EHCP DRAFT MEETING

[ChowNowBrownCow]

To my shock we were sent a letter yesterday saying that the LA have agreed to assess my DS. i am so pleased as the first hurdle has been jumped. But the letter says that a meeting has been arranged called a EHCP DRAFT MEETING. The letter also says they will put forward a plan based on the assessment which is taking place between now and then. Does this mean that in essence my DS has got a plan? They want us at the meeting to put forth our ideas and tell them what we think. The other health care professionals have been asked to attend and put in thier input. Is it usual for most assessments to lead to an EHCP? or could we be turned down at the meeting? Im assuming we have to go in very well prepared for whatever they may say. any advice anyone?

My son has an ehcp. The professionals wrote reports after the cc agreed to assess. We were then given draft report which we discussed with sen officer and school at a meeting. After some adjustments we received the final report.
I don't know anyone who hasn't got an ehcp after the council has agreed to assess.

My understanding is the meeting is to prepare the ehcp, you and your child (depending on age and other factors) have an input to it. The plan will then be finalised and published to the people who need to follow it.

Google 'Local Offer' and your Local Authority.
That website should have all the paperwork you need on it.
Everyone involved needs to take "information about the child" to the meeting, and the EHCP is sort of constructed together.

Ridiculously, the Government left every local authority to devise / introduce their own paperwork rather than making it national, so people from other authorities can't give you the right form.

On the 'Local Offer' website, it should also set out the 'pathway' to getting an EHCP.... some authorities have animations. If yours doesn't, google Nottingham's - that's quite a clear one, explaining the stages.

It needs to go to panel again but we were told that once they agree to assess it is very likely you will get the plan. Good luck.

It's hard to give accurate answers to your questions, OP, as (like others have said) each authority has its own system and paperwork. What I suspect is similar in each case is that assessment does not lead automatically to ECHP. In fact, during transfer reviews last term, a number of our previously statemented students were 'down graded' and did not therefore receive an ECHP. I really felt for the parents concerned.

I really hope your meeting goes well.

Do you have Parent Partnership where you live, OP? If so, contact them because they will know what the rules are where you live and will advocate with you.

Good luck, and glad the EHCP is moving ahead. btw, what year (in school) is your DC in? Because there is a push to get EHCPs IN and in place for transitioning children!

I'm afraid it's no guarantee that you will get a plan. They tend to use the EHCP format to provide a structure for the assessment process, including using section A to get your input: the panel will then consider that and the reports and decide whether to go on to issue an EHCP. If they don't, they'll use the draft as some sort of guidance to the school about the help they should be giving even without an EHCP.

However, if your child's school supported the assessment the chances of getting an EHCP are good.

Morning. Thank you. My ds is yr5 so we were thinking this process would take the best part of a year and that this time next year we would have a plan and know what secondary schools to look at for him in yr6. But it may possibly be possibly done sooner. Yes we have parent partnership and I am waiting for them to get me a supporter. Re whether the school support my application for a plan - originally senco said yes and they would apply. His teacher said she is behind our application. But during the school holidays senco said she feels with the 'significant support ds will receive in september his needs can be met without ehcp. So no she's not supporting us. But then she has been like that with many parents of sen and they've got a plan without her support. I think she takes it personally and thinks your saying the school /senco can't manage. It's not personal - it's her job.I have emails etc that confirm her earlier support which I will use if needs be. It's been an eye opener to hear her say one thing and do another this past year. Which is why I applied myself.

But if the school are providing 'significant support' then the EHCP will just formalise it to ensure the support continues into yr6 and secondary, surely?

If he is getting significant support already then you need to show it's still insufficient to meet his needs, they don't issue them to formalise support that is deemed adequate. You presumably feel it isn't as you have applied for the EHCP, you now need to provide evidence to support the fact that he needs more provision than the school can provide out of normal resources. Saying the school can't manage without additional resources is exactly what you do have to do.

I would also start looking at secondary schools sooner rather than later. In our LA there are some with specialist units for children with SEN and application for these units has to be made in the summer of year 5 in advance of the normal application timetable. They may not be the right choice but you need to be aware of the options in time to make a decision.

The law requires them to finalise an EHCP within 20 weeks of the date they received the request for assessment. If they're going to say no, they must do so within 16 weeks.

I would definitely try to visit some schools in the present round of open days etc. Just to get an idea of what they are really like, and to start asking awkward questions. Your sons needs aren't going to change depending on whether you have an EHCP or not.

I thought the benchmark was whether the school can 'reasonably' meet his needs out of the usual budget. So they may have accessed short term or emergency funding, or they might be supporting your son to the detriment of other students, so the significant support they are offering might not be sustainable without an EHCP.

Thanks for the responses. I do feel that the 'significant increase of support from September' is interesting as he has been on school action plus for 2 years with no improvement , in fact things have got worse for my ds. I think the senco is now worrying that she has not given my ds what he clearly needs. In fact, I have a recent email from her saying that 'this support will be there without a plan, BUT WILL BE REVIEWED FREQUENTLY AS WE DONT WANT DS TO BECOME DEPENDANT ON SUPPORT'. . Erm, the reason I have applied for an EHCP is to at the very least formalise any support, and hope to god senco do not whip it away from him! As so far this term she appears to have done! Poor Ds is now very stressed and asking if you can kill yourself without it hurting! Needless to say, a trip to the GP and a letter banged out to the lovely senco. Regarding schools, yes I will use this time to gather info on schools and also visit them. Thank you astimegoesby for the heads up on looking at secondary in summer of year 5! I didn't know that. I'm under no illusion that having an EHCP will make life problem free, I just want something in writing as a baseline to use to give him support, and not have a senco decide he doesn't need it! Sorry for the rant, but when I think about it too much it makes my blood boil that we have to fight ,beg, and prove that these highly sensitive and vulnerable children need help. Rant over, sorry.

It's ok, I think we all feel like that sometimes. And often in real life it's hard to find anyone that really understsnds what it's like.

We missef the boat on the year 5 application for specialist units, as I only applied for the statement in Jan of that year and was turned down so had to appeal. We were successful eventually and DS has just started yr 7 at an independent special school. My DD (possibly dyslexic) has just started Yr 5 so I'm looking at secondary for her this year too, might as well start early.

Yes sometimes I felt so bad as we have to constantly highlight our children's weaknesses to get them help when what we want to do is celebrate their achievements! It all felt so negative when we were applying, but the right school placement will make a word of difference so do persevere. Good luck