We retain our staff and invest in their continuing specialist training, so the children you work with see the same faces, and your SENCO works with the same clinicians, year after year.
Our six core services for schools
EHCP Assessment & Delivery
Comprehensive EHCP provision from initial assessment through to Annual Review:
- Assessment using clinically recognised standardised tools, with reports written to map directly onto Sections B (needs) and F (provision) of the EHCP
- Delivery of named provision in line with the agreed plan, embedded into the school day
- Written and in-person input at Annual Reviews
- Expert Witness reports for SEND Tribunals, written to be independent and balanced
Therapeutic Partnership Model
Our specialist team — occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, play therapists — works directly within your school, building lasting relationships with children, staff and families. The model combines direct therapy with collaboration on whole-school strategy, so that recommendations are embedded into classroom practice rather than stuck in clinic.
For state schools, partnership delivery is typically funded through a combination of EHCP commissioning, Pupil Premium, school SEN budget and — where relevant — local authority block funding. We work with you to identify the routes that are realistic for your school.
Direct Training
Tailored, evidence-based training and supervision for all school staff. Our programmes build confidence in managing complex needs, give staff practical strategies they can use the next day, and embed a whole-school approach to wellbeing and inclusion.
Topics include sensory integration, communication development, neuroaffirming practice, trauma-informed practice, whole-school mental health, supporting d/Deaf children and using movement to develop cognition. We also build bespoke training packages.
Training can be commissioned by individual schools, by Multi-Academy Trusts across their school estate, or by local authorities for cohort-wide CPD.
SEND Audit
An objective, structured review of your existing SEND policies, practices and impact. The audit covers identification, assessment, intervention, parental engagement, EHCP delivery and staff development — and produces a written strategic report with prioritised recommendations you can take to your governors, your trust board or your local authority.
Schools Improvement Partner
Long-term, hands-on support for therapeutic and SEND provision across a school or trust. We work alongside senior leadership and SEND teams to drive sustained improvement, mentor SENCOs, and ensure excellence in therapy department management.
Supporting Parents
All our training topics are also available to parents, and we facilitate parent groups within partner schools — building community and shared understanding for families who can otherwise feel isolated by the SEND process. We also offer 1:1 parent coaching sessions for families navigating EHCP applications, transitions, and day-to-day support.
Standards we work to
Our occupational therapists and speech and language therapists are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Our work is structured around the SEND Code of Practice (2024) — assess, plan, do, review — and aligned with current NICE guidance on autism and ADHD. Our therapy is evidence-based, child-led and trauma-informed.
How to start
Book a free initial needs assessment meeting with one of our Clinical Directors. We’ll talk through your school’s or trust’s specific situation, the children you’re supporting, and the routes to commissioning that are realistic for you.