Help ..need advice ..will they take away the Ehcp

[Feelingwalkedover]

We have Ehcp
Due to have 3rd visit to special school this week.
Major cold feet for lots of reasons ,mainly it’s an hour away in a taxi.hes 9
What happens to the ehcp if we decide to home Ed .

The people I know who home ed with ehcp have kept the ehcp in place. They have to make sure it's very specific (e.g. a quiet space out of the main classroom is only relevant if the child is in school education, so that needs pinning down, that it's not relevant to home based learning). Every year they have a meeting to discuss the ehcp, talk about how the needs have changed. One of my friends argues hard for LA financial support. e.g. the professionals say this child needs some expensive piece of kit to support their education, and the parents then embark on a six month battle to try to get the LA to pay for it... So that aspect of it is stressful. Important to push back, though, as a point of principle, and also to say to the LA "no, you cannot demand that I am paying hundreds of pounds on some piece of kit to meet the ehcp requirements; that's discriminatory".

I think you're kind of locked into the ehcp once you have one - I don't think you get to opt to just bin it?

I haven't applied for an EHCP for my child as she has never been to school, won't be going in the next few years, and I don't think the LA has anything to offer her while she is being HE. However, I have a rough idea how it works.

So long as your son is not actually enrolled at the special school, you can remove him from mainstream to home ed upon demand. If he is enrolled at special school the law is different, and you must ask for LA consent to deregister and home educate. This is meant to be a formality, and consent should not be unreasonably withheld. When you withdraw your son to home educate him, the EHCP will be reviewed and the placement changed to elective home education.

For a child who is being home educated, if you argue hard and if the child has very obvious needs for LA support even while being home educated, you MAY be able to get some funding to assist with home education. Most parents don't bother trying to get that, as it is very difficult.

If you aren't trying to get funding for home ed then the EHCP remains in place but is a fairly theoretical document, detailing how the LA would support him if he were at school. You yourself don't have to meet the provisions which are described in it. The LA is obliged to maintain the EHCP so long as it is relevant. They aren't often ceased. You could ask for it to be ceased if you are sure it isn't needed, and the LA may comply with your request if they agree with you. Most parents prefer to keep the EHCP, because it will be useful if the child ever does return to school or college. Obviously it would need updating at that time, but you can skip the first hurdle of applying for the EHCP, so you'll save time and effort if you keep it ticking over.

While your son is being home educated, the LA will review the EHCP regularly and will ask for your input into it. Apparently this is a fairly pointless but harmless exercise. You should be invited to the review meetings, but you don't have to attend.

I have two children that are home educating. One still has an EHCP (from when he was in school 3+ years ago), the other will be getting one hopefully soon (we are currently looking at getting it started). Our LA has been fine with home ed while having an EHCP. They also agreed that the EHCP should be maintained as a place holder for any services my child may need to access as they get older or as other needs may arise.

Thanks ..I’m so scared of making the wrong decision...I’m actually going to end up with no choice if I’m not quick

Have a look at Education Otherwise Than At School. The LA remain responsible for the child and buys you time to keep looking if you’re under pressure to make a choice.

What is that.like a face book page?

Hello, EHCP plan coordinator here!

We won't cease your plan, but it's unlike you will get any funding. We will continue to do annual reviews to make sure the plan is up to date and if, at any point, you want us to consult for a provision that meets his needs, we can do that. If you're worried, look for the name of your plan go on the last but one page of your EHCP and give them a ring

I want to ask for the summer holidays to think things over without any pressure.we have had so many people involved it’s muddled things

I don’t want any funding
I just want to breathe again .

Feel free to DM me if you need any advice lovely 😊

Education Otherwise is essentially home education but without deregistering from the system. LA remain financially responsible while not attending school.

Thankyou x

Thankyou all x

I think the funding part also depends on what area you are in, although ideally it should be the same everywhere.

My former LA (where we used to live) basically said "no funding for anything is available - don't bother asking - and the waiting list for services is huge - we'll put your name down, but don't expect to hear from us any time soon."

My current LA said "if you see something you think will be beneficial to your child, please contact me and I will help you sort out funding so he can access it."

Now, admittedly I haven't asked yet (although I will be in the next couple months), but fingers crossed it will work out.

I’m scared I will make a mess of it ...he’s difficult..the Lea have sent tutors that he’s not engaged with ...he hides under blankets.hes had no education for the past year..I’ve dabbled with some workbooks .but he’s not keen..but he’s no worse with me ..I’m sat there twiddling my thumbs while they try to engage him...such a waste of time .when I could do it myself in less time.
I don’t know what’s holding me back .

I think they are waiting to test him for dislexia at his next school..should of been done with ehcp.but wasn’t.plus dispraxia..the way things are they are not going to get him to a next school.hes flatly refusing.

You can ask for the LA to find a dyslexia assessment ( or any other type of education assessment) if you are home schooling

But they don’t have to do it ..do they?

No, but if you put together a case for it then I would certainly consider it. Our LA is a bit soft