Am I being OTT

[Dunnoburt]

Daughter (Y4) just diagnosed ADHD......severe (and i mean SEVERE) at home but away with the fairies trying to mask it at school and severely behind (coping by keeping head down and copying)......i had to do the initial ADHD paperwork to even get the diagnosis.....I wouldn't have done this without good reason...... now DD is on a Y4, 5 and 6 class I've filled in a request for EHCP as I'm worried she's just going to get "lost in the system" because she only releases at home (myself, the car and house are the targets - when you know, you know!)...... the school are making me feel belittled for requesting an EHCP, why have I done that? It's for children who are years.and years behind, I only get to do SENCO work one afternoon a week etc etc......am I being OTT? MY DD can't even recite the alphabet properly but the school just won't believe it.....FWIW it's a very small village school.....90.pupils in total, 30 of those being in DD class...... I'm at a loss.....any advice?......perhaps I'm the one in the wrong requesting an EHCP?

When parents request a needs assessment, schools only have 15 working days to respond, which means that gathering enough of the supporting evidence in that timeframe can be really tricky.
It’s better for you to work with them so you can submit paperwork when everything is watertight and ready.
Has your DD already had EP involvement? Legally it’s not required but some local
authorities will insist upon it and it can’t be gained within 15 days.
The SENCo may want to do a really good job of providing evidence to support your DD and that may not be possible now.

That’s not to say you have done the wrong thing, you’ve just not done it in the way that will give the best possible outcome.

Ignore the school. If parents wait for schools to make the request they are often left waiting weeks/months/terms/years longer. Sadly, DC whose parents know the system and can advocate for them get better support. It shouldn’t be that way, but it isn’t going to change in the foreseeable future.

LAs who use any test (such as requiring an EP assessment, or being 2+ years behind, or school needing to have already spent £6k) other the legal test (a) has or may have SEN, and b) may need special educational provision to be made via an EHCP.) is acting unlawfully. Parents don’t have to accept that.

My DS has an ehcp and he's very clever, so it's not just for children who are years behind. Sounds like they just don't want do the work for it. But stick to your guns and do what's right for you.

I only get to do SENCO work one afternoon a week

I feel really sorry for any SENCo having to do the job in that situation. I was in a similar school many years ago and left. As far as I’ve heard, they are on about their 6th senco since me, all only being given one afternoon a week. It’s not sustainable :(

You're not in the wrong making the request. We had a similarly obstructive approach from the school ("DC has to be at least two years behind or seriously violent for an EHCP") at first - but we got the EHCP and it has made a world of difference. Also, a few years down the line we now have a much better SENCO!

A school has to tick all the boxes the LA sets out in its guidance for schools applying for an ehc. If the school doesnt have all the evidence, they can't apply.

The other issue is that kids,especially girls, who are not causing problems who are going to be leaving soon anyway, are going to be a low priority.

You can't rely on the school to help you.

I had a very similar problem with my younger daughter. School scoffed at me in fact. Lied to me about what they were doing to help her. She was in year 5 and I was concerned about secondary.

Anyway I applied myself. And I got it! And a place at a highly sought after independent speech and language school. The head was furious . Told me there were much more deserving children.

Anyway, I took specialist advice from SOS!SEN and got some reports - SALT, OT and Ed psych. Cost a bit but it was worth it.

Of course I was turned down at first as school didnt have the evidence the LA wanted. That's when I sent the LA my own evidence and they backed down.

Thing to consider is what you want. Specialist provision? TA hours?

My daughter used to keep it together at school btw. She has PDAand adhd so it was super hard for her. And she tried so hard to fit in.

Good luck