To demand DS is given a space for school next term

[takemebacktolastyear]

Namechange for several reasons.

DS is SEN (cerebral palsy) and is aged 5, due to start 'big school' this year. He already has a confirmed space at school and currently attends reception at the same school. At the moment he is off school, due to the fact that there was only two people wanting to send their DC back to school during this pandemic so schools continued with home school.

I have received an email this morning, detailing how the school is unable to accommodate DS and his needs, presumably its alluding to his SEN but he does not suffer with CP so severely that he is affected - he leads a normal life and does not have a disability affecting his learning. The email goes on to mention that due to his needs, it would be inappropriate for the school to allow him to go to school whilst coronavirus as they cannot ensure his safety. They are also thinking of withdrawing his place and recommend he attends elsewhere. He is one of several SEN children, however as he has a physical disability, he is the only one to be told not to come to school! I am livid, I have not sent a response back but I am so so angry, how can they do this? My friend has a child in a special school and their school is open for all children? How can this be.

You say he doesn’t need any extra help and he is fine educationally so on what grounds does he have an ehc?

Many children with a physical disability have an EHCP

But that would suggest extra help is needed. It makes it much harder to advise the op when she says he had an ehc but doesn’t require any additional support with anything because the two don’t tally!

Singlewhiteguineapig They do, buy as EHCPs are needs-led, it's hard to see how that matches with the OP's claim that no extra support or input is required, which makes giving useful advice more difficult.

The fact is, if a child has an EHCP, they need it. They don't give them out randomly or easily. It is very hard to get one and takes months!

They're assessed by so many professionals to get one - we had a child psychiatrist and psychologist, an Educational Psychologist, and Occupational Therapist, and Early Years SEN Teacher, the community paediatrician, our GP, the SENCO at nursery and the management/keyworker there too plus our detailed input as parents.

If the OPs child has an EHCP it is because he has needs that other children do not have that must be met.

I’m guessing that the OP is saying that educationally her son is managing fine. But he has physical needs eg balance, speed, difficulty with stairs, may need additional time to dress and undress at PE, will struggle in busy corridors and more likely to fall over. She is saying that he can walk and run and is just like any other child but he will probably tire more easily. But I may be wrong and just reading between the lines.

i'm wondering if the ' currently attends reception' is a typo and should read 'currently attends nursery at the same school'

The fact is, if a child has an EHCP, they need it. They don't give them out randomly or easily. It is very hard to get one and takes months
Nobody is disputing whether the ehcp is needed.

We're saying that an ehcp is based on need and almost always comes with adjustments because, as you've said, the child needs it and they have needs that others don't.
So having an ehcp but saying no support is needed doesn't allow for helpful advice from posters, especially in the current situation where the rules on provision aren't the same.

@LolaSmiles

The fact is, if a child has an EHCP, they need it. They don't give them out randomly or easily. It is very hard to get one and takes months Nobody is disputing whether the ehcp is needed.

We're saying that an ehcp is based on need and almost always comes with adjustments because, as you've said, the child needs it and they have needs that others don't.
So having an ehcp but saying no support is needed doesn't allow for helpful advice from posters, especially in the current situation where the rules on provision aren't the same.

Exactly. According to the OP the only slight difference is he walks slower but we all know that wouldn’t qualify for an EHC so it is hard to advise.

I know Ds care needs may cause issues when it comes back to going to school in September so I’m working with school to hopefully come up with a plan.