Draft EHCP for ASD DS2....now what

[LaTourEiffel]

Hi,

DS2 (5.11 yrs) confirmed with ASD dx, EHCP request initiated by me in expectation of diagnosis (DS1 also ASD, so know the path).

However, DS2 has more profound difficulties than DS1, with substantial behaviour difficulties (violence, aggression) as well as sensory processing issues and receptive language processing difficulties.

Draft EHCP received in this morning's post (only submitted in Feb, so not too bad going!). He's been granted 25 hrs one to one, which is great and school have already appointed someone. Only thing is, there is no-body at his school that has any training in ASD and are woefully lacking in resources.

I want to name an alternative special school so that he can have access to SALT and OT, and be in an environment where other pupils and staff aren't at risk - he is very violent.

What do I need to 'prove' in order to get a place at a special school for him? What evidence do I need other than personal experience (DS1 only barely scraped though the same school and only got a dx because I pushed for it)?

Any urgent help much appreciated as we have 2 weeks to respond to the draft before they implement it.

TIA x

[BackforGood]

Did you not get chance to name your preferred school at the 12 week meeting?
What was said then about placement?

[lougle]

Have you been asked to name a school yet? If so, name the special school. Then it's up to the LA to justify why it isn't needed. If you disagree you can go to mediation/tribunal.

SS is often given when the child can't be meaningfully included at MS, or their needs conflict with the efficient education of other children in MS. Complex needs is required for DD1's school, so simple language delay wouldn't qualify, but gdd or ASD plus behavioural needs would, etc.

[shelipierce]

I am currently going through the EHCP process and I am awaiting meeting 2 at some point this month (waiting on date confirmation due to rescheduling), I was advised to look on our Local Offer, I assume all counties have it. I was told to Google "Essex Local Offer" and sure enough the website was there. It has quite a lot of information on it including a list of specialised schools and their websites. Maybe try Local Offer and your county to access the list of schools available and what they specialise in (may have to visit every school website for the information).

Hope this is of some help to you

[LaTourEiffel]

Bit puzzled - what 12 week meeting?

I've been sent the first draft of the EHCP which states that if we want to name a school, we can do so. I just don't know if I need to justify it or not.

We discussed it with the Ed Psych. and said that we'd give it another term tops in his current mainstream school, because whilst they are containing, they are not dealing with his behavioural needs.

I think regular class evacuations would probably count as conflict with efficient education of other children. We had parent complaints last term (pre-diagnosis)...

I guess I'll just shove down the name of the school that i want and take it from there.

In the meantime, DS1 (also ASD) has started head-banging. On walls and floors - not to rock music....

[BackforGood]

As shelipierce says, on your local authority's 'Local Offer website, it should explain all the procedure. For example,

Usual procedure here is the 'Team Around the Child' set a date to meet and formally request statutory assessment for the EHC. Everyone brings their information (bit of the jigsaw) to that meeting, so the local authority have evidence to make the decision to assess or not, on up to date evidence presented by the meeting. At that meeting, they put in their diaries the date of the next meeting (we call it the '12 week meeting', although in our authority, it's more likely to be 15 weeks ahead).
Whoever is co-ordinating that meeting (often the EP, or the school, but doesn't have to be) sends all the 'paperwork' (it's electronic here) to the assessment service who present it to a panel (who meet weekly) to decide if evidence is there to agree to statutory assessment.
An officer (Plan Co-ordinator) is then appointed as the named person to pull it all together. Plan co-ordinator writes out the first draft of what they think the EHC should look like and brings (or sends) that to the 12 week meeting, when the Team Around the Child tear it to pieces peruse it and send it back with agreed amendments, or a note that everyone is happy with it, or whatever they think. At this meeting, the parents are asked for their preferred placement.
After that, the Plan co-ordinator writes up the official draft, and starts to contact the preferred placements to see if they feel able to meet the needs of the child. When it's written up, everyone gets a copy of the draft, but that is proof-reading, rather than challenging decisions at this stage.

[LaTourEiffel]

Wow, that is so not what has happened here....and i'm only over the border in Derbyshire.

I raised the EHCP paperwork and submitted it to the council.
They lost it (despite me having a receipt for it)
I resent it.
They wrote to the paediatrician, school and SALT
I chased the paediatrician, school and SALT for MONTHS for assessments for ASD
Child had assessments for ASD
Paediatrician, school and SALT sent final reports to council, including DX
Council have sent me draft statement, which i have two weeks to review and return.

