Returning to UK with SEN child

[nomorechoco]

My daughter has developmental delay and was in special school in the UK until last year when we moved overseas.

Now we plan to return to the UK at Easter and have been told that she needs to be reassessed for an EHCP (taking up to 20 weeks) before she can be placed.

Has anyone been through similar? Is there a way to get her assessed before we are actually resident or a helpline where someone can guide us through the process? I could fly her home before Easter.

We were planning on being overseas for longer but it hasn't panned out that way and I'm really concerned that she will miss a load of school. She's yr 7 so it will be a new school regardless of where they place her.

Thanks for any advice. I'm remembering when we first got her EHCP and what a nightmare that was so I'm pretty worried right now.

Hi there

I have a little one with an EHCP planning on going the other way. Where did you go if you don't mind me asking? We're looking at America.

EHCPs stop once you leave the LA. As soon as the stop being the responsibility of the LA you need to go through the process again. If the reports you have to support the LA are relatively recent you can argue to use these rather than need to go out again for another needs assessment. I think they need to be under 2 years old.

SEN support in the UK is woefully underfunded and getting worse. LAs are refusing plans just to roll over at tribunal and mediation. It's not because they think the child doesn't need it. It's purely to buy time. (my own personal view).

Do you know where you're moving to? If so, get in touch with the local SEN support at the LA. You'll want to get a needs assessment in as soon as you land back, so they may be able to share the process/ requires forms ahead of time by email.

Also contact IPSEA or SENDIAS to go through what you have now and where you stand with resubmitting.

So many autocorrect typos! Hopefully it makes sense 😂

@Twigglett1 aorry not to reply earlier! Thanks for this. Massively helpful. We may be returning from Singapore