EHCP GCSE's

[Maisy22]

Hi I'm hoping someone can help me, my daughter is due to start high school and has a EHCP, now the school have said there not saying she can't attend although it will be very difficult for her and them. She is working at least 2 years behind her age. I was told that my child will NEVER sit her GCSE's and that she can start school there but will not finish her education at said school and we should think weather it is better for her to start another school instead of having to move her in a few years. They have suggested we look at other schools including one for children with server imparements like cerable pausy, downs to name a couple. She is a 'normal' child who just struggles in the classroom and is behind. I feel sick. Not to mention there are so many other children who have EHCP's at the school ... Help??

Does she have any diagnoses? That would be a pointer as to which schools you could consider.

This isn’t about being “normal” or not. Plenty of children with things such as cerebral palsy have no learning difficulties.

O would suggest a school that’s geared towards her learning ability. It may be a school for pupils with moderate learning difficulties or mainstream school with additional resource base.

Or she can attend mainstream and you can get EHCP to reflect the type of exams she’s aiming for (for example functional skills) and the LA would need to fund whatever support she needs to achieve this.

What I will add though is if a school really tries to put you off choosing them then as much as they have a duty to meet need they are telling you they don’t want to so o wouldn’t choose them.

No, she just has a EHCP other than that she is a normal child, loves school, socialises well, has lots of friends.

Hey @Maisy22 couple of things.

Does your dd have a place to start at this school in Sept? or are you looking at applying and considering preferences?

What is your DD’s EHCP for? What issues does it cover? There must be more detail of her SEN (tho obvs you don’t have to share with us).

My ds1 has learning difficulties (no diagnosis till he was 12/13 but clear issues with lack of focus and low ability) and he took GCSEs at mainstream school - he got a mix of Cs, Ds and Es (some years ago) as well as functional skills English, and now works. It’s possible of course for DC with SEN to achieve in mainstream. I suggest you liaise with the school SENCO about this and discuss your dd’s specific needs.

Btw I need to say - please look at your language around this. Don’t say “normal” as it suggests that the dc with CP or Down’s are not normal. Your child has SEN and that may make her life more challenging but I am sure with your support she can fulfill her potential

Does her ehcp offer one to one support ? What are her learning difficulties? Two years lag would not necessarily mean no gcses, can she access the curriculum? Does this school offer alternatives to gcse?

What does the EHCP say is needed?

Well what is the EHCP for? These arent given out easily. My first instinct is - listen to the school, and find a specialist school instead

2 years behind is nothing and a child take GCSE'S including Art etc, maybe English and Maths being more of a struggle). If secondary are verbally saying it, get them to put in writing (very few would, as from what you have said, it sounds like they are trying to off roll before you start and put you off and pass to another school, as the EHCP isn't funded to meet the requirements).

It sounds as if your daughter has mild learning disabilities, rather than difficulties. Google schools for mild learning difficulties for your area, we have a lovely one nearby and children sit a few GCSEs.

I can see too that your English skills aren't great, could that be a reason too - if so, maybe you have more of a case that she'll catch up?

OP, please don't pay attention to this awful post from someone making sweeping generalisations about someone she has never met and knows next to nothing about.

I think you need to be clear about why your daughter has an ehc plan and whether she can access the curriculum in a mainstream secondary school.

If she cant, even with a 1 to 1 TA, it will be very hard for her.

Both my dsughters had ehc plans and couldn't have coped with mainstream.

One went to the school in our local authority for children with moderate learning disabilities. The other went to a specialist speech and language school.

There are also schools for children with severe learning disabilities and complex needs - this is not what your daughter would need.

The schools my daughters attended were set up for children like them. Some went on to university from both schools. One of my daughters now works in a nursery. The kids I knew at the mld school have jobs in Costa, at theme parks etc.

I suggest you find out about the moderate learning disability school and go and have a look.

What does the primary school senco / teacher think about how she will cope in mainstream secondary? You may need to ask them this directly, as many people wouldn't share unless a parent directly asks.

Is she sitting SATs?

I would put much more belief in what primary say, because they know her in a school context.

Being two years in literacy or maths behind in secondary school is incredibly common. Unless there are other things going on, the school is being ridiculous.

It’s more than likely that there are other factors at play here. A child with an EHCP will have had an Annual Review very early in Year 6 in which the choice of Secondary school would have been discussed.
OP, who did you speak to at the secondary school, and when?