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Original poster

Ehc process changing !!?

45 replies

hellohellooo · 04/05/2025 13:07

Hello all
We have been to Hell and back to secure an agreement to complete an ehc assessment for d d

Some of my friends say in their area it is also very hard to get an assessment

Are they being massively scaled back?
Do Las tend to say no and then let families fight it?

It is total hell

My friend can only get a remote EP assessment after she went to tribunal
How does this even work ? 😞😞😞

OP posts:
Anothercoat · 04/05/2025 13:07

The law isn’t changing. What are you asking specifically?

Original poster
hellohellooo · 04/05/2025 13:09

No just the process itself and the amount of times they are saying no to parents

Children with needs who maybe would have got an assessment a few years back?

I just feel that they are too quick to say no (Sen parent and other parents have found this too)

NW England

OP posts:
TeenToTwenties · 04/05/2025 13:09

Lack of funds is leading to gatekeeping the process.

Original poster
hellohellooo · 04/05/2025 13:09

Also I know there are so few eps

So remote seems to be common in some areas

OP posts:
Original poster
hellohellooo · 04/05/2025 13:10

TeenToTwenties · 04/05/2025 13:09

Lack of funds is leading to gatekeeping the process.

Yes it appears so

OP posts:
Anothercoat · 04/05/2025 13:19

Yes they apply their own guidance as to who should be assessed and then are told to overturn this on appeal to tribunal. They see if the parent is up for the fight.

Original poster
hellohellooo · 04/05/2025 13:36

Anothercoat · 04/05/2025 13:19

Yes they apply their own guidance as to who should be assessed and then are told to overturn this on appeal to tribunal. They see if the parent is up for the fight.

But some areas of England seem to be more strict with the number they turn down compared to others?

Also so few eps
So delays are everywhere it seems :(

OP posts:
Anothercoat · 04/05/2025 13:42

That may well be the case. But strictly speaking nothing has changed. Just the LAs being more awful than usual.

StrivingForSleep · 04/05/2025 13:48

The law (which determines the processes) isn’t changing.

LAs act unlawfully all the time. That isn’t new and won’t change in the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, DC whose parents know the system, can advocate for them and enforce their rights get better support. It shouldn’t be that way. Sadly, it isn’t going to change, which is why all parents should be supported to advocate and enforce their DC’s rights.

Original poster
hellohellooo · 04/05/2025 16:55

Ah I see I was not sure

They are just being dodgy it seems

No clear answers no timeline

Just want to scream

Why is it so hard

OP posts:
StrivingForSleep · 04/05/2025 17:00

The timescales are set out in law.

It might help you to read IPSEA and SOSSEN’s websites to understand the process better.

lovemetomybones · 04/05/2025 17:09

we just successfully got a EHCP for my child. There is a time line it’s 20 weeks from them first receiving the paperwork to the end. If it’s longer they need to inform you the reasons why. My child absolutely needs a high level of support and even though it’s been approved the level of funding hasn’t yet (so that maybe a future battle). The things that helped me be successful were:
-portage involvement (my child was 2 when first saw symptoms) this greatly helped as she knew how to fill the form in, also she was able to make a clinical judgement about my child’s development and offer an opinion on the help my child needs.

GP appointment when a child has two or more developmental concerns are able to be seen by a neurologist. This appointment gave him a diagnosis of global developmental delay in all areas.

i filled in the DLA paperwork first (huge document 9000 words) each question was a step by step through the difficulties in every day living. I was able to use this to identify areas of need for EHCP.

Get as many professionals to write a report as you can. My child is non verbal. SALT wrote a lengthy report.

Nursery/School need three support plans and progress review.

Waych for the wording in the plan when you are successful. My child’s says ‘support allocated by setting’ I was fobbed off with the argument that they don’t name staff on the document, but my fear is that they won’t provide additional staff and rely on people in the classroom.

You have to fight, get all the support you can from professionals and be prepared to fully explain in detail with examples your child’s needs.

i absolutely feel for those who are not in the profession like I am. I found it difficult even though I’ve been in education over 20 years.

good luck 🤞

Original poster
hellohellooo · 04/05/2025 17:19

lovemetomybones · 04/05/2025 17:09

we just successfully got a EHCP for my child. There is a time line it’s 20 weeks from them first receiving the paperwork to the end. If it’s longer they need to inform you the reasons why. My child absolutely needs a high level of support and even though it’s been approved the level of funding hasn’t yet (so that maybe a future battle). The things that helped me be successful were:
-portage involvement (my child was 2 when first saw symptoms) this greatly helped as she knew how to fill the form in, also she was able to make a clinical judgement about my child’s development and offer an opinion on the help my child needs.

GP appointment when a child has two or more developmental concerns are able to be seen by a neurologist. This appointment gave him a diagnosis of global developmental delay in all areas.

i filled in the DLA paperwork first (huge document 9000 words) each question was a step by step through the difficulties in every day living. I was able to use this to identify areas of need for EHCP.

