EHCP support thread no. 4

Ask for paper bundle if you want one. With the changes, often LAs don’t send a paper bundle unless requested.

@MinnieTruck The hearing is in June, so still quite a while away! I know what you mean but don't feel guilty about DS still not being in nursery. You can only do your best and that's what you're doing.

The LA have sent a copy of the bundle electronically but no paper copy - the appeal letter mentions they're supposed to deliver a paper copy by the deadline but in reality do LAs usually do that?

@addies I wouldn’t wait either. Request an EHCNA now.

Hi everyone. I am going to apply for an EHCP for my daughter. She is year 6, do you think it's worth it to do now, or should I wait until she has started secondary? We have chosen a school already, which is the best of a bad job as our area doesn't have a school that would meet her needs academically that isn't mainstream. So we've picked a mainstream with a large learning support department that is open to all students and came recommended. My DD is on the SEN register. She has autism but is academically ahead by a long stretch.
Thanks so much for your help

@Macramepotholder the finalised EHCP remains in force if you appeal until another version is finalised.

The LA needs to name a placement/type of placement for the remainder of Y6, so they must consult primary too.

Weird procedural question- as DD is in year 6 do the LA consult with both her current school and a proposed secondary? Or do they just sort of forget about the current school at this juncture and just go forward looking? We've missed all the deadlines for transition etc.

And second question which I have tried to look up- if we appealed the content of the EHCP once issued, presumably whatever is in the issued EHCP applies while an appeal is in process?

I don't think we're going to have to appeal placement as we'll name the school we likely would have got on the common application anyway, but I think SALT provision will be the main battle.

Thank you... I think it is quite important given that she is 6 in two weeks

@Mummytodw that information can inform section B.

Hi the school have given me the age my daughter is functioning at which ranges between mainly 15 -36 months. I would like this noted in the ehcp as nothing is on there at all about functiong age. Can I just put this in section b under cognition in the working document?

Thanks for all the advice @Phineyj - just hope we don't have to appeal the content now...

@Macramepotholder if it wouldn’t be your preference then I wouldn’t bother either.

Yes, we don't want one of the schools covered by the banding test though- they are 3-6 choice. So tempted not to bother as we'll both try and get our preferred school named and think we'll get in anyway. It was more an insurance so we don't end up at the other end of the Borough...

@Macramepotholder at some schools, even DC placed via EHCPs sit the school’s banding test. If the school is named, DC aren’t refused a place, but the place is allocated from that band’s allocation.

Thank you for everyone's help so far!

DP now asking if DD should bother sitting the banding test she was slated to do tomorrow given school will be named anyway. The whole thing was going to be a bit of a trial for her so tempted to say she should skip it. Which is a bit risky but am 95% sure she'll get into first choice anyway and this was belt and braces.

Brilliant news @Macramepotholder.

Yes, you can request the SALT’s evidence is considered.

THE LA HAVE AGREED TO DRAFT A PLAN.

I am amazed we didn't have to go to appeal, I really think it was the full cognitive testing that did it. Wine tonight!

We're going to have some late evidence come in from the SLT report, can we request that is considered as part of the drafting process?

Yes, propose the amendments and deletions you think are required.

Hi

We are doing that wd atm and have also just done an emergency review.

I have noticed on the ehcp that some stuff is noted that my daughter can do and is in section B like say phrases and join in groups. She cannot do this and the notes from senco at ar also confirm this. Can I therefore request these things to be removed are amended as it does look like my daughter is more able then she actually is

Happy to PM. Post taken down, only just read your reply. Yes sensible.

This has been happening in other LAs for a while. See some of the Safety Valve agreements. It just encourages more unlawfulness. All about saving money in the short term.

@Alltheyearround before I reply publicly (as my reply would give away what your post said), you may want to ask MNHQ to delete your post. You do not know who is reading. It isn’t unheard of for LAs to read MN. You do not want the LA to know this. If you are happy for it to stand, I will post more. If not, I will PM you.

Parents of children at specialist settings have been contacted by our LA to say they are 'moving all children to mainstream'. I kid you not. Breathtaking. The law didn't change while I wasn't looking did it? So what the hell is this? I notice the government is making similar noises, surely they don't think this is the way to solve the national SEND crisis? What just sing la la la and pretend there's nothing wrong and everyone is OK at mainstream? Having a laugh.

We are looking towards specialist 6th form. We have to try, DS has been failed and failed again by this rotten system.