You may know what is going wrong without knowing what the service is called.
You might be trying to obtain an EHCP, prepare for an annual review, change an existing plan, address provision that is not being delivered, respond to school or placement breakdown, consider EOTAS, obtain psychological evidence or coordinate a complex case.
Use the pathway tool below to receive a suggested starting point, or browse all Navigate SEND services below.
A situation may connect to more than one service. Your pathway result is therefore a guide rather than a final decision. Once we receive a short enquiry, we will check the situation and confirm the most appropriate route before any work begins.
Group 1: Obtaining, reviewing or changing an EHCP
EHCP needs assessment requests and reassessments
This service may be appropriate where a child or young person may need an EHCP for the first time, or where their current needs have changed so substantially that a reassessment may be required.
Navigate SEND can help review the existing evidence, clarify the educational impact of the identified needs, identify gaps and structure the request more clearly. We can also support cases where an earlier request has not progressed and the evidence or strategy now needs reconsideration.
EHCP annual review support
This service may be appropriate where an annual review is approaching, the current EHCP no longer reflects the child or young person, or the review process needs stronger preparation and structure.
We can help examine whether needs, outcomes, provision and placement remain accurate; organise the available evidence; identify areas requiring discussion; and prepare a clear set of priorities for the meeting and the local authority decision that follows.
EHCP amendments
This service is intended for situations where an existing EHCP needs to be changed.
Amendments may be required because needs have developed, provision is no longer sufficient or specific, professional recommendations have changed, a placement is no longer suitable or preparation for adulthood has not been addressed adequately.
Navigate SEND can review the current plan and supporting evidence, identify the priority amendments and help present the proposed changes in a clearer and more structured form.
Group 2: When provision, attendance or placement is not working
EHCP provision not being delivered
This service may be appropriate where an EHCP appears suitable on paper but some or all of the specified provision is missing, reduced, inconsistent or being delivered differently in practice.
We can help compare the written plan with what is actually happening, organise evidence of the gap, identify the most significant concerns and clarify the strongest next step. That may lead to correspondence, an annual review, an amendment request, escalation or a wider strategic plan.
EOTAS, school breakdown and local authority provision
This service may be relevant where a child or young person is unable to access their current school or college, a placement has broken down, attendance has substantially reduced or education otherwise than at school is being considered.
We can help clarify the current educational picture, the barriers to attendance or placement, the provision that may now be required and the evidence needed to support a request to the local authority.
SEND Appeal and Tribunal Preparation
This pathway may be relevant where the local authority has made a decision that is being challenged or an appeal is already being considered or prepared.
Navigate SEND is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation. Our role can include reviewing the educational and professional evidence, clarifying disputed areas of the EHCP, identifying evidence gaps, helping prepare working documents and collaborating with the family’s legal team where one is involved.
Ongoing SEND strategic advisory
Some cases cannot be resolved through a single document, meeting or assessment.
Ongoing strategic advisory may be appropriate where several issues are interacting, different professionals or organisations need coordinating, the case is changing over time or the family or professional team needs continued support with planning and decision-making.
Work may include evidence review, meeting preparation, correspondence support, professional liaison, prioritisation and maintaining a clear case strategy across different stages.
Group 3: Psychological evidence, transition and employment
Psychological assessments and reports
This service may be appropriate where stronger psychological evidence is needed to understand learning, cognitive functioning, adaptive skills, emotional or behavioural presentation, independence, occupational functioning or the relationship between the person and their environment.
Assessment is selected according to the actual question being asked. Depending on the scope, this may relate to an EHCP, EOTAS, post-16 planning, Disabled Students’ Allowance, examination access arrangements, workplace support or preparation for adulthood.
Preparing for adulthood, transition and independence
This pathway is for young people approaching adulthood where education, independence, community participation, further education, training or employment need to be considered together.
Support may include reviewing current needs and provision, clarifying realistic outcomes, assessing adaptive or occupational functioning, identifying barriers to independence and helping create a more connected plan for the transition beyond school or college.
Access to Work, workplace adjustments and adult occupational needs
This pathway may be relevant where a disabled or neurodivergent adult needs help understanding occupational barriers, work-related strengths, job demands, workplace adjustments, return-to-work needs or the support required to access and sustain employment.
The work may involve occupational psychology assessment, person–job fit, functional analysis and recommendations for workplace or employment support.
Group 4: Complex case and professional support
Specialist SEND and complex case management
This service is designed for cases requiring active coordination rather than a single piece of advice.
It may be appropriate where education, health, therapy, social care, funding, family circumstances and professional recommendations need to be brought into one coherent plan.
Case-management work may include assessment, planning, professional coordination, monitoring, meetings, implementation oversight and helping the wider team maintain momentum and accountability.
Funding reviews of statutory services
This service supports professional deputies, legal teams and families where private funds are being used—or may be proposed—for education, health, care, therapy, equipment or support.
Navigate SEND can help review whether relevant statutory funding routes have been explored, organise the evidence and consider responsibilities across EHCPs, NHS Continuing Healthcare, social care and related public provision.
The purpose is to help deputies make better-informed decisions about statutory responsibility and the appropriate use of protected funds.
SEND and Pupil Premium support for schools
This service is for headteachers, SENCos, pastoral leaders, school business managers and multi-academy trusts needing additional capacity or specialist input.
Support may include pupil reviews, psychological consultation and formulation, SENCo case clinics, EHCP work, attendance and engagement planning, assessment strategy, provision mapping and targeted review of pupils supported through Pupil Premium.
Professional referrals for assessment, advice or formulation
Case managers, solicitors, therapists, schools, deputies and other professionals may refer where they require a defined assessment, independent review, case formulation or strategic opinion.
The most appropriate route will depend on whether the main need is:
- psychological assessment;
- SEND case review;
- complex case management;
- statutory funding analysis;
- education planning;
- expert evidence.
The initial enquiry should identify the question that needs answering rather than selecting an assessment tool in advance.
Expert witness services
This service is intended primarily for solicitors and legal teams seeking independent expert evidence within Matt Bell’s occupational psychology and education expertise.
Potential instructions may involve employment, employability, workplace functioning, education, SEND, provision, educational disruption or the transition from education into adult life and work.
The expert’s duty is to the court or tribunal rather than to the instructing party.
Who the pathway is for
Who can use the service pathway?
The pathway can be used by:
Parents and carers
Where a child or young person’s needs, education, EHCP or provision require clarification or support.
Young people and adults
Where the main issue relates to education, transition, independence, university, employment or workplace functioning.
Case managers and therapists
Where specialist SEND, assessment, case-formulation or coordination support is required.
Solicitors and professional deputies
Where the case requires expert evidence, statutory-funding analysis, complex education input or a defined professional opinion.
Schools and colleges
Where additional SEND, psychological, EHCP, attendance, assessment or planning capacity is needed.
Not sure which service applies?
What if more than one service appears relevant?
That is common.
The first service does not have to solve every aspect of the case. It should provide the most useful and proportionate place to begin.
Send us a short outline covering:
- who requires support;
- what is happening now;
- the main decision or difficulty;
- any important meeting or deadline;
- what you hope the next piece of work will achieve.
We will use that information to confirm the best starting point.
