Considering home Ed y4 & y9 - advice?

[balz6]

Hi all, I’m desperately in need of advice 🙏
I have two daughters, one in Y4 and one in Y9. At present, neither are attending school due to their own issues.

Y4 dd is diagnosed with ASD, separation anxiety and selective mutism. This has got extremely bad, to the point she won’t leave my side or the house. No medication. School have tried to help, done referrals, she isn’t meeting criteria. I’m searching for private OTs and EPs to get reports to try and get an EHCP as she doesn’t have one. School say they don’t have enough evidence.
She is extremely bright, loves the outdoors and animals and has a big love for maths. We regularly do math problems together for fun. She is also a huge book worm and has a library of books.

Y9 dd is diagnosed with PoTS and anxiety. She has a ASD assessment in progress and a ADHD assessment waiting on results. She has had several CAMHS involvements including group work and 1 to 1 sessions but ultimately discharged eventually. She is currently prescribed melatonin and has been asked to try travel sickness tablets to leave home.
She moved to her new school and wasn’t put in groups with anyone she knew; she is hugely reliant on friends or just a friendly face and I made this known when we applied. She refused to attend until she was with someone she knew, several weeks passed and school made this happen. She still however refuses to attend, saying she doesn’t want to leave the house, she feels too sick, school is too big, has too many people and has too much going on all the time.
I’ve been in constant contact with both school and GP as I believe she is depressed as well as anxious. A referral has gone back in to CAMHS, she’s on a waiting list for some 1 to 1 work, but apparently there is nothing more that can be done.
School have now said as she is ‘just refusing’ they will fine me from after half term every week she is off.

I am disabled myself, I have cervical spinal stenosis and OA in both knees, so I’m not amazing right now. All my energy daily goes to the girls.
I’m finding that support is just non existent, and I am extremely close to home educating both of my daughters as I have been doing this anyway just to keep their brains ticking by using Twinkl which they both engage quite well in.

Can anybody tell me what may be my pro’s and con’s of going home Ed for them both? I am strongly considering it at this stage as I just don’t feel I am getting any help.

Personally, I wouldn’t deregister and EHE. It is easier, although not easy, to get support whilst DC remain in the system. Even if they can’t attend. If you EHE, it is easier for professionals to sweep DC’s needs under the carpet. Crudely, at the moment, you are someone’s ‘problem’. If DDs can’t attend school, the LA has a duty to ensure they still receive a suitable full-time education, but if you EHE you relieve the LA of their duty. Have you requested alternative provision?

I would pursue provision via EHCPs. EHCPs can provide far more support, including therapeutic support that your DD’s need, than the vast majority of parents can afford to fund themselves.

You don’t need EP and OT reports before requesting an EHCNA. You can request EHCNAs yourself now. On their website, IPSEA has a model letter you can use.

You need to challenge the ‘just refusing’ line. If DD is absent due to ill health, including mental ill health, the absences must be coded as I and thus authorised. The Regulations (School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024) make it clear where a pupil is absent because they are unable to attend due to sickness the absence must be regarded as authorised. DfE’s statutory attendance guidance also states absence due to illness must be coded as I. Authorised absences will not lead to fines by the LA (it is the LA who fines rather than the school).

Thank you so much for your reply, it is seriously so so helpful and informative 🙏
I have asked for alternative provision for my younger daughter but not my oldest as her issue is slightly newer; I’m not getting anywhere by asking for the alternative provision either way as no EHCP. They need evidence, they’re very strict on that 😩
I thought that my daughters having 0% attendance this school year and their medical records from the GP, notes from numerous meetings and referrals to services would be evidence enough but apparently it isn’t!

You don’t need an EHCP for alternative provision. The LA has a duty under section 19 of the Education Act 1996 to ensure CSA DC unable to attend school still receive a suitable full-time education. Evidence comes in many forms. You have evidence. The LGO is clear sometimes there won’t be the type of evidence the LA wants but that doesn’t mean the LA still doesn’t have a duty.

If the LA is refusing to provide AP and emailing the Director of Children’s Services hasn’t worked, you need a pre-action letter. SOSSEN can help with this, but there is a wait, so you might want to look elsewhere.