How can an EHCP benefit a child with ADHD?

[FourBoysAndAFeline]

I'm in the throes of gathering evidence to support my child who has ADHD.

7 months into secondary school and his attendance has gone from 100% to 57% and is now on a reduced timetable.

The school are not supportive. SENCO is but she only has one pair of hands.

Im evidencing how the school cannot cope with his needs, he cannot cope with school and what's been put in place so far.

What I don't know is how an EHCP can help my son.
can anyone shed light on this? I have googled and googled and googled and called our local charity and emailed SENCO and asked friends.

I thought I'd ask here too.

I read a lot of similar comments so likewise just requested a certificate when I went through this. But tribunals are taking up to a year to hear cases currently (we were quicker as transition year) and I have heard of a couple of successful mediation cases of late.

Submitting straight to SENDIST doesn’t prevent you having ongoing discussions with the LA. If mediation would work then the LA will still concede even if you submit straight to SENDIST. And that way you haven’t lost time if the LA do not concede via mediation.

I fully sympathise. With the best will in the world the mainstream school system are ill-equipped to cater for your son’s needs. I would definitely start the ball rolling for a special needs school. I speak from 28 years of experience.

Are schools not required to make adjustments without an EHCP?
My son has an ADHD diagnosis. His primary school is really good with adjustments so we haven't thought to do anything else. I know it's a way off (he's year 5 now) but would he get extra time for his GCSEs without an EHCP?

Schools are required to make their best endeavours to meet a pupils SEN.

An EHCP isn’t required to receive access arrangements including extra time for GCSEs. The rules for these are set out in the JCQ guidance.

Hi, search online for your nearest SENDIAS - they will either advise or support you themselves, or direct you to another service who is able to.

Look at what you think he needs, his triggers, why he isn't coping. I have 2 in high school both medicated for adhd, one has LD. One child is fine as long they take their medication the other needs more hand on attention due to LD so needs ehcp

Be careful with SENDIASS, some are good but too many repeat the LA’s unlawful policies. IPSEA and SOSSEN are better.

Thanks @FloatingBean I appreciate the reply/info

The ADHD foundation has good universal accommodations that are recommended for ADHD on their website. Obviously need to be tailored to the individual but they’re there to refer to as a minimum. My middle DC has ADHD and is managing with accommodations but may trial medication as gets older as it’s a struggle. If the school hasn’t evidenced they are putting the standard reasonable accommodations in place they’re likely to try and fob you off and say that needs to happen from school first. It’s a legal obligation and if not possible they need to say they aren’t meeting your sons needs. Many are reticent to do so.

These are all things you can get with an OT assessment.
Kids I work with have been recommended lap tops, extra time, exams on their own rather than in the hall, movement breaks etc all with an EHCP or equivalent.
You will need an EHCP to secure funding for stuff though - especially with current school budgets.
Avoid mandating a certain amount of weekly therapy though. We have kids ho have to have weekly therapy according to their statement. They met their Therapy goals, but to avoid breaching the EHCP we're still expected to see them weekly - which means other children with current needs just gave to wait longer.

Avoid mandating a certain amount of weekly therapy though.

No! Provision in F must be detailed, specified and quantified. A vague and woolly EHCP is not worth the paper it is written on, DC may not receive any of the vague provision and it is unenforceable. If outcomes need updating that is a separate matter.

They are, and our primary school were amazing!

Secondary school isn't. It's really awful in comparison.

There is some really sound advice on here, thank you. Bloody love Mumsnet for this kind of thing.

Getting an EHCP may also help if you apply for DLA. I used my son's as evidence for the application.

We have an ehcp for my dd with adhd and it essentially funds a place at a school where she can cope. Its mainstream but small class sizes, and a much broader curriculum.

It's been a battle, but we got there in the end, and it was completely worth it. She had nearly 2 yrs out of school entirely and is now thriving, achieving, and happy.

We applied for the ehcp ourselves, and went for judicial review after the LA failed to find a suitable school. This then allowed parental preference.