Hello,
The school are keen to issue my just turned four year old DD with an EHPC. I’m surprised and need your guidance as to whether she needs one.
For reference she is currently undergoing ASD assessments due to her struggles with communication.
Her main struggles are:
Ignoring anyone that doesn’t say anything of interest to her. This includes teachers. And so whilst she has no behavioural issues (she follows instructions, and other children) and doesn’t have temper tantrums or meltdowns etc, she will not answer any questions and refuses to look at them. As a result they have marked her as fitting a 16-24 month profile.
She also has some communication difficulties with other children when she meets them. She wants to talks to them, but she acts very immaturely. For example, she will show them her toy, name the toy, but not know what else to say or not be interested if they engage in conversation with her. She is happy just to run around with them.
She was diagnosed with a speech delay at aged 2, when she failed to put two words together, however she has come a long way and can now speak in sentences, but sometimes struggles to get the words out (I assume a processing issue). I believe she still has a receptive language delay, which is in part the reason for ignoring, however I am finding that she is also responding more as her understanding increases.
She is on the waiting list for asd assessment, however her paediatrician isn’t convinced she meets the criteria. This is because she has no obvious sensory issues, is affectionate, loves playing with and is caring towards her little sister, is keen to socialise with others on her terms, and has an excellent imagination (eg folds up her duvet to pretend it’s the castle from Frozen, or will use birthday cards to slide across the floor and pretend they are ice skates etc).
Her only issues are communication related, and I feel that these are ever improving. In addition to this, there is a documented history of speech delays on both sides of the family. Notably, her dad underwent speech therapy until the age of five and needed support to socialise with class mates. However, by the age of seven he was captain of the school’s sports teams, popular and intelligent and therefore I wonder if she is following in his development pattern and simply needs more time.
The school are keen to start the EHCP process, which I am not against because I acknowledge that she needs support. However, I was of the understanding that this was for children with severe needs. Academically she is fine, for example she can count to 30 (not just by rote) knows all her phonics, shapes, colours, and is beginning to draw well although does have some fine motor issues. To me she is still so young to put her in a box until she is 18. Should I let the school continue with the process?
Thank you
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To EHCP or not EHCP? That is the question
17 replies
gemsynermal · 03/09/2020 15:26
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