To think this SEN plan is a joke ?

[lostconfidenceinthesystem]

My dd began secondary school last September and was on an sen plan at primary.

She got lost immediately in secondary and there seemed to be no planning for the transition.

She was recently diagnosed by an nhs child psychiatrist with ADHD and PDA .

Following several calls from school raising "concerns " I asked to meet the SENCO. He is temporary and looks about 25.

I asked for an ehcp assessment and was told they need more evidence. I took a friend who is more confident than me and we had gone through the sen code of practice.

Today I was sent the sen plan . Throughout they refer to my dd as "he" so it is obviously copied and pasted . The grammar is appalling.

They talk of objectives which appear to need a magic wand and there is no explanation as to how they think they'll get her to those targets .

They described her as being "nasty and rude" to her peers .

I don't know what to do next . I'm so tired . Her behaviour is quiet at school and withdrawn but at home she's violent , explosive, she has picked up scissors and knives and has started refusing to go to school . I have holes in my walls . She never sleeps . She's hyperactive. She's anxious and has panic attacks.

She's waiting to see a specialist in ADHD as the psychiatrist said he couldn't prescribe and she's on the pathway to see a specialist but I waited 3.5 years to see this psychiatrist!

Aibu to email the school and call them out on the obviously copied and pasted sen plan and point out that she is female and ask why they refer to her as "he" throughout!

Any advice welcome as I'm at my wits end .

I would do the usual, so initiate the schools complaints producure.
Simultaneously kick off email detailing all this to head, governers and council.
. Wait and after 2 weeks if you don't hear write to mp.

I would immediately raise a complaint and ask for a meeting.

But also, for each time she changes years or if she goes to another school, get that meeting in with the Senco first of all so a plan is already in place. An ehcp takes a while and really, a supportive Senco who ensures the right measures are in place is likely to be worth more for your daughter.

Most paperwork in schools is written from a bank of statements.

My DS had a report from an educational psychologist, and most of the recommendations for him will have been standard for most children with dyslexia.

It is quite sensible to cut and paste in paragraphs about specific interventions - so giving detail about eg Lego therapy.

However it is sensible to proof read it first!

I wouldn't worry too much about the cut and paste, but it is probably worth challenging the description of her.

At my school we would not write anything overtly negative in the plan. The usual wording is "struggles with".

Make a parental request for a EHCNA (look on your local authority website for details of how to for some it's a form).

Use the statement describing your DD negatively as evidence they are unable to meet her needs or understand her conditions

I wouldn't even bother complaining to the school as will just get their backs up, instead they all their errors as lack of understanding

They've said they'll give her next term on the plan and then review early the term after - they aren't opposed to asking for an ehcp assessment at that point .

She's really struggling though . She's behind academically, and is struggling with peers . She's extremely embarrassed so is reluctant to ask for help . She also lies to cover herself - she's been videod fighting as was encouraged by some "friends " to do it and insists it was play fighting. She's extremely vulnerable to being taken advantage of to entertain others and she's so desperate to fit in she's doing it .

I'm going to make an appt with gp and see if they can expedite the process to see the specialist, but I'm struggling to even get her to school half the time .

I'm sad they describe her as "nasty and rude " - I know she can be but she's so impulsive. She can't regulate what comes out of her mouth . She's the same with everyone. Including me . I'm often an idiot, fat pig , she hates me , no wonder I'm on my own etc etc . She can be venomous but 5 minutes later she's forgotten and wants a cuddle . She can be lovely , but she really struggles to understand the consequences of her words and actions .

I can't believe they sent me that plan without even proof reading it!

Make a parental request for an EHC needs assessment.

Don't just wait for the school to submit. Your daughter needs support as soon as possible, and school don't sound interested or competent.

Contact your local Sendiass for advice. Your LA should have a specialist autism outreach or similar professional to ask advice for. You will see this in the code of practice if you look at the Sen support section. She is ‘nasty and rude’ well she has social communication difficulties and she may come across as blunt, not ‘get’ chit chat, but why don’t they assess her needs so they can work out what provision she requires.

This is what you can do while waiting for the needs assessment. IPSEA has the best template. Join some online groups like Not Fine In School. The COP outlines the four broad areas of need, start grouping her challenges under these. I do into schools to support parents in these situations and I get little fucked off at SENCOs who look for ‘strategies’ for a child to use like shopping for a dress and expecting that to fix the ‘problem’. If that was the case, it wouldn’t t be considered a disability!

Sorry, I was unclear, school can ask external professionals for advice and here an EP, SALT and autism outreach would be the right one. If she is substantially behind at school, learning difficulties outreach. These will all sit in your LA in some form or other. Google your local offer and borough name and have a hunt around.

