Transferring school and autism assessment

[ThePithyFinch]

I’m hoping someone will have some experience of this. My ex-husband and I are considering moving our DD9 to a new school. We live right on the border of two counties and the new school is in a different county (home, existing school and GP all sit within the other). We’re in the early stages of an autism/adhd assessment referral. Two rounds of MyPlans have been completed, forms filled in, everything sent off to county assessment team (although there have been issues with incorrect forms being supplied from the school so this is possibly slightly delayed).

My question is, does anyone know if this assessment process will need to begin again if we transfer school? Does it being in a different county complicate matters? I would rather have this information ahead of meeting with our existing school to discuss the possible move.

Thanks

Yes the process will probably have to start over if you move LAs. Not if you just move schools, but moving local authorities would restart the process I would think. I guess it depends on why you are considering moving schools and what your daughter's needs are, but the conclusion of an assessment could potentially open up the way for an EHCP and then entry to schools that your child wouldn't normally be accepted at. Wouldn't it be sensible to wait to see the outcome of this before planning a school move?

I thought that, even if you have an EHCP in place, transferring to another county would mean that the new authority would not necessarily continue it, or may change it.

Where I work, access to services depends on your address and your GP. So they would need to communicate with the new school but it wouldn't need to restart, as you would still be a resident in Borough A. The only issue would be if they needed further information from the school that the new school couldn't yet provide, due to not knowing your child well enough.

Other areas may be different, so it would be wise to check with the assessment team.

This can happen if you move. The new LA may decide to no longer honour the existing EHCP. The LA you live in is responsible for the EHCP even if you attend an out of borough school, so moving schools to a new borough shouldn't affect EHCPs. (Providing the borough was in agreement with the move I guess).

Thanks both. I thought this might be the case.

There are many reasons for our considering the move - one of which is the inability of the school to keep our daughter safe from the violence of other children. It’s a lot to weigh up but her physical safety is obviously a priority.

She’s very bright so has flown under the radar of the school for quite a while, despite us raising concerns. Ideally we’d get this done and dusted before secondary school/hormones kick in when things could potentially get more tricky for her.

This sound more positive.

I think we need to get a meeting in with each school as a first step and see if they’ve had any experience of this.

If it is only the school move and you are not moving home and GP, you should be able to remain on the current list in the current position for an autism assessment.

An ASD assessment is not the same thing as an EHCNA/EHCP. Two different processes. OP didn't mention an EHCNA/EHCP. You do not need a diagnosis for an EHCNA/EHCP. Just moving school out of area doesn’t change the EHCP. If you move house to another LA with a finalised EHCP, on transfer the new LA becomes responsible for the EHCP, the provision within it and, if feasible for DC to still attend, the placement named/if not feasible, alternative arrangements. The new LA will review the EHCP and potentially amend or even propose to cease to maintain. Parents would have the right of appeal, but it is something parents whose DC have EHCPs need to be aware of if they are thinking of moving, A move with a good EHCP can be risky. They may also decide to undertake a reassessment of needs.

Yes, to clarify, it's the ASD assessment that we've been referred and are waiting for. There is no EHCP in place currently.