To be so worried re EHC Plan

[WayneCampbellsSidekick]

My 3year old son is having an application made for an EHC Plan on the advice of his preschool following a visit from the local SEN advisor (high functioning ASD).
Am I right in saying they would only be doing this if his needs are deemed to be severe? So many questions and worries. Desperate for reassurance and advice/insight - is anyone who has been in this situation able to give any please?

EHCPs can be applied for and made for any number of reasons and doesn't automatically have to mean 'severe'.
Were you not given any more information about what difficulties he has been facing and what they hope to achieve? They just told you they were going ahead and doing it without any discussion?
In any case, it's good that any problems are recognised and acknowledged and any plan approved will hopefully make a smoother transition into primary school when the time comes. It's natural to be concerned but keep talking to the professionals and agencies involved and ask them any questions you need to so you're kept updated with what's happening

Sorry I haven’t explained this very well. He is (as yet formally undiagnosed, but quite clearly) autistic (high functioning).

'High functioning' is an outdated label, and often means that children's needs aren't met.

The EHCP application indicates that the nursery believes he has needs that are additional to and different from those of his peers, and that those needs can't be met through normal class differentiation.

It's really helpful that the setting and SENCo are being so proactive. They obviously feel that he is going to need a higher level of support as he moves to school.

Did they mention the idea of a special school?

My DD (8) has an ECHP she is academically ok but has autism and ADHD and a few health issues as she was a premie. It means she is funded for 1:1 some of the school day to deliver speech therapy interventions and support her in class. She is also a happy kid who excellent at dancing, has been on her first brownie camp, loves to swim and has loads of certificates for it. Her EHCP helps her to be the best that she can be at school but doesn't define her as a person.

If you manage to get a well planned ehcp at this point I would say you are doing a fantastic job of making sure your son is supported in school

Please don't use functioning labels. They're outdated and insulting to Autistic people. 🤦🏼‍♀️ They often seem to be used by allists desperate to prove that their child is not 'that bad' or 'not that Autistic'.

Not intending to offend, this is very new to me so not sure of all the correct terminology, clearly.

An EHCP is a good thing! Most parents have to fight fight fight for their kids to get one (or even any support at all) - so try to change your mindset to one of relief and that it is a Good Thing that is happening!

best of luck in your journey

It's great that they are being proactive in seeking the EHCP. It's really not an indicator of anything to do with his conditions - it just shows they are a good preschool prioritising your son's needs.

Btw don't worry about "correct terminology" . It's a minefield and changes every 5 minutes.

Who are you to think you speak for everyone. My sister describes herself as high functioning because she is, sees herself as that and this is what she was diagnosed with when she was diagnosed with Aspergers.

As someone says, names, language, terminlogy changes every 5 mins, often for the worse to become less descriptive and helpful.

It's worth reading the EHCP section of the SEN Code of Practice so you understand the process you are in (you can find on gov.uk.). IPSEA and SOS SEN have good resources on their websites too.

Plans are legallly binding on all parties so helpful if you are prepped and ready to contribute, including descriptions of your child's needs and your family wishes/goals for your child. Think nationally around 4% of kids of school age have EHCPs if that helps? They are for children who need more support than is available just through the SENCO at school. Lot of children in mainstream schools have them, but they are also potentially the means to get a place at a special school if that is what is needed.

What is the best way to describe the autistic spectrum? For example, I have a friend with an autistic child who is non verbal and incontinent, and will never live independently. I also have a brother in law and sister in law who are autistic but successfully hold down jobs and live independently. They are more mildly affected. How else can one describe such a broad range within one diagnosis? Not trying to be combative, trying to say the right thing. My siblings in law self identify as Asperger's but I understand that's frowned upon now.

We were given this when our son was diagnosed.
https://the-art-of-autism.com/understanding-the-spectrum-a-comic-strip-explanation/

It does get very combative and language changes all the time, but this cobweb kind of idea makes sense to us and seems the most widely accepted at the moment. I think it's a great build on the original idea of the spectrum.

It's great if you can get an EHCP done at nursery. Sets them up so much better for school. We did with both of ours though DS1 was July before he started at school in September!!

