Considering EOTAS for ASD son

[TheQuickRobin]

Hello, this is a bit of a ramble and hoping for any thoughts / ideas / hacks.

firstly I hope this is the right board for this as wasn’t sure if home ed is just home ed or if I can talk about EOTAS here?

My son is 9 and bright but also has a lot of learning differences from ADHD and ASD. Was totally traumatised by a few years in mainstream school (even with adjustments) then went to specialist who are sweet but he has made no academic progress in years. He’s 9 and still can’t spell his own name even though his learning potential is massive. We’ve had ed psychs involved and because his profile is really complex there may just not be a school which fits the bill so we’re considering EOTAS.

First thing - neither my husband or I can teach so we wouldn’t be doing the teaching. We have a mortgage and stuff and can’t afford to quit work. Plus not the skills or patience to teach a child with special needs… or any child at all!

So first step would be we’d need to hire an awesome teacher. The LA have said they’d be open to funding an EOTAS package and we could top it up ourselves. I was thinking offering a salary of maybe £60k (london) would be enough to tempt a really good teacher. Because this person would have to teach him everything including designing a very personalised curriculum which flexes as his interests change all the time and it’s not possible to stick to a timetable. So it would be really a hard job. But i was thinking a teacher who wanted a good salary and break from the classroom for a year or two might like this opportunity? Has anyone done something like this?

the other thing i was thinking is i heard (?) that teachers can’t be alone in a house with a child for safeguarding. So we’d need some form of nanny or au pair to basically be around as backup but could also do things like swimming and joining home ed groups for social stuff? Nb social home ed groups would be great, he’s a super social kid but with massive learning differences meaning home ed groups for the actual learning part just wouldn’t be possible.

Again it’s super niche but I was wondering if anyone had any similar experiences.

The financial aspect is daunting. I think the local authority would fund a big portion of it but I guess we’d have to top it up ourselves. We don’t have any savings (long story of every penny we ever had going on therapies, legal fees to fight for an EHCP and funding special school ourselves whilst the LA refused to pay) so would need to pay from income. BUT if this was transformative and he could finally have a positive experience of learning and start to enjoy, for example, reading books, or being more independent being able to read road signs etc, it would be absolutely worth it.

Any thoughts or ideas!!!

Super quick reply. My daughter has EOTAS but is in an online school with other varied provision. I would look to some of the FB EOTAS groups for an answer to this (e.g. EOTAS Matters). I would not know the answer personally. Lots of people I know use things like the £2 Tuition Hub etc. Not much use but maybe the signpost is?

Thank you for the reply!!! I will check out groups though am not on facebook.

Online tuition is a definite no. He’d just switch off the screen and walk off! He won’t even facetime his grandparents as he can’t follow a conversation through a screen

Same as the pp - my son is at online school as part of his package. It costs the LA a fraction of 60k and is more like how much it would have cost in mainstream. We also don't get a nanny or au pair and I think my caseworker would have kittens if I asked. But that's not to say you won't get this- good luck!

Cross post! Recommend joining facebook as there's lot of eotas advice there. I know people who use a variety of tutors for a few hours a week with their eotas packages.

Can you afford to pay for fully time nanny and teacher (maybe offer part time) including national insurance, pension and you will need to think about sick pay.

We have a nanny anyway for after school and holidays (son can’t do after school or holiday clubs) and do all payroll, tax etc legitimately so are aware of the costs.

My thought is we’d fund extra nanny hours and maybe a portion of the teacher as i don’t think the LA would sign off such a high salary. But I have other SEN parent mates who have been allocated teachers by the LA and they’ve been rubbish. As son has really specific needs we’d need to really interview to find the right personality.

The most important thing is you will need evidence it is inappropriate for provision to be made in a school. That is the legal test for EOTAS/EOTIS (EOTIS is currently the preferred term by some SENDIST judges). Sadly, many have to appeal for a good comprehensive EOTAS/EOTIS package.

EOTAS/EOTIS isn’t EHE. The LA retains responsibility. They are responsible for funding all the provision. That includes funding a second adult where necessary - don’t call it a nanny or au pair, call it an educational term such as TA/HLTA/LSA/mentor. They should not be relying on you to top up. With EOTAS/EOTIS, parents are not responsible for funding any part of the package. And you cannot be compelled to organise, deliver or facilitate provision. You don’t even have to allow provision to take place at home.

The provision that is part of the EOTAS/EOTIS package must be detailed, specified and quantified in F.

A good EOTAS/EOTIS package would include far more than just tuition (even if it isn’t academic tuition) and a couple of groups and exercise.

Just so you are aware, not all EHE groups are happy for DC with EOTAS/EOTIS to join.

I have 2 DSs with very expensive EOTAS/EOTIS package - far more than £60k pa. EOTAS/EOTIS isn’t the cheap option some think. Neither of mine have online provision. It doesn’t work for them. I have also supported many others to secure EOTAS/EOTIS. There are several posters with DC with EOTAS/EOTIS on the SEN and SN boards.

Worth noting son’s current LA funding is £100k a year for all his therapies and special school etc

Would you still want the therapies to continue?

@Dreichweather therapies can be part of EOTAS/EOTIS packages. If OP’s DS still reasonably requires therapies, they should remain in F and be funded.

Enormously helpful thank you. I will check out the SEN boards.

Well aware we would likely have to fight tooth and claw with the LA but I’ve done it before.

I guess I was thinking I’d need to organise as it’s so important with his needs to get people with the right vibe. If he doesn’t like a person he will flatly refuse to do anything, and I just don’t trust the LA to get it right? What was your experience?

Yes. But with EOTAS my idea was I might have more control and get in some therapists he actually likes and wants to work with. He refuses OT at the moment most of the time as he thinks its for babies despite really needing it

You can choose to be involved if you want, but the LA can’t compel you to be.

I am involved in the recruitment of new staff (alongside the EOTAS/EOTIS co-ordinator we have as part of their packages). I choose to be because, like you, the right people make all the difference. No-one works with my DC without me agreeing. But I am not involved in things like paying staff, booking sessions, ordering equipment, organising training, etc. We have an EOTAS co-ordination and funding for a payroll company. We also have wording in F to prevent the LA deciding to change providers on a whim because someone is slightly cheaper.

Our experience has been really positive. It can be a lot in the early days, getting everything up and running smoothly but my DSs have thrived.

If DS can’t engage with the current OT, push the LA to commission someone else now. Or you could try requesting a PB now.

This is SO HELPFUL thank you ❤️

I complete agree. I just want to make sure she asks for them in package rather than hoping the teacher can take over the same role.

@Dreichweather I apologise. I misread your post. In conjunction with your pp questioning if the OP could afford it, I read your post as you questioning if therapies would continue even though they are already in F. Sorry about that.

I know a couple a families with EOTAS packages and in both cases one parent has stopped work to facilitate. Although I note a PP says the LA can't compel you to facilitate I wonder you have to be prepared to fight?
Their children have a mix of tutors coming to the house, and the children going to things like equine therapy or art sessions with the parent having to do a lot of driving and supervising etc even though they are not teaching.

My fault. It’s my posting style although I think as SEN parent I wonder if we end up in fight mode a lot that some times it becomes a default. This is just a musing not a criticism.

@legoplaybook sadly, yes, you often have to fight. The law is clear though.