What is an ehcp and do I need one

[helpwithsen]

Hi, I was hoping someone could shed some light on ehcp's as I'm unsure if I need to apply for one or if the school does

My ds, 6 and in year 1 has a diagnosis of asd. He's a very quiet little boy at school and all feedback suggests he is keen to please and just gets on with his work (well try's too) He is the complete opposite at home, hes still very lovely but is extremely hyperactive and loud. He's good at holding it all in at school until he gets home basically.

AO came and assessed him last autumn and put in place sensory breaks etc, he was also assessed by a third party specialist teacher and scored low on his bpvs. Now the school have put on a referral for SALT, the copy of the form I've been given is very negative and suggests he's really struggling. It says how he can't work independently, tasks are being modified to suit him, teachers are constantly having to remind him how to hold a pencil properly etc, grips haven't worked, it says he still relies on gestures for communication (I always thought he was a good speaker), play is on his own terms with other children, I could go on but you get the idea. Anyone my point is what are they hoping to get from this referral? From what I've read it looks like they might be going down the ehcp route but they haven't said that to me. But do I need one for him ? What exactly will this mean? They state in the referral how he's working below the ARE and I'm worried they're going to say at some point they can't meet his needs

Sorry for the ramble, I'm sure I've missed things out too but just hoping for some experience of others

Yes you need an EHCP. An EHCP will set out what he needs to attain an education based on his additional needs, and is a binding document that the school and local council have a legal obligation to meet his needs. By getting an EHCP done, it will be possible for the school to access funding for additional support to help to meet his needs. You should arrange to talk to the SENCO at the school.

Hi, sorry not much time for lots of details but didn't want to read and run.

An ehcp is a legal statement of your childs needs which have to be fulfilled by the school he attends. It also gives you flexibility in selecting the school that best meets his needs. (It's a good thing if he needs it, but they are very hard to get).

It sounds like his school are really supporting him well - whether or not he ends up with the ehcp. He is young, they have identified need, and they are making referrals. This is a good thing.

The most important thing is that your child gets what he needs. Good luck.

I can appreciate your concern when reading reports about your child like that but I suggest you book an appointment to meet with the school's SENCO. Presumably as your child has an ASD diagnosis they are already on a My Plan + and has some kind of SEN support in school. Have they had review meetings with you and discussed whether your child is making progress with the level of support that is currently in place or not. They would only need an EHCP if the school was unable to meet their needs without the additional funding that an EHCP would provide. I hope that makes sense but please speak to the school and I hope they make this clearer for you.

I'd apply for one.

Nowadays most parents go ahead and apply themselves but you do need to know what you are doing and what games La will May try!

Good place to start is downloading and reading the SENDCOP.

The referral will be heavily worded in order to make sure it's picked up and prioritised.

I was going to echo Midnightstar, the report school wrote about my ds was absolutely brutal (I felt sick reading it and like it wasn't my child) but it was needed to get him assessed. Pushing all the negatives tends to be the way you get the support needed.

Definitely get an EHCP. In the future it could help you get into the secondary school that you want because it will support your child's needs rather than just the local one that may not be able to do so.

I would get the EHCP in place if you can - it just makes things secure (as the school has to deliver what's agreed). It protects you from a change in the school you're in (SENCO and head changes are impactful in my experience) and will get you support through transition to secondary.

Reading the reports are hard and I remember everyone being so pleased with my ds' progress in year 1 then got the report with all the other kids and it said he was below expected standards. I hadn't realised and was hard. But I just wanted to say what your child is like at 6 isn't setting what they'll be like forever. With ASD you don't really know what the progress will be at this point. My 6 year old ds was biting and hiding under tables at that age. At 13 he's mostly on top sets and wants to go to uni! So don't worry too much about the future cos it's unknown - just focus on getting him the support now so he can do and be the best he can be. You sound really lovely - it's a stressful journey at times - you sound like you're doing great and he's very lucky to have you!

If they’re hinting they want to apply for one then it’s definitely needed. They don’t take that approach unless they really think it’s worth it. My DD1 has multiple SN but she’s getting on “well enough” (according to very low expectations, and that’s with constant support at home for any work at age 13) so they’ve said they can’t justify applying. Definitely take them up on the offer!

But yes it is horrible having to read/write all the negatives. Very stressful process but worth it to have a legal document outlining help he is entitled to!

