EHC criteria.

[tubbytimmy]

Dd is 7 and will be going into year 3 after the school holidays. She has adhd and some learning difficulties due to her very poor concentration she is medicated with exqusym xl and has seen the EP who has given her some things to help in regards to helping her in the class room, such as a ipad with apps like dragon dictation ect.

Also she has a recordable device to speak into as she often forgets what she wants to write/ tasks to do. Still tho she remains behind her peers. Her levels are 1c in reading,litrecy and mathematics.

My problem is I am having trouble with getting the school to do more for dd I've been told the EP had been out to see dd as he was meant to this said by the school senco but the class teacher has told me this isn't true and dd was supposed to be having OT and physio at school too which also hasn't been happening. Her writing is unreadable even by dd herself as mainly she has forgotten what she has written two mins after writing it.

Sorry this is really rambly. My question is how can I get more help for dd?. Would it be worth our while doing a parental request for a ehc assessment?

Tia

Hi Tia

Yes, yes, yes!! The only way you can really protect your daughter's provision - and enforce it legally - is by having it written in an EHC Plan.

As I am sure you know, by age 7 children are expected to be in the 2s so 1c is well below the expected level and your daughter clearly needs more help than she is getting to ensure that she gets an adequate education.

If you go on the IPSEA website (www.ipsea.org.uk) you will find a model letter for requesting an assessment, which I strongly recommend (IPSEA is brilliant for advice and guidance on using the legal process to get the provision children with SEN need). The letter has 2 parts and in part 1 it talks about whether your child has already been identified as having SEN and clearly with her diagnosis etc she has so that should be simple. In Part 2, you need to say why you feel that the school cannot make the provision your daughter requires. I found 'lack of adequate progress' a really effective strategy e.g. have are your daughter's national curriculum levels gone up at all? If not, you have evidence that the school's provision is not working. Every year, your daughter's chronological age goes up by 12 months and if her reading etc ages do not go up by the same amount, she is falling behind her peers so clearly she is not making progress and the provision is not working. If your daughter is not receiving OT and physio support, clearly the school cannot provide for her SEN. If there is no improvement in her handwriting, clearly the school cannot provide the support she needs.

Dont be swayed by promises from the school or local authority - if it isnt in an EHC Plan, the provision isnt protected and the LA is not legally required to provide it. If someone else comes along with a statement or EHC plan that requires OT or physio and there is little money left in the kitty, your daughter is the one who can lose out. If you can show that your daughter has SEN (and clearly you can!) and your daughter is not progressing, your local authority MUST assess - however they often say 'no' first to see if it will put parents off, in which case you should appeal their decision at Tribunal and force them to assess so your daughter can get the help- and the education - she needs to succeed in life.

I hope that helps and good luck!!

Go get 'em!

Jill

I agree you should apply. But rather than use the IPSEA letter, it is probably better to go on to your local authority's website and look at their local offer which will have details of how to apply for an EHC needs assessment and will probably have a form to be used for that purpose.

Thank you both

I applied myself using the ipsea letter and enclosing all reports etc that I had. School were instructed to hold a multi agency meeting and ds has his ehcp now. Be prepared to battle. Good luck.