Watkins Solicitors SEN Information Day at the Watershed, Bristol – A Day of Expert Guidance and Support

On Friday, 25th April 2025, Watkins Solicitors hosted another successful SEN Information Day for Parents at the Watershed in Bristol, bringing together parents, carers, and education law specialists for a day packed with practical advice, support, and expert insights into Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessments and plans.

The event was led by Beverley Watkins, Managing Partner at Watkins Solicitors, and Emma Thompson, Education Solicitor, both of whom have extensive experience in supporting families through the complex world of Special Educational Needs (SEN) law.

Throughout the day, Emma and Beverley delivered a series of detailed and accessible presentations, helping parents better understand and navigate the EHC process.

Emma Thompson kicked off the day with sessions covering:

• EHC Needs Assessment Requests, including what provision may constitute additional support for an EHCP and how to frame an effective EHC Assessment Request;
• Gathering EHC Needs Assessment Evidence, and how to strengthen applications;
• An overview of What is an EHC Needs Assessment?, including SEN Regulation 6 (1)(h);
• Timescales for Assessments and Issuing Plans; and
• A guide to reviewing a Draft EHC Plan.

Beverley Watkins then built on this foundation with sessions exploring:

• The Contents of EHC Plans, with particular focus on accurately specifying and quantifying Section B and Section F;
• The importance of Section I (Placement);
• How to secure a place at an independent school;
• Post-16 considerations for young people with EHC Plans;
• Navigating Health and Social Care elements of EHC Plans and understanding extended appeals, including the types of appeals available and the relevant timetables;
• What parents can expect at a SEND Tribunal; and
• The process for Annual Reviews.

The day was rounded off with a joint session by Beverley and Emma, guiding attendees through When to Pre-Action during the EHC Process—a crucial step when challenging a local authority’s decisions.

Throughout the event, Beverley and Emma made themselves available for one-to-one questions, ensuring that every attendee left feeling supported and heard.

Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive:

"Excellent specialist knowledge imparted with compassion and humour."

"Beverley remained accessible for one-to-one questions throughout the day. Extremely useful and generous with her time. Many thanks."

"Really useful! Wish I'd seen it a year ago. I feel much more informed and empowered."

We would like to thank everyone who attended and contributed to making the day such a success. It was wonderful to see so many parents and carers leaving with greater confidence and clarity about securing the support their children need.

If you would like to hear about future SEN events or access specialist advice on EHC needs assessments and plans, please contact us at marketing@watkinssolicitors.co.uk or visit our Education Law page here.