EHCP Badger is a free website for parents and carers in England going through the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) process for a child or young person aged 0 to 25.

It has plain-English guides, a free deadline checker that works out the legal dates for your child’s case (with optional email reminders), and free letter templates, such as asking for an EHC needs assessment and chasing a late council.

There is a page for every council in England with how to apply there and contacts for the local SEN team, SENDIASS and parent carer forum.

It is information, not legal advice, and it signposts families to IPSEA and their local SENDIASS.

Families can use it online at any time, wherever they live in England, including Essex.

The website, guides, deadline checker and letter templates are free, with no account or referral needed. Optional paid tools (£24 to £59, paid once) check a draft plan or prepare an appeal, assessment request, annual review or late-council complaint pack.