If you can, see this as a positive thing. The school are doing what they can to get maximum support for your son. It's really hard not to get defensive but it really will help in the long run. They help at school might even help him when he unmasks at home.

My daughter masks so well at school that they refused to give a statement for me to take to doctors and said they have too many children a lot worse than her so that was that.

It's worth getting SOS SEN's booklets on the assessment process and EHCPs - www.facebook.com/SOSSpecialEducationalNeeds/photos/pcb.2130416730427966/2130414957094810/

An EHCP is definitely helpful but it depends on the right assessments being done and, in particular, getting the support required properly specified.

@SingToTheSky - you can still apply for ehcp yourself. As a secondary LSA, I would in a heartbeat for your daughter otherwise come exam time, they won't be able to give her much needed concessions.

I understand your feelings. I have a child who has had an EHCP since he started school (no diagnosis but suspected ASD & ADD). He is now nearly 10 & in Year 5, so we are starting to think about senior schools. We also get DLA for him & I am his registered carer.

I find it absolutely soul-destroying to read the reports that say how much he struggles & emphasising his weak points. It is so hard to read negative things about a child you instinctively protect more than the others. However, it does mean he receives lots of extra help- a full-time 1-1 LSA in our case & extra time in any assessments such as SATs, GCSEs etc. He will also be pretty much guaranteed our choice of senior school. He was offered a place at school during home learning. And other things besides.

I have been told they are not easy to obtain (although his was pretty much automatic), and there were lots of meetings & assessments & we continue to have half-termly reviews which are very tough, but it is so worth it.

Good luck with yours, your DS sounds adorable.

Education Health and Care Plan. It will identify what support is needed at school and how it will be provided. It is a legal document and will be reviewed every year to make sure the targets are being met and update any changes. This is a good thing for your child in terms of getting support , parents fight tooth and nail to get them and often get turned down. It will also help if you need other services as often you will be asked if there is an EHCP in place as part of the assessment/ gate keeping process . It will also include a contribution from health if services are involved and social care if they know you or are providing services.

Thank you mini 💐 I have considered it but I’m not sure we’d get much back up from the school. She’s an expert masker and is so desperate to fit in that she resents any extra help etc. They’ve said she will be able to have things like extra time regardless of EHCP and she gets pupil premium too. I also am strongly considering applying for DS who is home educated but will need college etc and it can access therapies etc. It’s all such a battle though, I really wish someone would take care of it for us 😳

Thank you for the replies and advice.
Yes it's not very nice reading how your child is struggling, but I do understand they have to stress the negatives to get the support. I was just really unsure if it's me who applies for the ehcp or the school. I will have to speak to the senco. She is really nice actually .
I'm just concerned he's going to completely fall behind as school is only going to get harder for him work wise. They have one TA and she is obviously there for all the children not just my ds. in the referral they are saying he needs constant support and cannot work independently so I'm worried obviously where this leaves him when the TA isn't there to help him. Will an ehcp give him a 1:1 all the time ?

Hopefully the school will apply. They generally need 3 terms of evidence to go with the application.
Sounds like they are doing good so far getting support in place and being aware of his needs. Often parents can be the ones blocking a label so they can tend to proceed with caution.
Make an appointment with the SENCO and state really clearly you want them to apply for EHCP. It takes time. There's bits for you to fill in too. He will only get 1:1 support funded if it's written into the EHCP.

What about DLA - that is for you to claim. Now that is one miserable soul destroying form to fill in I won't lie but worth doing. CAB can help with it too.

@PicaK yes I want all the help available to him as I want him to enjoy school and enjoy learning, I don't want him to end up dreading going because he can't keep up. He got a diagnosis within three months of referral which was great, the paediatrican stated she hurried it along in time for school starting so he would get the help he needs.

School have been good but I know the teachers struggle with him in regards as to how to teach him, the senco told me that. He now has sensory breaks as recommended by autism outreach so that's good.
Yeah he receives dla, the form was awful it took me a while to fill it out !
I will arrange a chat with the senco

The support the EHCP will bring depends on the evidence. If there is strong evidence that your son needs a 1:1 then it should be included. If that is the advice, I would suggest you try to persuade the Educational Psychologist also to specify what sort of experience and qualifications the 1:1 should have. You also need to ensure that it is clear that the 1:1 is for your child alone, e.g. by the use of terms such a 1:1 help dedicated to him alone.