Ehcp at mainstream school

[Gemgemjones]

Hi guys need some advice if anyone can help? My son is 4 and has got autism and non verbal. his nursery set up an ehcp for us and it was approved. He started school in September and his 1 to 1 is a teaching assistant in reception. Nobody in the school have any experience with autism and I got called into a meeting today saying he's distressed at school and crying when he's pulled away from what he wants to do (what kid doesn't) anyway they say that this may not be the school for him to meet his needs and that he maybe better suited to a special school. Its upset me as he's only been there 8 weeks and I think they're worried about losing the funding next year cos he won't have made progress. Does anyone know if schools can get 1 to 1s from the council just say that are experienced with dealing with autistic children as he had one at nursery and she was excellent. No disrespect to his current 1 to 1 as she's just doing her job and is lovely with him but it's not enough as they're not teaching him anything cos they don't know how to. Sorry for long post 😔

[Ellie56]

I would start by going back to your son's EHCP.

What does the EHCP specifically say should be provided?
Is everything detailed in the plan actually in place?

For example does it say the 1:1 support should be provided by a member of staff with understanding of and experience of working with children with autism?

[tartanterror]

Also check - When was the EHCP finalised?
You can call a 6 month emergency review with your LA SEN team.
I don't know much about non verbal ASD but I think that would normally be a big ask for a mainstream primary unless they have a specialist unit? Did you specifically request this school for your son?

Usually there is a list of "needs"/SEN in the EHCP.
In another section there is "provision" eg 1:1 support etc
Does it mention specialist placement? Or talk about speech therapy?
Does the list of provision describe the sort of thing that a standard primary school could deliver?

I suppose I am asking is he at the right school to meet his needs?
(He might be - you just haven't said enough for us to know)

[StarlightMcKenzee]

By rights all children are entitled to be educated in mainstream. If a school is unable to educate a child or meet their needs, the LA have a statutory duty to give them whatever they need so they can. Cost isn't a factor, it is the child's right.

You will need to call an emergency annual review and ask the school to be honest about how they are struggling. Ask for an EP to give advice and for the school to be given decent Autism training. An Early bird course run by the NAS is a good start, where school staff and parents attend together about that one child. If that is what your child needs then that is what they are entitled to and the LA should facilitate that school being able to do it.

[Allthewaves]

Lots of 1:1 don't have the experience I have found. Don't be afraid to ask for a meeting with her and senco and ask what's in place to meet his needs. Are they using visuals etc

Imo I think it's very hard for a non verbal asd child in mainstream primary school. Either they are left out or babied by their peers - almost like a project. Where in special school they are all treated equal.

My son if hfa and he's finds mainstream a struggle. Too much noise, busy classroom displays around the whiteboard and on wall. If he was non verbal I would have pushed for special school or unit

[Gemgemjones]

Thanks to everyone for the comments I've only just realised I had any! (New here) anyhow things have got a little better. They've got help from the outside now the educational psychologist are watching him and salt come into school and send and they've been advised to set up a little work station for him which seems to be going well so when he does his work he gets rewarded by doing fun things. He's using his pecs book a little more too and they're setting up a little sensory room for him too. He's coming on in his own time as he's out of nappies during the day since being in school x

[Msqueen33]

Same situation with the same age child. Our 1:1 is fab but there’s an excuse on everything. She’s only in school two hours a day despite additional funding to pay for her 1:1. We’ve worked our her peers have had over 200 hours education that she hasn’t. I’ve asked for an emergency review so we will either push for a repeat of reception or specialist provision. We did ask for a Sen school originally as we’ve not had a good experience with our other dc who also has asd but lea said no. My dd is non verbal and they can’t find her any quiet space at all.

[Ellie56]

I keep seeing this over and over again where SEN children are in school on a part time timetable. This is illegal and the school needs pulling up on it.

Msqueen33 Ask for the documentation they should have filled in for every exclusion she has had since she started school.

www.ipsea.org.uk/what-you-need-to-know/exclusion-from-school