To start an EHCP application in May of year 6?!

[Theyalwaysknewbest]

Am I too late?
Primary school have spent 5 years telling me DD won't meet the criteria and different teachers and SENCOs have all told me this.
I have raised about applying for an EHCP multiple times starting from 5 years ago to date, but the staff have always insisted to me that DD's learning needs can be met by them and that she doesn't need an EHCP. They've given me flat "no" every time I've asked and haven't been open to just trying and seeing what happens. I've always been guided by the school in this since they're the professionals in primary education and I am not. I know nothing about how the EHCP criteria is met or not met, nor anything about how a child is assessed or what the threshold is. So I've always taken their advice that an EHCP would be declined for her.
Meanwhile DD is working at least 4 school years behind her actual school year in reading, spelling and maths. So is in year 6, and is being given year 2 level work and is even struggling with that. And school have removed her from sitting year 6 SATS later this month because she won't be able to read the papers due to her SEN.
She is on the school's own internal SEN register.
Officially diagnosed with severe dyslexia (I organised a private comprehensive assessment and she got the diagnosis after school refused to refer her for dyslexia assessment and told me she's not dyslexic and shows no signs of dyslexia. Her diagnosis states she severely dyslexic. ).
The school's current decision to remove DD from yr 6 SATS has made me question their decision re her not being eligible for an EHCP application, because to my mind, if she's so far delayed in her learning due to SEN that the school have decided she can't access yr 6 SATS, would this not indicate that she would meet the criteria for an EHCP?
I now feel like I want to take matters in to my own hands and apply for one myself. If I don't get one for her then I don't get one. But I'll never know if I don't one.
But have I left it too late in the school year to do this? Not for any chance of extra support at primary, I realise it's too late for that. But can I apply now with the focus being on extra support moving forwards in to secondary education?
I'd be so grateful for advice from those who know about all this.

Yes you can apply now.

I used to work at a secondary and our Senco was always busy in September applying for ehcps for those kids who had come up without one and blatantly needed one.

just do it.
especially if she has been disapplied that is pretty good evidence there.

You can apply yourself. The main disadvantage with the timing is assessment and advice writing and the timing/availability of doing so, but that's an LA problem, not yours or your child's.

Apply now. But be warned if you have to appeal, appeal lististings are currently taking a year. 4 years behind is insane.

In a rush but couldn’t not reply.

yes apply. I’m so sorry the school has failed your daughter like this.

It will be a battle but advice and help is out there. Others will be along to advise.

for now research “parental request for ehcp needs assessment” and specifically look at SOSSEN and IPSEA.

the sooner you start the process the better because it can take a long long time to ultimately get the right support

I started my DDs in September of Year 8. I was absolutely sick to death of her (then) middle school telling me she didn't qualify / we wouldn't get one / oh that's just for kids with severe learning difficulties.

We are almost at the end of the process now. We have also changed schools and she's already getting more support.

Go for it. It's an exhausting process (as you'll already understand) but worth it. I've had to fight for everything for my DD every step of the way. I'm a single parent and at times it's been so hard to manage the mental workload, but the alternative was giving up on her which I obviously couldn't and wouldn't do.

Best of luck! The best time is now. No matter what point in her education. It takes so bloody long, so just best to get that ball rolling.

You can request an EHC assessment at any time. if agreed It won’t be in place for the start of secondary school though.
have you spoke to the school she’s going to? Often secondary schools are better set up to meet learning needs as most schools will have other children working at the same level as your dd.

I could have written the majority of your post. My DS in now in yr7 dx with severe dsylexia, he has a reading age of 7 and spelling/writing is aged 6. He was also removed from SATS, school told me every year that he would not get an EHCP with 'just' dyslexia. Start of yr6 i said I was going for it without their support, they immediately said they would support and he got his EHCP in readiness for high school, first time.

Push to start the process at primary, tell them that you want a referral for SALT and OT - both were very helpful for us. The EP was fantastic and although high school is still so hard for him, he has cover in his EHCP for 15 hours 1 to 1 TA for lessons where there is a lot of reading writing. I still have to remind teachers to read it when they contact me regarding how he is in lessons but I have the document there to refer them to.

Primary schools just don't apply for an EHCP unless they absolutely have to, because they then have to follow them.

Happy to help with any questions.

I got my own for dd, she’s left education now, but these last until she is 25.
a lot of paper work, but nothing that is mind blowing

You can apply for the needs assessment as a parent.

I work in this field and I would.

There is a two-part test.
First may the child have SEN... clearly yes with a diagnosis of dyslexia and working at levels 4 years behind age related expectations.

Secondly, may they need to have provision made through an EHCP?
If she is working 4 years below Age related and unable to sit SATS this would indicate so.

School sound like they are lacking in confidence/competence.

You can make a parental request directly... Look on your LAs website. If they say they will assess her it won't be done before she moves to high school, so just give the high school SENCO the heads up that you have request it.

