If a 2-3 year old is diagnosed asd

[jimmyateworld]

How do you go about getting them straight into a sen school? My 2.5 year old is on the waiting list, I would be very shocked if she doesn’t end up with a diagnosis, my eldest is diagnosed and in a sen school (after really struggling in mainstream)
Im sure I am autistic myself but no diagnosis, my family is full of neurodivergence, so it’s looking highly likely my other children are too but they’re both only toddlers.

Im just wondering how it happens with such little ones ? I know you need an ehcp to get into a sen school, do they give them out for small children in nursery?

Yes, you can get an EHCP straightaway at nursery age and then just start in a Sen school for reception. Is your little one at nursery? If so they should have experience of this and could help you with the forms etc.

That’s good to know. She starts next week, but I worry the whole process is going to go on for years meaning I won’t be able to get an ehcp in time before she’s due to start reception (September 28)

Have you met with the nursery and told them about her support needs? I would be letting them know of your intention to apply for an EHCP, and you can do this yourself as a parent if the nursery/school doesn't. The IPSEA website has template letters. You will probably need some evidence/assessment info from while your DD is at nursery, a diagnosis is not enough for an EHCP so the nursery will need to be gathering evidence.

Just because you have a diagnosis, just because you have an EHCP, doesn’t mean you’ll get a special school place easily as you are probably aware. The government want fewer special schools and everyone in mainstream-popping them in a hub with a few LSAs if they are really high need.

I would apply for the EHCP myself if his needs are clear, talk to the EP who does the Needs assessment re suitable places and contact local preschools/sencos for advice.

EHCPs are based on needs, not diagnosis. You don’t need a diagnosis to get an EHCP or to get special school named in an EHCP (although some ASD SS require a formal diagnosis). Equally, a diagnosis alone doesn’t mean DD will be eligible for an EHCP and get a special school placement.

You can request an EHCNA now. DD isn’t too young, you don’t need to wait for DD to start and settle into nursery and you don’t need to wait for a diagnosis. On their website, IPSEA has a model letter you can use.

Unfortunately, there’s is no guarantee you will have an EHCP by Sept 2028. Waits for Tribunal are long.

Some LAs have specialist early years assessment places for those who are going through or need to go through the EHCP process. It is worth looking if your LA does.

Have you spoken to the nursery?

It’s a very long process to get an EHCP… we saw the Educational Psychologist in March and we still haven’t been sent a report or a draft EHCP and he has now started in reception…

The LA is in breach of the statutory timescales. You don’t have to accept that. Email the Director of Children’s Services. If chasing doesn’t work, look for someone with capacity for a pre-action letter.

This is what I had to do, I literally got a phonecall that afternoon…

edited - just found this email I was sent by someone who helped me with it all, use this, and edit as you need

I would include in the title 'Stage 1 Complaint re EHCP Assessment for name DOB: XXX'.

'As you will note from the correspondence relating to our request for an EHCP, local authority are in breach of statutory deadlines set out in the Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND) regulations 2014. Any delays in the Local Authority's educational psychology service does not provide an allowable exception in failing to comply with statutory duties.'

You should work out when the LA should have provided a decision by and include this in your e-mail and outline the unnecessary and unlawful stress this is causing.

Hope this helps

I’m glad it worked for you. If you haven’t already, follow up with an email so you have a paper trail as evidence if you need it.

To others reading and in case it is relevant to you in the future, if chasing doesn’t work, a pre-action letter, then JR is a better route than the complaints process. The timescales of the normal complaint process mean it isn’t a suitable remedy. JR is supposed to be a remedy of last resort, so sometimes acknowledging another route makes it more complicated or, depending on the circumstances, not possible.