EHCP application

[1tiredmum]

Hi,

My daughter is 4 and autistic . She used to attend a nursery for about 2 years but had to stop. All the documents about her development plans and progress /regression are with nursery and they have been telling me that they will process her EHCP application ASAP however I've neen chasing them up for the past few weeks and they keep on postponing . My point is can they even submit the application as she is no longer there ? I know the process involves monitoring of progress and education phycologist observation but she is no longer in nursery . I have asked them the question and the response was " they will come to your house and observe her behaviour" . Can somebody please advise as all of this seems too shady for me .

Is she starting school in September @1tiredmum?

I think I would bypass the Nursery as your DD no longer attends and start the process yourself by applying for an EHP assessment.

Hi,

Yes due to start in September and I am worried that it would be too late if I wait for nursery for another week or even more. Thank you for the advice 🙏

Is there a reason that your DD is no longer in Nursery @1tiredmum?

She was in a private nursery ( the one that should apply for the EHCP ) however we moved houses and I tried to move her to a nursery nearby and they rejected her due to her significant needs without even meeting her ( that is a topic for another day ). At the same time I unenrolled her from the previous nursery thinking that she would be at the new nursery . I requested for her to go back to her old nursery but they dont have the provision for her anymore so yes she is home with me .

Ah i see. Have you made contact with your new HV yet?

Hi, no I haven't I didn't even know I could do this now 😅

Yes i would make contact with your HV. You can see them up to 5 years. She may know of a Nursery suitable for a DC with SEN. In our area there is a dedicated obe run by a charity.

She might be able to point you in the direction of other thibgs going on locally like SEN playgroups or support groups for parents of DC with ASD.

I think your priority though is applying for the EHP Assessment and trying to find a Nursery.

@SleafordSods thank you so much 💓 there is always something new to learn . I will contact the HV ASAP. Have a lovely weekend 😊

And you.

If your DD isn’t currently seeing Portage i would ask the HV to refer you to that service as well

Request an EHCNA yourself now. You can use IPSEA’s model letter @SleafordSods linked to. You don’t need a nursery to do it for you. DC don’t need to be in a setting in order for an EHCNA to be undertaken or for DC to get an EHCP.

If the nursery that refused a place is part of a state school, they should not be refusing to admit because of DD’s SEN. Even if it is an independent school, it should be making reasonable adjustments and following the Equality Act.

Check if your LA has specialist assessment early years places for those going through or needing to go through the EHCP process. Some LAs do, some don’t.