Should I apply for an EHCP or not?

[IfIHaveToTellYouAgain]

DS 5 received his report from clinical psychology today, with his cognitive profile scoring low/low average across the board. In the report they have highlighted that he is capable of much more but needs constant prompts to stay on task. They have recommended 1:1 support in school.

School, on the other hand, think he is doing well, and in some areas I’m inclined to agree, for example he is reading at Y2 level and receiving greater depth instruction in maths. His end of year report for reception was very positive and said despite being behind in some areas he is exceeding in others and is likely to continue developing well in Y1.

Personally I think he will struggle with the change of pace in Y1 and is unlikely to be able to fully engage with the whole class teaching and working element (his class have no TA, whereas in reception they had a class teacher and 2 TAs and did a lot of small group teaching). However, I currently have no evidence that this will be the case.

What should I do? Should I apply for EHCP now in anticipation that he will likely need the 1:1 support? Should I wait and see how he gets on in the first term, thereby potentially wiping out his first (or possibly even second) term of Y1? Or should I not apply at all on the basis that school will probably not support it since he’s ‘doing OK’? It’s just, to me, ‘doing OK’ is not good enough when he has the potential to do much better (that’s not to say that doing OK is not fine in general, just that for him, with 1:1 support he would achieve so much more).

I hope someone else with experience will come along for you soon. We aren't at this stage yet as my son is still on the waiting list so an EHCP seems quite far out of reach. However, I've spoken about them at length with a mum I know, whose son's EHCP was rejected twice before finally being accepted, and now it will take 20 weeks for it to be drawn up. I'd say apply as soon as you can!

Definitely apply for it now - it is way easier to get one at this age than when they are in yr 6 or 7. He is very unlikely to get (and keep) 1 to 1 support without it being written in to an EHCP.
It can take some time to go through the whole EHCP process - potentially up to a year if you include any time needed for an appeal. If you apply now, support can be put in place for him as the curriculum becomes more challenging. If, on the other hand, he no longer needs extra support later on, then the EHCP doesn't have to be continued - you have lost nothing.

We started applying for our EHCP for my daughter in January and we still don’t have one despite the fact that she has a resources place at a school.

Why is your son is seeing a clinical psychologist? I’m not sure if I understood properly but is he basically within range across all areas? What is he struggling with? Children need to require quite a lot of additional support to get an EHCP. I think it’s about 1% of children who get them.

If you think your son needs one, I’d apply as it takes an age.

Just to warn you - lots of councils make it really hard and you might have to fight all the way. Give sendias a ring as they are really helpful and have supported us all the way through applying for our son. Also there are some good FB groups with advice.

If he is doing so well in school, why has he seen a clinical psychologist? I’m guessing you’ve arranged this privately?
If the attainment school have noted is correct, he won’t get any 1:1 support, as what they are already doing with him in school is working.

It's hard to tell as some counties are more stingy with ehcp's than others. My 8 year-old was awarded his ehcp in May this year. He was in year 3. He doesn't get 1-1 though. He is really good at reading (became a free reader 2 months ago) but his writing is very behind, he can nearly write his name but not quite. He has moderate learning difficulties.

@User987654124 he was referred to them for the purposes of performing a cognitive assessment. He has the attention span of a 2 year old despite being academically very capable, so struggles to do basically anything independently. He’s been categorised as low or low average across each of the test areas (mostly low). I don’t honestly know if I think he needs one or not as like I say he’s done kind of OK in reception but I think Y1 will be more of a challenge for him as it’s less play based and more task focused. Thank you for your reply.

@WaltzForDebbie yes, this is something I’m not looking forward to 🙈 the psychologist did recommend SENDIAS so I’ll definitely look at that, thank you

Why did he see a clinical psychologist?

If he's doing well in school clearly school didn't suggest it.

So what was the prompt?

Did school suggest the assessment?

If so, then definitely start the process

@Soontobe60 no, he was referred by his paediatrician. It’s not really a true reflection that he’s doing well in school, he learned to read over lockdown, 1:1 with me, and has been supported by a TA thanks to his SEN support plan in reception. As I mentioned, he’s very academically capable, but only in a 1:1 situation, which is why he needs the support.

The whole process can take ages. And even if he gets an echp that doesn't automatically translate into dedicated support worker

Why did his doctor refer?

Yes apply you have nothing to lose but be prepared to keep applying and pushing. Even when you have the EHCP you need to insist on a tightly worded document eg John needs to be supported in class needs to be John needs 1-2-1 from the TA to start the task and then regular reviews and then support 1-2-1 from TA to review it. Else you will find the school will say the teacher ‘supported the child’ as well as him/ her teaching the other 32. EHCP are legally enforceable but currently taking about a year. 1-2-1 now is important it might be too little too late at 11.

Have all your evidence and you can insist on the EHCP assessment through the LA if the school won’t support it. but provide all documents to the school and highlight all the professional assessment eg this professional says he needs 1-2-1 school day says we think he is fine- repeat this professional assessment says not.

