BA (Hons) with Qualified Teaching Status, PGCE, Postgraduate Certificate in National Award for Special Educational Needs Coordination (NASENCo)
ABOUT
Hello and welcome to SEND Paperwork Partners.
I’m Julie Hewitson, a qualified teacher and Special Educational Needs Coordinator, currently working as an Assistant Educational Psychologist. I have always been passionate about nurturing the whole child and dedicated my career to supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), their families, and the adults who work with them.
With over 28 years of experience working in schools in the UK and internationally, I have seen first-hand how overwhelming and time-consuming SEND paperwork can be - especially when all you want is to do the best for your child or student.
I also know just how important it is that a child’s unique needs are fully recognised and clearly communicated through the paperwork.
That’s why I’ve created this service - to take the stress out of the paperwork process and provide clarity, confidence, and compassionate support to empower parents and teachers navigating referrals, Education, Health and Care needs assessment requests, review documents, and everything in between.
I’m here to make sure your concerns are communicated clearly, and your child’s or student’s needs are fully represented.
Whether you are a parent seeking help with paperwork or an educational setting needing support, I’m ready to guide you every step of the way - with understanding, efficiency, and expertise.
Let’s make the process simpler, together.
Our Services
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Parents
I offer tailored support to parents/carers who are navigating the complexities of Special Educational Needs, from completing paperwork to preparing for meetings. Together, we’ll get the paperwork done – with less stress and more support, leaving you feeling prepared to move forward.
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Schools
I provide bespoke SEND support for primary schools, including SENDCO guidance, staff training, and practical help for KS1 and KS2 teachers, making every child’s learning journey smoother. I also support childminders, early years settings and secondary schools with paperwork and administrative tasks, helping to reduce stress and save time.
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Community Organisations
I work with charities, community hubs, and other organisations to deliver bespoke drop-in sessions for parents, offering guidance and practical support to help families navigate SEND paperwork with confidence.
FAQs
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Yes. I can work with you virtually or in person, whichever is most convenient for you.
Face-to-face meetings within a 25-mile return journey from my base are included in the hourly rate. For any additional travel, mileage is charged at 45p per mile. This rate covers fuel and vehicle costs. Travel charges will always be agreed with you in advance so there are no surprises.
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Parents of children with Special Educational Needs may face a wide range of forms and paperwork. This can include:
Referral forms for assessments or specialist services
Applications for funding or benefits, such as DLA (Disability Living Allowance) or PIP (Personal Independence Payment)
Requests for an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Needs Assessment
Parental advice forms as part of the EHC Needs Assessment process
Review documents for annual or interim reviews of an EHCP
School-based support plans, such as Individual Learning Plans (ILPs) or Individual Education Plans (IEPs)
The variety and complexity of these forms can feel overwhelming and time consuming, but with the right support you can complete them more quickly, clearly and with less stressful, whilst ensuring your child’s needs are fully represented.
Please use the contact form if you have any questions about other types of paperwork.
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I don’t currently have the capacity to attend meetings in person. However, I can help you prepare by talking through your child’s needs, clarifying your thoughts, and helping you plan what you’d like to say and achieve. This means you can go into the meeting feeling confident, organised, and ready to make sure your child’s voice is heard.
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All children with additional needs should have support in school, but the level and type of support can vary depending on their needs.
SEN Support is the first level of help a child receives when they are identified as having Special Educational Needs. This means the school provides additional support through its own resources — for example, extra interventions, small group work, or targeted strategies. A plan such as an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) or Individual Education Plan (IEP) may be used to record the child’s needs, the support in place, and their progress. The class teacher and SENCO monitor and adjust this support regularly, and parents are involved in reviewing it.
An Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), on the other hand, is a legally binding document issued by the Local Authority. It sets out the child’s special educational needs, the provision required to meet those needs, and the outcomes being worked towards. An EHCP is for children whose needs cannot be fully met by the resources available to the school at SEN Support level. It can also include input from health and social care services where appropriate.
In short, SEN Support is school-led and flexible, while an EHCP provides a higher level of formal support and legal protection to ensure a child gets the help they need.
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An Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment is the process that helps the local authority decide whether your child needs extra support through an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
During the assessment, information is gathered from you, your child’s school, and professionals such as educational psychologists or therapists. The aim is to build a full picture of your child’s needs and what support may help them.
If the local authority agrees that your child requires more help than a school can normally provide, they will issue an EHCP, an Education, Health and Care Plan. This is a legal document that sets out your child’s special educational needs, the support they should receive, and the outcomes they are working towards.
In short — the needs assessment is the process of finding out what support is needed, and the EHCP is the plan that puts that support in place.
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Every child develops at their own pace, but sometimes extra help is needed to make sure they can learn and thrive. An Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA) looks in detail at a child’s needs to decide whether they require an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) to support their learning.
Legally, a local authority must carry out an assessment if they believe two things:
Your child has or may have special educational needs (SEN), and
They may need additional support beyond what a school or setting can usually provide.
This is known as the legal test for an EHC needs assessment.
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An Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA) can be requested by:
Parents or carers – if you believe your child needs more support than the school or setting can provide.
Young people aged 16 to 25 – they can make their own request if they have capacity to do so.
Schools, nurseries, or colleges – if they feel a child or young person needs additional support.
Other professionals – such as health visitors, social workers, or educational psychologists, who have concerns about a child’s needs.
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No — the decision rests with the Local Authority. However, I can ensure your paperwork is thorough, detailed, and clearly represents your child’s needs and their current situation.
Please read my Terms and Condition and Privacy Notice found at the bottom of this webpage for further details.
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