However, i have been speaking to a Special school that i think would suit DS2 better than MS, and they have said the form is badly worded.

I had been led to believe that in this two week period, i had to name the school i want him to go to - which implies that i would have visited them etc. They have said that i can simply state that i want him to go to a school with special provisions which gives everyone the time to consider where those schools might be.

Your process seems much more engaged, the process i've been through has been very fragmented and the only thing linking it all together and keeping it moving, has been me. And knowing it was all down to me has been an incredible strain - so worried that i'm not doing enough for the boys.

In other news, i've taken the decision to hand my notice in at work - did it yesterday - which feels really good. If it converts to a leave of absence (boss doesn't want me to leave) then all well and good, but if HR won't agree then I'm happy with worst case scenario of no job.

I have transferable skills and could easily either temp or contract if money gets too tight. My aim is to just take long enough out to get the kids the support they need and get the house more ASD friendly.

[LaTourEiffel]

I am the 'Team around the Child'

[BackforGood]

What you describe sounds much more like the process of applying for a Statement. The legislation changed last year however, and everywhere should be following the EHC process as I described. I'm not in Nottingham, just knew they had their animation all completed good and early last year.
The gvmt put some millions into independent parent supporters to give support to parents for the ehc process in the first 18months or so. The numbers I have are local though. I'll see if i can find how you contact them in your area (although the local authority should be able to put you in touch if you ask).
i always see the IPSEA website recommended on here, altnough have never had any involvement myself.

[InimitableJeeves]

You need to establish that the mainstream school cannot meet his needs, even with the 1:1 support. If they will support you in saying that, so much the better, but certainly refer to the class evacuations that have taken place and parental complaints and cite in detail all the examples of his difficulties in the mainstream.

If the EP or other reports you have contain anything that supports the idea of a special school, again draw attention to that.

Generally try to make the case that he has needs, e.g. for small classes and a quiet environment and specialist teachers, which can only be met in a special school.

[SouthWestmom]

Back the process you described isn't required nationally it's just good practice locally.
Technically, on receipt of the draft EHCP the parent or young person (16 -25 roughly) can make comments and suggestions for changes and request a school which the LA MUST (in most cases) consult with. Great if beforehand everyone has been engaged but there is actually no requirement in law to even hold a meeting before this point. Oprah now request a meeting but has to within 15 days.

[LaTourEiffel]

Well, i've got the form and i'm putting that i want him to go to special school.

I've put that for harry to achieve the best possible outcome he needs to access the curriculum. In order to do this he needs significantly smaller class sizes and access to OT and SALT.

I've only got a tiny amount of room on the form, so don't know what else to say.

His mainstream school is rubbish for SEN, I can't bear the thought of them 'containing' and 'distracting' for the next three years. He needs to be taught skills, not hidden away from his peers. And likewise, his peers don't need his disruption in the classroom.

[SouthWestmom]

Ring ipsea.
Write on the teeny form 'see attached' and include however much you like
Look at the evidence you have and make sure anything supporting your case is in the draft plan

[LaTourEiffel]

Update:

We've abandoned the form i've written following a visit to a school today. There is no provision in the EHCP for OT or SALT and the first thing is to get that written into the plan. Without that, there is no justification for a special school.

Can't understand why there is no provision for OT or SALT - well, apart from the fact that he hasn't even seen an OT and the SALT just confirmed he can speak.....that aside.....

So, getting a replacement form sent out and then I'm to put that I don't agree with the plan as it has no provisions in it. First battle will be to get that included.

Then we can argue about which schools can provide the provisions if we manage to get them added to the plan.

In other news; i handed my notice in last Friday, but bosses haven't accepted it. Instead they've suggested i go part time, effective from next week, going into the office one day per week, but otherwise working from home. Not sure that's going to give me the headspace i was looking for, but I guess i've got nothing to lose.

[InimitableJeeves]

Quote Regulation 6 of the SEND regulations at the local authority - that requires them to get appropriate reports and to consult experts that the parents reasonably ask them to assess. So assuming there is evidence that your ds has motor and/or sensory needs they clearly should have got OT evidence. Also, if the SALT confirmed that your child had speech difficulties they should have asked him or her to give more detail, including in particular recommendations for specific and detailed provision as set out in paragraph 9.69 of the SEN Code of Practice.