Usually you need to show 2 cycles of ADPR, assess, plan, do, review. In most schools a cycle is a term. School have to show what they have tried and why it does not work to be able to prove the child needs more help.

If she is behind academically and doesn't want to expose that to peers then this is really tricky.

My DD has adhd.

There are a number of things that it might be possible for the school to do:

Firstly most schools will have a pathway for students who are behind academically to drop one or two languages and do extra maths and English lessons. Sometimes this is called a booster system or intervention. Try to find out if the school has this and if so get her on it.

Some schools run a nurture group in year 7 for students who have semh (social emotional or mental health needs) or are academically very behind. It may be worth finding out if the school do this as it might be beneficial for her. However be aware that it will mark her out as different and if she just wants to be like her peers then she may refuse to join it.

There may be other support available but it tends to be focused on students with ehcps as by law those needs to be implemented. You are going to need to kick off the assessment process without the school being on board. She needs an EHCP.

At home, remove sharp objects from where she can get them. Look into dealing with self harm. You could try referring to Camhs but as she has an adhd diagnosis they might just throw it back at you (they don't like working with neurodivergent children as it's not technically a mental health issue).

Try to speed up seeing the psych - if there is any possibility of going private do so. Medication makes a massive difference and he will be able to medicate for anxiety.

That’s not the legal test thought. Three cycles of the graduated approach, but the system doesn’t work with a lack of knowledge or tight budgets. Legal test is a much lower threshold.

Nhs psychiatrists are doctors, why could they not prescribe? Was she diagnosed by a psychologist perhaps?

Id question the wait becuase Iv never known an NHS child diagnostic team not pretty much not have access to a psychiatrist who could prescribe once a diagnosis is made.

Come and join us over on Not Fine In School and Define Fine on Facebook, OP. Some of the most knowledgeable and generous parent-turned-experts-through‐experience who share advice and support. You will soon find you are in very good company, which, despite it being a group everyone hopes they didn't need to be part of, is incredibly validating and reassuring.
Follow MissingTheMark and Dr Naomi Fisher for refreshing takes on learning and a reaffirming of the solid ground of intrinsic human value in the face of finding oneself at odds with one's child's education providers (and, if you're a teacher like me, the whole of your professional life).

I will question this but it is what he said . He's diagnosed her - but she has to now see a specialist in the field for any medication. He couldnt even prescribe melatonin- said only the sleep clinic can do that and we have to self refer .

Not true. The legal test for an EHCNA is twofold:

a) The child has, or may have, SEN?
b) May they need support from a EHC Plan?

That's it. Nothing more, nothing less. Lots of LAs like to give schools various hoops to jump through, but they aren't legal.

Yes 2 cycles is not legally required. The 2 tests for an ECHNA are a) has or may have SEN and b) may require provision to be made. The needs analysis is supposed to test the 'May'. Apply yourself. Be prepared to appeal.

IPSEA have useful guidance. https://www.ipsea.org.uk/asking-for-an-ehc-needs-assessment

How does the specialist thing work in a MAT though? We've been waiting for the (possibly imaginary) MAT SALT forever; if they've not bought a service from the LA you're stuck with the MAT provisions aren't you?

It's really hard getting any further without it though.

That wasn't my experience.
I requested an EHCNA and my child's EHCP was finalised in less than 16 weeks.

Hard in what way? Both my girls were assessed immediately after asking. Neither had APDR cycles because a) school had rubbish SEN plans, so there was nothing to review, and B) they declined badly so weren't accessing provision. The LA can't hold it against a child that a school failed to follow the SEN CoP.

Thank you this is giving me some hope I'm just unsure of how to do it

I'll check the IPSEA website out and I will join those groups.

I just can't stand to see her floundering.

She was doing year 3 maths one to one in year six . Yet at secondary she's had no help at all. They keep saying her reading age is almost on target but there's a huge discrepancy between her English and her maths.

If anyone can just tell me like ABC what I do is be so grateful

This. Don’t waste energy on battling the school. Get an EHNCA request in. Do it yourself, don’t ask school to do it. You don’t need to consult the school the LA will. If it gets refused then appeal. Don’t sweat it. A ridiculously high percentage of appeals go in favour of the parent.

Join the recommended groups and do some reading on the ipsea web page. Think of your dds hurdles under the four broad areas is need to help inform your request. You are looking at barriers to education. Submit form - do school agree? If so, get a letter of support in case you get a refusal to assess or issue.

also, ask school to bring in professionals to assess under Sen support.

evidence for echna - sen support plan, diagnosis reports, attendance statement, education levels (from school).

Have a look at SOS SEN, they are on Facebook, not sure what areas they cover, but they are gear at the legal stuff and supporting parents to support their children.