You have no idea how lucky you are with your preschool - to be getting him on this path to an EHCP at this stage is amazing. It will make things easier.

@bellac11 in return, who are you to assume that I presume to possess that prerogative?!

As evidenced by your own writing, we don't always write correctly, or as me mean, to.

Part of my idiosyncrasies are processing difficulties, so I perhaps could have phrased it differently (just, my dear, as could you have in your retort).

I also wish people would back off correcting terminology as its getting ridiculous. Next year it will have changed again.

A lot of autistics describe themselves as high functioning. That is their right. For those of us who dislike the catch all spectrum diagnosis then it can actually be a helpful pointer.

Op please don't panic. You are doing brilliantly getting an EHCP at that age. You can get them for all sorts of things. It's not a predictor of how good a life someone will have.

Because you're telling people not to say things and saying things are outdated. Well not for those with that actual diagnosis its not and its not for you to police peoples speech.

What is the best way to describe the autistic spectrum?

The spectrum refers to how an individual is 'affected', not how they line up against others.

For example, I have a friend with an autistic child who is non verbal and incontinent, and will never live independently. I also have a brother in law and sister in law who are autistic but successfully hold down jobs and live independently. They are more mildly affected. How else can one describe such a broad range within one diagnosis?

You managed to do it right there, using words.

Not trying to be combative, trying to say the right thing. My siblings in law self identify as Asperger's but I understand that's frowned upon now.

'Identify as Asperger's' - WTF? If they have an Asperger's diagnosis they can use it all they want and it's nothing to do with anyone else. If not they can fuck right off because 'identify as' isn't a medical diagnosis.

Gotta love how parents trying to describe/ask about their child's ASD always devolves into the always helpful "language bad" telling offs.

It literally happened to us when we were given the official diagnosis sat at a table with a paediatrician, child psychologist, nurse etc. "Any questions?" "Yes, um, we've looked things up, do you think H is high-functioning or low-functioning autistic?" "We don't use those terms >:("

How and when do you place someone in the high/low category?

One of mine absolutely would have been 'low functioning' during the primary school years. He is now at university (albeit living at home) and doing amazing. The other would have been 'high functioning' and had to be taken out of school after years of mental trauma and we are slowly building up into basic social situations such as going to the shop/cafe and holiday. She is doing amazing but she is still a shell of the kid she used to be.

The high/low doesn't always remain the same. People change, autistic people included.

https://psychiatry-uk.com/higher-or-lower-why-using-functional-labels-to-describe-autism-is-problematic/#:~:text=Functioning%20descriptors%20can%20inhibit%20autistic,divide%20in%20the%20autistic%20community. I’m not a fan of functioning labels because personally I don’t think they help anyone but I’m not going to berate people who use them because they are widely used in society sadly but I do think discussion about the terminology is important

for me the linked article does a good summary of some of the issues around labels

The high/low doesn't always remain the same. People change, autistic people included.

I agree to a point but overall the language about autism is useless and it is detrimental to getting effective provision.

We need terminology to clearly explain need and ability because there is obviously a vast difference between a non verbal autistic person with significant comorbidities and a fully independent, employed and autonomous ND person.

I know my ridiculously clever son will never live independently or hold down a job or marry and have kids. He can make progress in certain areas of his life as he matures but he's never going to suddenly transform into someone else.

Op try to ignore the side debate about language.

To answer your most important question it does absolutely not mean that they think he’s going to really struggle in life. I can understand completely why it feels like that though as EHCPs are daunting.

What it does hopefully mean is that your setting are really on the ball and you did a great job in choosing where to send him.

My ds should have had an EHCP at 3 and we are getting one for him now in Year 6 of primary. He is very bright, has a best friends and other friends, briefly had a girlfriend and while yes he has challenges, on the whole he’s doing very well.

You can get an EHCP to ensure you continue to make good progress, if your current needs are such that extra support is required for that. Progress can be social, emotional and/or communication/language etc as well as academic.

I’m so pleased for you that they are making this application - it always goes much better if school make it!

Op is this about an EHCP plan - a process to assess your child's possible SEN (special educational needs)

Or - an EHP , which is an early help plan? Which is about a child and family needing a level of support at home