It’s certainly worth starting the process now. I can’t believe the school haven’t done it yet!
4 years behind suggests that she would meet the criteria for an EHCP in our region. ( and this would be concerning as she will struggle to access any work at secondary with this level of literacy)
it’s a slow process but it can be done - and the council SEND departments who process the applications are not term time only so will carry on processing the plan over the summer.

Try to include as much evidence as you can - if you have her attainment data over time that is a really powerful indicator of a students needs. - obviously the school should provide this but if they haven’t done it yet I would be inclined to do as much as I could myself

Hi, has he tried a reading pen .?, all UK schools should have them, they can even be used in all exams including GCSE

can they be used with earphones? We have looked at them but we weren’t sure if it would slow his reading progress. Do you know of a reputable make? I do think he would benefit in some lessons.

he still has interventions and we pay for a private tutor but I do think he must be missing so much with his reading being so poor.

Yes definitely apply, sounds like it is definitely justified. Some schools put you off as it is more work for them :(
you will need evidence from the school about current interventions and attainment iirc
also the LA will often automatically turn down initially, do not be put off, you have to appeal. I went to tribunal and got my autistic dyslexic child one, but it came through just as she got to secondary school. The support has kept
her in school. Good luck x

I would highly recommend using Empowering Families with SEND. If you go to the events section of their website, they have a webinar (think it costs about £10) on applying for an EHC Needs Assessment (the first stage of EHCP application). The webinar comes with all the proformas and documents you need.
I don't work for them - just had good experiences! It's a horrible process - confusing and adversarial. So best of luck!

Yes, do it.
I'm at the same stage with my Yr6 DC, had I not believed the SENCO this time last year that she'd start the applicationv then we would have been many months further down the road by now...
Anyway, it's happening now, won't be in place for next academic year but will at least be in progress.
My advice would be to start the process ASAP and also contact the SENCO at the new school as soon as possible to talk to them about your DD's needs, then they can start putting things in place before she gets there.

Definitely request an EHCNA yourself. On their website, IPSEA has a model letter you can use. Appeal if the LA refuse to assess or refuse to issue - don’t be put off.

It won’t be in place for September, though. If you haven’t already spoken to the secondary SENCO, do that too. Ask what enhanced transition arrangements they can put in place for DD.

Be prepared for a battle but absolutely go ahead. The fact they’re not allowing her to do the SATs after spending the last however many years insisting they can meet her needs is galling. They’ve let her down.

It would be better to get the ball rolling now, I’m sorry for you that daughters current school have been so slack in supporting you to apply for EHCP. That screams incompetent, they will be well aware that by starting secondary without one, she will really struggle, so in that respect they have failed in their duty of care to support her. Not good at all!!

We had this - fobbed off for years with DC clearly struggling throughout primary, and told we wouldn’t meet the threshold. Absolute bollocks as when I finally applied for an EHCP myself (using the IPSEA model letter and advice) we were granted both the needs assessment and the EHCP itself without appeal. You may have to appeal if you’re turned down at first, but this is REALLY common and the decision to deny NA is almost always overturned, it’s just part of the process unfortunately. Get all comms from school in writing and include emails about SATs etc as evidence in your application. Write minutes/summaries of every meeting and phone call them and circulate by email - that way they stand as a record unless they’ve been challenged in writing. Get a private EP report if you can afford it (though this isn’t essential - our LA-appointed one produced a decent enough report, but they’re a mixed bag!) Also local SEND parents groups on facebook etc. Def also contact secondary SENCO and request a meeting - don’t leave it up to the school. It’s a faff but you can totally do this yourself. Good luck!

Certainly, gather your evidence and apply.

I’d also contact the SENCo at the secondary school and talk to them about what can be put in place to meet your daughter’s needs when she transfers.

With the timing of this EHCNAF, I'd suggest submitting a subject access request to get all the evidence you might need for the secondary school to supplement any future meeting, referrals or applications. You could request the school sends you all attainment data, progress reports, IEPs, reading level tests, spelling tests... essentially anything evidencing your DCs level of work for the last few years. You'll also want copies of the work your DC completes to be included as evidence that they are below age-related expectations - do you get given their exercise books at the end of the year for home or does school keep/dispose of them?

I'd also ask for your DCs provision maps since they've been on the SEN register which should outline where support has been provided within the funding the school receives, e.g. small group interventions twice a week for 20 mins, 1:1 TA support for 6 hours a week etc. This will prove that with the current support, progress is still not being made and further funding is needed via an EHCP.

I’d also hit the roof at her being withdrawn from SATs. They’ve refused to put in appropriate help and then want to remove her from SATs so their numbers don’t look bad? Fuck that.

@DeafLeppard pupils who are disapplied from SATs are still counted in the statistics.

Schools can only apply for an exemption on the basis of SEND or other exceptional circumstances. If her needs are deemed severe enough for this, they haven’t got a leg to stand on when they claim she won’t meet the threshold for an EHCNA, as the legal test for a needs assessment is actually quite low:

1. Whether the child or young person has or may have special educational needs (SEN); and
2. Whether they may need special educational provision to be made through an EHC plan.