Get as many professionals to write a report as you can. My child is non verbal. SALT wrote a lengthy report.

Nursery/School need three support plans and progress review.

Waych for the wording in the plan when you are successful. My child’s says ‘support allocated by setting’ I was fobbed off with the argument that they don’t name staff on the document, but my fear is that they won’t provide additional staff and rely on people in the classroom.

You have to fight, get all the support you can from professionals and be prepared to fully explain in detail with examples your child’s needs.

i absolutely feel for those who are not in the profession like I am. I found it difficult even though I’ve been in education over 20 years.

good luck 🤞

That's so helpful thank you

Did they offer remote EP assessment?

Appreciate all that really helpful info

It is a total battle isn't it

Feels very unfair xxxx

OP posts:
Morph22010 · 04/05/2025 17:21

Our la aren’t even doing ed psych assessments as part of the assessment anymore

StrivingForSleep · 04/05/2025 17:24

Nursery/School need three support plans and progress review.

No they don’t. This is an unlawful myth perpetuated by some LAs and some schools.

If it’s longer they need to inform you the reasons why.

If it is longer, with some very specific exceptions which don’t include it just taking longer, they are acting unlawfully whether they inform parents of the reason or not.

’support allocated by setting’

If you still have the right of appeal, you should appeal. This wording is far too vague and woolly to be enforceable.

Our la aren’t even doing ed psych assessments as part of the assessment anymore

Not seeking advice and information from an EP during the EHCNA is unlawful. Parents don’t have to accept such unlawful behaviour.

Original poster
hellohellooo · 04/05/2025 17:31

Morph22010 · 04/05/2025 17:21

Our la aren’t even doing ed psych assessments as part of the assessment anymore

What? !!

Is this even a thing. Now?

How dangerous ?!!

Do they just add the EP views in when they can?
Madness

OP posts:
dontpunchtheplasticgorilla · 04/05/2025 17:34

Depends if your area is in a 'safety valve' agreement with the DFE or not. Googling the name of your local authority plus the phrase 'safety valve' will get results.

Safety valve= DFE agreeing to write off some of a local authority SEND deficit as long as a LA agrees to reduce their SEND spending. The easiest way to do this? Don't even start EHCP assessments in the first place. Yeah, it's cuts to SEND services in all but name.

Original poster
hellohellooo · 04/05/2025 17:52

Shocking really in some respects

To the most vulnerable

Shame on them

OP posts:
lovemetomybones · 04/05/2025 18:29

@StrivingForSleepthree assessments is exactly what they asked for! So I respectfully disagree

StrivingForSleep · 04/05/2025 18:38

@lovemetomybones just because they asked for it doesn’t mean it is is actually required by law. Disagree all you want, the law is the same in all LAs, despite what some LAs claim.

Original poster
hellohellooo · 04/05/2025 18:44

lovemetomybones · 04/05/2025 18:29

@StrivingForSleepthree assessments is exactly what they asked for! So I respectfully disagree

I don't understand apologies

OP posts:
StrivingForSleep · 04/05/2025 18:47

Some LAs unlawfully claim to need 2 or 3 APDR cycles before an EHCNA can be undertaken/before an EHCP can be issued. This is a myth some LAs and some school like to perpetuate. It is not required by law. Any such test is unlawful.

LAs often have unlawful local policies. Thankfully, local policy doesn’t trump the law.

chocomoccalocca · 04/05/2025 18:49

So we have literally just been told our DS will get an EHCP after initially saying no. We had a remote EL who didn’t t even speak to my child let alone see them and I think even the LA realised how awful the report was as as soon as we put on for mediation they looked at the paperwork and agreed to send a new EP. The second EP was amazing and met DS. Our EHCP has gone way past the dates though and I have had to chase and send letters outlining the law. The school have also been amazing and have also chased. If you have nursery/ school on board and are prepared to fight I think you have a much better chance of success. The system is broken though, I know someone who went for EHCP a few years ago and it was certainly easier then, funds are tight and demand is high so something has had to give. It’s not fair but is the reality.

Original poster
hellohellooo · 04/05/2025 19:06

chocomoccalocca · 04/05/2025 18:49

So we have literally just been told our DS will get an EHCP after initially saying no. We had a remote EL who didn’t t even speak to my child let alone see them and I think even the LA realised how awful the report was as as soon as we put on for mediation they looked at the paperwork and agreed to send a new EP. The second EP was amazing and met DS. Our EHCP has gone way past the dates though and I have had to chase and send letters outlining the law. The school have also been amazing and have also chased. If you have nursery/ school on board and are prepared to fight I think you have a much better chance of success. The system is broken though, I know someone who went for EHCP a few years ago and it was certainly easier then, funds are tight and demand is high so something has had to give. It’s not fair but is the reality.

The remote system can be very hard

So few eps

But you would imagine they would do it over a few video calls ??!!

OP posts:
Original poster
hellohellooo · 04/05/2025 21:18

So it's not changing

There is just many more obstacles in the way sadly it appears

OP posts:
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