Advice needed - school/SEN related

[OneWayTicketAwayFromHere]

I would appreciate people's input as I don't know how to respond to this and what will be best for DS.

Background:
DS (speech and development delay and ASD) started reception. Lots of behavioural problems at school to start with, but after new year things somewhat improved. School made a referral to Primary Behaviour Service asking for support and help on how to tackle the situation.
The Service sent a professional to observe at school.

Currently:
The professional (sorry not sure of the proper job title) has made contact with me basically saying that DS still does have some presenting needs however he has settled quite a lot.
It was mentioned that there are also a few other children in the same class who are experiencing the same difficulties, so now they are suggesting that the school don't work with just DS.
Instead they are suggesting the school can work in a more strategic way supporting all of the children who need it - this would mean that they close DS as an individual referral and instead work to support school with a small group of children. They say that he will still receive their advice and support but in a more general way. They are asking if I will be ok with this.

The cynic in me things this is a funding issue and a way to cut corners. Just lump all the kids together and they won't have to tailor their advice for each individual child. Or maybe they genuinely think it's going to be beneficial?

I was wondering if people think it's good enough? I don't know how to respond to this. And i am not sure where we will stand if I say no I don't want his individual referral to be closed.

He doesn't have an EHCP, but I know the school were putting a plan together to apply for one. Will the closure of the referral affect his chances of getting one? I.e. he will be seen as not needing it since the referral is closed?

Many thanks

I wouldn’t be happy with the service closing the case. If they still plan to work with DS his case should remain open. It is irrelevant the service are also going to work with others within the class.

You can request an EHCNA yourself. On their website, IPSEA has a model letter you can use. The only lawful threshold for an EHCNA is a) has or may have SEN, and b) may need SEN provision to be made via an EHCP. Any other test is unlawful, but often LAs try to get away with using unlawful excuses as a reason to refuse to assess or refuse to issue.

Thank you, BrumToTheRescue.

I feel the same way, but I am struggling to articulate why I am feeling like they are trying to fob us off.
It doesn't help that I don't know much about how the primary behaviour service should operate under ideal circumstances so I don't know what support we will be losing by having the individual referral closed.

Are you speaking directly with your senco? My son has speech delay and development delay and in reception even before we applied for EHCP (which is waiting to go to tribunal) he was on the Sen register and specific development points for him.

Simple things were learning to raise his hand and ask to go to the toilet. Then all adults at school knew this and supported him on this

There’s no one standardised set up for behaviour services. What the service offers varies area to area. As does their way of working.

If DS is receiving support from other agencies he will already be on the SEN register and known to the SENCO.

I don't know about the SEN register but we have had meetings with the SENCO to discuss what they are planning to do to support him. One of the things on their action plan was the referral to the Primary Behaviour Service.

I have had a google to find info what the service provides in our area and on paper it all looks great! I think I am going to contact them and ask what losing the individual referral means in practice.

It could be very beneficial for your Ds to be in a small group, less isolating. It could be a way of sharing resources (mine is allocated 6 hours 1:1, another boy also so they share 12 hours 2:1) or it could be a way of cutting costs.

How large is the school? What will happen if next year the classes are switched around?

Delivering interventions in a small group where that is appropriate shouldn’t mean the case is closed though.

If the 1:1 is detailed, specified and quantified in EHCPs and the school aren’t providing 1:1 but are sharing the hours then they are acting unlawfully. If both pupils need more hours they should be calling early reviews.

@PeterJohnson @BrumToTheRescue

He doesn't have an EHCP currently but we were told by the SENCO that they were working on getting one for Year 1.

The Primary Behaviour Service web page actually specifies that their service is for those with no EHCP in place.

I am guessing the other children have had individual referrals as well and to them is saving time and effort by making a generic advice plan for the school instead of tailoring their advice for each child. Maybe for the school as well it might be too much work keeping track of every individual advice given and they would rather have one generic plan in place. Speculation here of course but it has come across that way.

In regards to how big the school is, I actually don't know if it's considered big or not! His year has about 80-90 kids I believe. Roughly 25-30 kids in each class.

Apologies my post above mentioning EHCP was in response to the poster saying 1:1 is shared. Schools often do this when provision is in EHCPs which shouldn’t be happening.

You should request an EHCNA now.