Can anyone offer any support in asd/pda

[Xmummy2X]

Good evening

If you read this thank you so much

So my son is age 9 years he has just been diagnosed with autism with pda profile and combined adhd

We have had our fair share of struggles and things have really calmed

His education is complex history he is on roll at mainstream school but hasn't attended for year now we are questioned with home school or special school but there are no special schools which we will rely on transport which will increase son levels of anxiety before he even arrived and knowing LA could take years

Is anyone home educating asd/pda child and what sort of things work for you and family and interests as son only interests is gaming and you tube i have tried loads of other things and everything possible to get into other things and interests

So any advice or helpful stories and successful stories would be greatful i know it will be tough as will have to go to work at some point but will have to do evenings or nights anything that works for my family

look into seeing if he’s entitled to 1:1 transport on a minicab instead of a minibus with other students due to the issues you’ve stated

If DS can’t attend school is alternative provision in place? Under s.19 of the Education Act 1996 the LA has a duty to ensure he still receives a suitable full-time education. On their website, IPSEA has a model letter you can use if this isn’t in place.

Also has an early review of DS’s EHCP been requested? IPSEA also has a model letter for this.

What is it about transport DS struggles with? Not being funny, but understanding why could help with suggestions.

If attending any school is inappropriate, including because DC can’t cope with transport in any form, have you looked at EOTAS? Personally, I would look at EOTAS over EHE because a comprehensive EOTAS package can fund far more than the vast majority of parents can avoid to fund via EHE.

There is alternative provision based on gaming. To give you an idea of the types of things I mean have a look at MindJam, Code Ninja, Overworld Esports Academy, Tubers Academy, Geeks Room, Imbue ventures, The Enemy of Boredom. Some are location specific and some are online.

EOtAS sounds like a good solution here.

You can look at Spectrum Gaming, I've heard really good things about them

@BrumToTheRescue@BrumToTheRescue@BrumToTheRescue@BrumToTheRescue@BrumToTheRescue

So sorry about the last message my phone froze

Can i ask what is eotas and how it works as he meant to have occupational therapy and hasn't received that all professionals have left we have cahms left

I have paid for private occupational therapist for a assessment of needs but couldn't afford anymore then that and ot would love to work with my son but unfortunately she lived far away

The issue with transport severe anxiety, new people etc

Education Other Than School, or something similar. It's where the LA agree that school is suitable for a child at that time, and agree to find a package of alternative provision. This might look like home tutoring, visits to a play farm, therapy etc. it can be difficult to get in place but it sounds like your child would benefit from a tailored package. Have a read of the Special Needs Jungle site, and also IPSEA

Sorry, the LA would agree school would be unsuitable

EOTAS is Education Otherwise Than At School (sometimes called EOTIS with In instead of At and sometimes has a C on the end for older DC for College). It is a bespoke package of support delivered outside of a school setting.

he meant to have occupational therapy and hasn't received that all professionals have left we have cahms left

Is the OT detailed, specified and quantified in F of the EHCP? Same for any other provision/therapies including MH support that are required.

I've very recently been told about Mindjam which can maybe be part if an EOTAS package and uses gaming interests to help learning.
My child is similar in some ways and has got interested in the Kurzgesagt videos on YouTube, they are fascinating.

@BrumToTheRescue thank you so much for all them ideas such a shame they are so far away there is nothing in Oxfordshire

Thank you all so much i don't think LA will give in for eotas unfortunately so if home educate like you say don't have a lot of funds already paying for maths & English every week which LA should be providing really

Thank you all 🙏

You might have to appeal for EOTAS, many do for a proper package. If you appeal when you next have the right of appeal and you need independent assessments but can’t afford them and you aren’t eligible for legal aid contact Parents in Need, they can sometimes help.

For online provision, you could look at Mindjam, Tubers Academy and Gecko. Depending on where in Oxfordshire you live one of the Code Ninja sites may work. You could also look at Spectrum Space boxes. Oxfordshire are no strangers to EOTAS despite what they claim.

