ABA - EHCP

[user1467117083]

Hi

I was wondering if anyone could help me out. My 3.5-year-old son who has ASD and is currently getting an EHCP written, we had the draft plan in front of the panel this week. The plan was not accepted, and the points were around the inclusion of ABA in section F. My son has started ABA (home based) which we are funding, but we can’t sustain this, he is making excellent progress. I was informed by a friend to make sure that ABA is included in section F of the EHCP. The person from the local authority informs me that they have never had a plan with ABA in section F, he has stated that there may be a possibility of a personal budget via direct payment to cover some of the cost of ABA. I just wanted peoples opinions if we expect the plan with no ABA provision mentioned in section F, and accept the personal budget? The argument that the local authority has come back with is that if we ever relocated and the ABA provision was in section F, then a school may refuse a place if they don’t have ABA provision in place.

Also, if we accept the personal budget for the ABA, how long is this usually available? I have read somewhere that if we accept the plan without ABA mention in section F. and just the personal budget we can’t appeal?

Looking at the future, we would like our son to attend an out of county mainstream school with a designated specialist provision for ASD students. This school has ABA tutors employed directly and is around 8 miles from our home I feel getting this on the plan may be another battle!

I hope this makes sense and if any one can offer advice or support it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Max

[Sausagepickle123]

Suggest you call IPSEA or SOS!SEN for legal advice on this.

[Ceto]

It's certainly not at all unknown for ABA to be written into section F, and the duty is to provide for the child's needs - there is nothing in the law that says an LA can refuse to do so on the off-chance that the family might move and another LA be unable to provide it. In any event, if the current plan is home provision I really can't understand why it matters that another LA might not have an ABA school.

If you accept the Plan, you can certainly still appeal. However, in many respects that's a red herring because there is no requirement in law that parents accept or sign it anyway: ultimately you can tell the LA that you don't agree with it but you want them to complete it so that you can take it to tribunal.

[Lowdoorinthewal1]

Looking at the future, we would like our son to attend an out of county mainstream school with a designated specialist provision for ASD students.

Have you looked into how oversubscribed this facility is? In my experience (I run one) excellent Bases are sought after and often bursting at the seams. A county might push a Base to go over numbers for an in county child, but wouldn't for out of county. If you are 100% sure you want this provision I would suggest moving into county if you possibly can.

[user1467117083]

Hi

We have received the draft EHCP. The plan has direct payment for ABA for 10 hours per week, term time only to be delivered by tutors at home.

The LEA have also written stating that if our choice of school is not the local one, then we would have to sort out the transport ourselves. The EHCP does state that my son's needs mean he needs SEN transport.

I know where this is going to go. We choose the preferred school which is out of county (8 miles away) they will come back with there is a local mainstream school which can support him with a 1-1 teaching assistant. The preferred school has a special provision for ASD, and there is no local school which have this offering. What are my options? Do I name our choice than when they refuse I take it to appeal?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Max

[DrJLee]

You can name any school you like.
Go, have a look around and see how you feel.
I have stood at tribunals a few times now against ABA therapy in school settings as it is incredibly context-based. When children are unfamiliar with the context they can struggle.
This is where possible home therapy, with a supportive school, focussed staff and professional Speech Therapists will really help you all.

Have you been to visit them all?

[HateTheUnknown]

Hi - how did you get on with having aba in the plan? We are applying now.

[Blessedwithlove]

Hi, how did you get on with it. Thanks