EBSA - new school / rigid thinking on old school help

Also if the Psychiatrist will offer the anxiety meds will your child actually want to take them? (We had that hurdle and refused the meds after the apt 😩) it’s good to have psychiatrist follow up letter for your bundle pack too :-)

Good luck! Hope the termination date is correct as you defo don’t want to be paying for a school that you don’t want to attend (we had to give notice before Easter hols. I suppose it will become clear in your daughters mind if she is unable to go back to school after the Easter break that she will be unable to attend the senior school that might make it easier for her to accept the next school.

Make sure the new school can defo deliver what will be in the EHCP plan as you don’t want to be trying to go to a school which they can’t deliver what’s in the EHCP. (Like if the OT and salt if they said 10 sessions per term for 45 mins when will that happen in the new school timetable and do they have physical space for that therapy in the school)

Advocates tread with care. I have used one but she missed certain forms which delayed the tribunal in the end I just stopped using her (as she was asking for more cash and she was time poor / on holiday lots and delayed us by one year :-( by her poor judgement (but she was highly recommended) Don’t pay upfront for a single advocate - I’d try and go for a company then if they are sick / on holiday the company will still be working with you.

Pda (if diagnosed and in the EP report etc) specialist school not many will take children with the diagnosis of pda. Do think about online schools too if your daughter isn’t able to go to the new school.

Also do consider if your daughter isn’t able just burnt out too.

Good luck it’s really hard hope you enjoy your hols

Sorry just re read it - I’ve seen multiple independent mainstreams yes I’ve got a gang of children however one independent mainstream has only been inclusive to ND. Also, even with an EHCP with a named independent on section I of an EHCP it really doesn’t matter. It’s whether the child can cope or not and whether the school can implement change or not (or whether they want the tolerate the effort or not) . I suppose it depends on how flexible or not the head is ….. as independent mainstreams with or without an EHCP can terminate the contract quickly if they don’t fit the jelly mould of their school (however schools now are not so fussy as they just need the cash so will hang on to a pupil who they would normally terminate the contract) as ultimately they need the cash

What type of school is the alternative?
independent mainstream are killers for Sen kids especially pda as they are unwilling to flexi the rules. However it does depend solely on the head understanding or not of ND.

You are going to have to go along with your child’s thought path. If she is dead set of the old school I can’t see the new one working. Equally, she is unable to cope due to environment and people which are fundamental to pda kids.

You need to make sure 100% the head is ok and onboard number 1 and the senco can deliver the adaptations she needs. Without those two things it could potentially fail.

Depending on the type of school id be having meetings with the head but if it’s another independent prep do bear in mind if they are just trying to get your money and not support your child.

Good luck pda is something else (I do have a child with pda out of school) but independent mainstreams are dropping like flies and need all the cash they can get and not necessarily supporting children!

Good luck

I don’t have personal experience of them, but I have seen good reports from all.

You could also try Dr Minnie Joeseph, Dr Ana Tsakiri and Dr Nireeja Pradhan if you haven’t already.

Have you tried Dr Sasha Hvidsten?

What about Dr Samana Haider in Solihull?

Further afield/online, you could try Dr Maite Ferrin, Dr Gloria Dura-Vila, Dr Osman Malik and Dr Richard Soppitt. I don’t know what their waiting lists are like at the moment. The benefit of these are it will help with the EHCP.

Lots have a waiting list, unfortunately.

I appreciate you may not want to, but if you say where you are based, people might have suggestions. Or do you want someone online?

Be aware not all GPs are willing to prescribe medication for anxiety to children without it being initiated by a psychiatrist.

Yeah definitely chat to the gp about anxiety meds, as it could be a great help - they take a while to kick in but maybe by September she will be a bit better on that front x

Hi @angelofmydreams1981 ❤️

I'm sorry, I have no advice but want to offer solidarity

We're still relatively early on in the year. Dd might come around?

Would it be helpful to take the choice out of her hands this once? I know that her pda profile is a worry, but i wonder whether just making the choice after the holiday will give her time?

Just from experience, the better the devil you know sometimes, which might be what she is feeling more than anything else, but doesn't understand the feeling

Its tough but it sounds like youve done well to sort this place. For me its a non negotiable to accept it tbh and let her come to terms with moving x

If you have to appeal a refusal to issue &/or the content/placement, you may need updated SALT and OT assessments or addendums.

IPSEA and SOSSEN’s websites as well as the SENCOP are good starting points to start to learn about SEN law.

You don’t need solicitors. Even if you did want representation, I would save your money in case you need to appeal refusal to issue &/or content/placement. If money is tight, you should save your money for independent assessments should you need to appeal again. The best representation in the country can only work with the evidence.

Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be hard for the LA to refuse to issue. LAs act unlawfully all the time. It is why so many appeals are upheld. This still applies even when the LA is faced with overwhelming evidence. Refusing and forcing you to appeal kicks the can down the road. It saves them money in the short term, especially if they know you will be going after a costly placement.

I didn’t say don’t say anything to the EP at all. You certainly should. It can be helpful to make a timeline of events/any previous assessments, etc. Also think about making notes on things like developmental history, needs/difficulties, likes/dislikes/what makes DD happy, what support is already in place, what has previously been tried, what worked/didn’t work, what is needed but unable to be delivered, what is important to DD/you and what is important for DD, how DD communicates/how others communicate with her, aspirations, what you think DD needs, a bit about family/any other important people in DD’s life. At the end of the meeting, finish by asking them to ensure the report is detailed, specified and quantified and to send you a copy of the report once it is written.

It can also help to write a list of questions to ask the EP such as what assessments will be undertaken, what observations will be done, how long they will spend with DD. Ask if the EP will make recommendations for the need for further assessments where they believe they are necessary - sometimes they do and sometimes they don’t.

What you should be careful about saying is that you will be pursuing an independent SS.

If the schools are s41 independents, they don’t have waiting lists like admissions without an EHCP to mainstream schools do. There are limited reasons the LA can refuse to name your preference and on its own being ‘full’, which is not fined in law, is not enough of a reason. The LA has to prove the school is so full placing DC there would be incompatible with the provision of efficient education for others or efficient use of resources. The bar to prove this is higher than LAs and many schools admit. It has to be something tangible and specific and is more than an “adverse effect”, “impact on” or “prejudicial to”. And you don’t need an offer of a place from the school. Section 41 independents can be named even if they object.

I would be careful with an advocate. It is an unregulated business. While there are some good ones. Some do more harm than good.