I am a home educator and usually a cheerleader for it.
But in your son's case I would firstly really push for all the suggestions above.
As he isn't at school and while he isn't getting educated you could start a programme of home ed without making it formal just to see how he responds to it
If he's not happy and refuses to cooperate you know it's not the path you should take.

Don't take him off roll to home ed as you may lose any help from the LA. Fight for what you can get.x

@BrumToTheRescue thank you so much for your help do you know what assessments they will want i have OT that wasn't done that long ago. Full diagnosis and report from that outlining things. X

@Luddite26 thank you so much for your reply

He has had no help from LA they are shocking school arranged dare 2 dream before easter holiday that's it

I just don't have funds like other families to pay for lot i already pay online learning which i believe the LA should been responsible for

Regards

Lucy

If you appeal I would get as many reports as financially possible - Ed Psych, SALT, clinical psychologist or psychiatrist, physio if there are physio needs. It is evidence that wins cases. Depending on how old the report would be by the time you get to an appeal hearing you may need an updated report or addendum.

In the meantime, do pursue section 19 provision. And the LA still has a responsibility to ensure anything detailed, specified and quantified in F of the EHCP is still received.

Do you have an EHCP? If you don’t you should apply.

When is your AR?

pda is very tricky! You can only try your best. Maybe formal learning won’t work for him…..

The LA should be providing something or complain.

@Unfortunatelyagain yes he has ehcp

Had annual review in December

Ita very tricky as what works one day might not tomorrow

He very happy at home and in his own environment loves his family and plays online with his cousins but can't tolerate other peers and only trusted adults dependant on mood

Some times he will do things i have tp word it differently and other days refuse so very tricky

The LA only few weeks before easter got dare 2 dream but only till July awful really

Thank you hopeful the send system will change but can only hope

These are my favourite pda people
laura Kirby, Claire Truman, Eliza Fricker, N fisher

sos Sen and Ipsea - log onto those pages they have good webinars. They do free chats too. Ipsea does have good law quotes.

I also signed up to Heidi - EOTAS matters - her webinar 101 is excellent - I watched it today - maybe pay for that.

I think LA are a 💩 show. Sorry not helpful.

only complain take them to LGO and you should get some funds back. Just keep going.

If not small county court but that will cost.

I think it’s hard on parents - unfortunately need to understand the law. That’s when the barristers / advacotes win due to unlawful actions of LA.

If you get spare cash EP and clinics phy would be good.

Good luck! More to life than education your son will get there when he can and fly. Pda kids just take time for them to want to do it - or maybe they don’t want to and that is fine too 👍

mine son is the same x

@Unfortunatelyagain thank you so much i will look these people up 😊

Thank you so much i don't have energy to fight LA anymore

I just want to do the best for my son always

How old is your son and does he manage school??

Thank you for responding

😊

He’s 10 and just out of school too EBSA as school wasn’t flexible enough - so now classed as CME. So I’m having the fight with the LA too.

if you have a child with pda I absolutely think they can’t manage school - pda society states 70% are out of school but I think it’s a LOT more than that as that’s a snap shot of time and give it a yr or 2 more and that child will probably be out of school. School equals rules and then that is against the pda mindset of flexibility and child led.

He will defo get there in his own time 💪 he’s smart at least (that’s the problem with the pda children - too smart for their own good 🤣 but you can absolutely see their logic haha) school isn’t everything nor are gcse - happiness always wins ❤️ (and I’m a HUGE believer in school for the majority of children) but there is always other options

I think GS5 is probably PDA. Starting long diagnosis process after being missed because of COVID he started reception and did a full term went back for 2 days after Xmas then refused. Hence home ed. Didn't want him to get complexes he didn't need on top of everything else. We just take one day at a time but had no energy for all the blame and hostility school dole out.