EHCP Help

[Justpeachy88]

Hi, before I go through the process again, I wanted to know know if anyone thinks my son is suitable for an EHCP as we were rejected for an assessment in October due to the school having no evidence, he’d just started high school.

He’s on the pathway for ASD but I really suspect he has PDA and ADHD too. Home can be challenging here and there but it’s something I’ve always worked with so all runs pretty smoothly now, but school is another story. He has emotional based anxiety so has gone through school refusal many times, he went to his dads once and refused to return for 13 weeks as his anxiety at the thought of returning made him ill (along with being very unwell with lack of eating due to ARFID and his bowel issues) and he went down as a child ‘missing in eduction’ and almost lost his place at school. Due to his struggles I feel he now uses distractions all the time, he tells me he doesn’t understand any of the work. I constantly get told he’s very quiet and won’t speak to teachers etc but on the other hand I’m constantly told he’s disruptive, hasn’t completed enough work, he’s always being removed from lesson, always late to class (he doesn’t have much concept of time, he wouldn’t make it to school if I didn’t prompt him constantly to get ready). He’s been known to lay on the floor in class ( he does this at home, sensory overload) he’s up and out of his chair, falling off his chair. He has tiks too, he shouts randomly at home - like a squeal, I’m guessing he does this in class too as he gets in trouble for shouting in class. He forgets equipment needed - I pack all his things for cooking, PE etc but he gets in trouble for not having them at times as he doesn’t realise he has them (even though I’ve told him) or doesn’t see them so gets in trouble for this.

Ive had a meeting with the Senco which was virtually pointless, she made me feel as though I'm making his issues up because he’s a naughty child who needs some discipline. He does present as very naughty and rude and I can see this, but honestly I’m at a loss. I know it’s because of his needs. Is it worth me applying? He is behind, but I’m told this is because he’s missed so much school and doesn’t pay attention, if he did he’d be fine. But isn’t that the whole point? If anyone has a child similar, or any advice, that would be great as we can’t go on as we are. Thank you

Request another EHCNA. This time if the LA refuse, appeal.

Thanks, I will appeal, but was told I’d need additional evidence. Would records of emails home, removal from class, being late be proof? I’m really not sure if this is enough.

The threshold for ehcpa is really low and the fact that your ds school refuses or doesn't want to goto a school because his needs aren't being met speaks volumes.

You can put in a parental request. Ipsea have template letters. If refused appeal. When you eventually get the assessment make sure he is assessed for asd as part of this (how can they detail all of his sen if this assessment isn't complete) don't e told waiting lists etc. Also request ot and salt formal assessments.

Ipsea and sossen both have loads of info ad helplines- use them, avoid local sendiass as they are usually bias to the LA.

Also do a sar (subject access request) for everything on current and previous school, any health bodies involved and la. You may be surprised what comes up.

Budgets are incredibly tight and unfortunately kids with send aren't getting what they need.

You can use evidence from school.

You could also look at independent assessment(s). For example, from an ed psych, OT, SALT. If you require these (and depending on what evidence there already is not everyone needs independent assessment for a refusal to assess) but can’t afford them and you aren’t eligible for legal aid (which can fund assessments if required), contact Parents in Need.

Separate to the EHCP process, how often is DS unable to attend school at the moment?

Thanks so much for the replies, they’re really helpful. I put in the parental request last time so will do the same again, will use a template this time. Was really unsure last time but think I have more of an idea. So we’ve been on the nhs waiting list for 3 years for asssessment, just gone with right to choose who have told me it’ll be around 8 months so I can’t use a formal diagnosis for the EHCP. He has an EHA at school ( opened when he started school as a suggestion of CAHMS ) which has never been reviewed since, can I request salt assessments through these, and what is ot sorry? This is all new to me, I do have a consultation with sendiass in a month but may cancel this and get the ball rolling sooner if possible. I asked for a subject access request for primary school and they replied and told me all they have is the Autism referral they put in for my son? Honestly I’m going round in circles at the moment!

He’s been going in but cries a lot of nights at the thought of going in and weekends, particularly Sunday, the anxiety kids in and all I hear is that he isn’t going in, it’s heartbreaking. He did miss 3 days last week due to feeling unwell, I do believe he gets that upset it causes him physical symptoms too, headaches, bad tummy etc.