I can only speak from experience. My D.C. refused an EHCP or to apply for one as nothing was wrong I disagreed. I knew it wasn’t right. I started the process. Knowing as well I was going to move them schools due to the heads attitude towards us. I knew my DC was very bright it the achievement wasn’t what should be happening - their ‘intelligence’ was masking the problem. I waited 6 months for an EHCP which happened very shortly after I moved my child to a new school. The EHCP is in place until year 6, reviewed yearly. D.C. has a 1-2-1 help, precision teaching pre teaching recap teaching as well as the other special skills that need to be taught - 22 targets across 4 years and the EP insisted on 1-2-1 for them in the EHCP. They got it after a fight with county and the school. EHCP costs the school money outs gets £6K for their TA but the school have to find the same again out of their budget for the TA hours. That’s why schools actively discourage you. They have a motive and it’s to do with money mainly.

@Dishwashersaurous as above, he was referred by his paediatrician. He has a SEN support plan in place at school as he has identified needs, this has worked well in reception but in Y1 there is no TA and therefore no extra support.
He can’t write, is incapable of focusing independently on a task and can’t engage in large group instruction (eg. circle time). He has sensory and physical needs also.

The clinical psychologist has recommended 1:1 support so I would begin the process now because it takes AGES. By the time you get an EHC plan he'll need it.

Having done EHCP applications I would start the process now but I always made sure I had roughly two terms worth of evidence of us trying to implement the Ed Psych's recommendations and that they had no impact as proof that my pupil really needed the funding that comes with the EHCP.

Money is so tight and it's not likely to get approved if they can't show that they've tried to use the Ed Psych report. Talk to your Senco and find out how and what from the report they're going to implement and how they will evidence the success/failure of the recommendations. Make sure you're both on the same page about working towards an application.

I would also say that an Ed Psych report isn't the be all and end all as it's an observation done in one sitting (usually) so do take into consideration what you, the senco and his reception teacher think. At least if you get the ball rolling now, if he's struggling in January you will have what you need to apply. HTH.

Based on what you’ve said I doubt your son will get 1:1 support regardless of an EHCP but I would begin the process now if you plan to try and get one.

@MaryTalbot thank you, this sounds very similar to our situation. The school and SENCO are actually very nice and supportive but seem to think he doesn’t need anything extra going into Y1. Psychologist disagrees. I don’t know what to think 🙈

@Allthingspeaches he’s never had an Educational Psychologist observation, he was seen by clinical psychology. I don’t even know if he also needs the EP’s input or if CP’s is enough?

The criteria for an EHC needs assessment is pretty simple that he MAY have special educational needs and he MAY need extra support in school via an ehcp. From what you have said he should qualify for a needs assessment, but be prepared to have to appeal and fight.

It’s very difficult to get 1-1 specifically outlined in an EHCP, although it would be helped if the report suggests 1-1 at some level.

It’s a long long process though. If your starting now it will probably be the end of the academic year anyway before things are sorted

Apply now yourself. You are asking for an assessment of need not for an ehcp as such. The threshold for assessment is very low you just have to show that the child may have sen although as PP's have said you may need to appeal.

The ep has already recommended 1:1, so this should be evidence enough for an assessment. Does the report word it as recommended or required/needs the wording is important as an ehcp has to be specific to hold any weight.

Have a look at ipsea, sossen and special needs jungle. Some sendiass aren't as impartial as they should be so seek independent advice. Ipsea and sossen both have free helplines. The sossen booklets are fab, I think they are £5 each. Ipsea website has loads of info.

Schools receive funding from the higher needs block for children who have sen but don't have an ehcp, without an ehcp they can say how this funding is spent with an ehcp the provision in section f has to be provided regardless. So at this early age where younger children can "cope" it works out better for some schools to not apply for plans. This doesnt mean its right for your child.

Just for info children can have ehcp's even if they are doing "ok". Also he may be reading well and doing in depth maths but what is his comprehension like?

If you do go for an assessment think about any other areas that he needs assessing eg ot, sensory, communication/slt etc as these have to be done in the timeframe and can be requested by parent if reasonable so if the nhs say he has to wait the la will have to provide independent.

Things may have changed since I was a SENCo, but I think that an EHCP Panel will want to see evidence of what has been in place to support him in school, whether it has been effective and what the plan is for continued support and what future targets he needs.

It always used to require advice from the school’s EP and evidence over time that the advice has been implemented and reviewed. Now, I think that EPs are like hens teeth, so I don’t know how it works now.

Justrealised it was a clinical psychologist, not an EP who wrote the report, although I agree with everything else.

@sirzy @Justrealised thank you for your advice, I think I will apply for the assessment and then it’s up to them to decide if he needs it or not. I don’t want to end up in a situation where he’s really struggling and I should have started the process sooner.

@Justrealised his reading comprehension is average so no real issue there. He already has OT and physio input so it wouldn’t be a problem to get a report from them, thank you.