Why won’t they assess my poor little boy?

[Candycanesallround]

My 4 year olds EHCP assessment request has just been turned down for the second time. First time was because his preschool hadn’t submitted enough cycles of evidence, second time because they felt more time was needed to see if their ideas helped him make any improvements. He’s been at the preschool 10 months. His ASD/ADHD has been confirmed by various professionals who have all assessed him and written reports confirming this. They have all recommended he needs the support of an EHCP. He has no learning disability and is very bright. But he is hugely impulsive, no danger awareness, very very hyperactive although when he is very interested in something he can hold his attention and focus well - but only when it is something he’s really into, like a puzzle. He has good language skills - not such great back and forth conversation skills. Physically very able which is good but his speed and strength combined with his impulsivity and lack of danger awareness terrify me. I am going to have to go through an appeal tribunal. No idea if I will be successful.
I have zero and I do mean zero support. I have a 7 year old daughter who is lovely but I constantly feel
guilty she plays second fiddle to her brother and his additional needs. I never have enough eyes or hands or time to do it all. I work part time. His dad lives with us but is basically a hologram in that he looks like he’s here but he isn’t really. He goes to work and watches tv the rest of the time; he hasn’t even read any of our sons reports and when I tearfully told him the EHCP assessment request I’ve been fighting for has been turned down again, his response was “I thought that was all sorted?” 🙄 No family. Lots of lovely friends but they all have their own kids and issues etc.
I cannot overstate how through the roof my stress levels are.
why won’t they assess him? Will they ever assess him? What happens if they don’t? Will he literally just be left to struggle in school without help?
I honestly cannot breathe sometimes with the worry.
any knowledge or advice appreciated. Thankyou

Yes.. I would say it’s very rare though (I haven’t known of any in 20 years in the field). As long as they’re following NICE guidelines and using a multi-disciplinary approach then that’s brilliant 🙂

This is incredibly naïve. Are you currently working for an LEA? My son’s EP told me she is under huge pressure in what she is allowed to write and advised me to fight her own report. I absolutely wouldn’t report her because she is just one of the few who is honest enough to tell a parent. It’s very brave to do that when you are being leant on.

Yes I work for an LEA and no they don't dictate what I write, not would I allow them to.

I’m glad to hear that @DrRuthGalloway but I’m afraid it isn’t like that everywhere.

Maybe not, but neither is it like that everywhere.

If a MAT can afford to pay the CEO several hundred thousand a year, they could afford…

They could, but parents can’t force schools to fund EP involvement. They can force the LA via an EHCNA.

The same could be said for LAs, too. They spend vast amounts of money on some salaries and defending indefensible cases against unrepresented parents, yet claim they can’t adhere to their statutory duties because of a lack of money. They could fund more non-statutory EP work. I include Devon in this who is in the top 10 areas least likely to comply with the statutory 20 week EHCP timescale. In part because they blame a lack of money/resources.

I work for a pretty decent academy trust. They even put on Zoom calls regularly with a life coach person, that all parents and staff can sign up to for free, covering aspects of parenting. I've found them very helpful.

Do I think they would book an Ed psych to do similar? Absolutely not! I have realised no-one wants to lift that rug...

When I briefly worked for the large academy Trust I mentioned before, we did not even have a SENCO on site, just a member of staff with a small TLR (responsibility payment) who sorted out extra time for exams and so on.

At that trust I had to supply my own stapler, hole punch, letter tray etc as there was no stationery at all and no budget for it. A small matter but the CEO there is on more than the PM...

2.75 x more in fact, wowee!!

@Phineyj it isn’t even limited to those at the very top. Wokingham LA were willing to pay £3-400 per day to an SEN assistant team manager for a job that included a “Focus on ceasing EHC Plans”. Wokingham LA claimed it was ‘badly worded’ and withdrew the advert.

Sometimes as a social scientist I just find the whole thing so bizarre.

Massive labour shortages.
Problems with immigration.
Spending loads of taxpayers' money actively trying to prevent children getting a suitable education/training.
Keeping (mostly) mothers out of the workforce to deal with their child/ children's unmet needs...

It's bonkers!

@DrRuthGalloway I have been told by SENCO that my child is not a priority to be referred for EP as she has numerous other children who she has to refer before

@Candycanesallround what provision is he having? Has the preschool involved the portage service? Has he been referred to speech and language and OT? What evidence did the preschool send in?

The LA has to decide whether your child has or may have SEN (clearly he does) but also whether he may need a plan to provide for his SEN. If the preschool isn't providing anything above and beyond normal SEN provision, that may be where it's falling down.

@Sproutier thank you
@Candycanesallround I hope goes well for you and your boy.