Yes, spend a few days collecting together what you have. Keep a diary too. You could also do a SAR to school.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/special_educational_needs/5309128-ehcp-support-thread-no-5?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=app_share

With the ehcp, it does sound like he meets the assessment criteria. Section F of the ehcp is the provision and section b his needs. It should work needs- provision- outcomes but very often doesn't.

You need evidence from professionals or documents such as meeting minutes for detailing his needs. Parent representations aren't often used forshowing need unfortunately l(they are sometimes I know). The charity Sheep mentioned is worth a shout.

The provisions required to meet the needs should come from professional reports. These should be specified, quantified and detailed so to leave no doubt as to what must be provided eg a level 3 ta trained in x to provide 1:1 support during all lesson time. Class sizes no greater than five children. If the reports aren't detailed like this you can ask the la to go back to the writer for this detail. In reality most parents end up paying for private reports to get this level of detail.

Ot is occupational therapy. They help massively with many things including sensory needs, motor skills and emotional regulation.

When you eventually get the la to agree to an ehcpa you are allowed to request that your ds is assessed by a professional if it is reasonable (he likely has needs in ti's area). From what you've wrote I would want as a minimum an educational Psychologist, speech therapy and occupational therapy reports and think it would be reasonable for you to request them.

The LA has a statutory duty to assess for all sen within the ehcp assessment timeframe. If there are waiting lists they should pay for private reports. They should get the asd assessment completed as part of this (if it hasn't already been done) as they cannot possibly meet their statutory requirements if they don't.

It's highly unlikely that te primary school only have one document. Do the sar again and use a template asking for all info including notes, emails, documents, attendance details, referals, communication with other agencies etc.

The la may just turn down your parental request anyway as a delay tactic (it saves them money). I'm not sure if im allowed to mention Facebook groups that may help so I'll put a couple in a separate post incase it needs deleting (sorry mumsnet if that's the case).

Both ipsea and sossen have helplines, please use them for help/support. Sossen sell some little books which are amazingly good, I think they are about £5. The tribunal one is very good ad well worth the money. (It's a charity, I don't work for them so not out to make money).

It's a battle for most families so knowledge is power.

Sendiass services in some areas can be quite good but many are funded by the la and tow their line/ local policy which isn't always the lawful policy.

The sen code of practice and the noddy guide are fantastic (they're worth knowing about for the future).

Facebook:

Educational equality (they offer paid for advocacy but their facebook group is incredibly helpful with professionals in that can help).

Ehcp and send support England

Ehcp experiences England

Also sorry for the long post

It doesn’t matter DS doesn’t have a diagnosis. EHCPs are based on needs, not diagnosis.

A SAR from schools should include more than the referral letter (unless that is l you requested, obviously).

Request a review of the EHA. A EHA is unlikely to fund SALT or OT, but it might result in normal NHS referrals. In some areas, parents can self refer to SALT and OT. If you request an EHCNA and the LA agrees (or is forced!) to assess, SALT and OT assessments can be part of the needs assessment even if DS doesn’t meet the normal local threshold for NHS input and without the need to sit on the normal waiting lists. Waiting lists don’t also mean the LA commission independent assessments because in some areas EHCNA work skips the queue (especially when parents start talking about enforcement action).

If he's at secondary, the primary should have passed on all SEND information about your son. Therefore, you'll need to direct the SAR to his current school.

Thank you so much for the replies, they’ve been so helpful! I’ve started the ball rolling today and over the weekend.

Had an appointment with the GP who’s put in referrals for SALT and OT this morning ( no guarantee it will be accepted but it’s a good start).

I’ve sent off subject access requests to my sons currently and former school so nothing is missed, using one of the templates on the IPSEA website, and I’ve had a replies saying they will start to collect the information.

I’ve printed off all the emails from school and tons of comments on the app detailing him being late to class, removed, not doing enough work and I’m feeling hopeful that I’ll have the evidence needed this time. If not, I will appeal and I will follow the great advice on here. I will keep coming back to this thread as I work through the process so I can use all of the helpful pages and websites mentioned. Thanks again 😊.

IPSEA doesn’t have a model letter for a SAR. They have a model letter to request a pupil’s school record, but that isn’t the same thing.

If you request an EHCNA and the LA agrees or is forced to assess, SALT and OT can be part of the needs assessment whether DS meets their duty to services’ normal thresholds or not and without sitting on the normal waiting lists.