I am totally frustrated and exhausted. Today I learnt that our application for EHCP for my son has been refused. This is despite him having an official autism diagnosis. A send SAS report stating his severe communication and understanding problems and the issues with safety resulting. In may respects he is like a 1 yr old.
Trying to speak to someone is a nightmare and when I managed to speak to someone on the council SEN support line they told me that we have to give some of the suggestions in the Send SAS report time to see if they help.
Their lack of understanding is unbelievable. I had to explain that he has a disability. The strategies in the report are things like helping him to make eye contact and to sit still with support for more than 30 seconds. They are so full of BS, it was offensive and shows they have no understanding of disabilities.
They told me that a EHCP was not necessary but without an EHCP getting a suitable school, therapies like speech therapy, Picture recognition therapy, even respite care would not be available.
The stress of now having to go through mediation and appeal is breaking me. I am exhausted and can't stop crying.
Does anyone have any practical advice. The local authority is Hertfordshire. Looking online they don't have a very good reputation. It appears it is cheaper for them to pay easily fines for failing special needs children as it is cheaper than giving them the support they need.