Horrible SENCO

[Lollie1]

My son is 9 years old, I have found the perfect school for him, unfortunately it is fee paying, there is a 3 day assessment which costs £250 am I allowed to use the EHCP budget to fund this or will I be footing the bill?

My sons' SENCO has been asked to meet with me to do the Intrim review, I have looked over this and I have stated I'm not happy with some of the things she feels are relevant, I feel she is trying to sabotage my sons chances of getting a place at this amazing school, can I do anything to change what she has put in the letter?
Any help would be great.

Have you actually got an EHCP Lollie? If so which school is named on it?

Yes my son has an EHCP he gets 18.5 hours. The school is st Joseph’s catholic primary school.

Have you spoken to the LA about wanting to move to this school? Your biggest battle is likely to be with them if you want it named and them to pay. Why do you think the Senco is sabotaging things? In what way? Surely the EHCP will have your sons needs in it and the trial is designed to see if he is suitable. I think it is likely you will ha e to pay this money. We did when our son trailed at an indi.

When I've asked for the SENCO not to add things into the assessment she had done and she won't tell me how much the budget is. She’s constantly rude and acts like my son is a burden to her day. Am I allowed to have a meeting with the LA without my SENCO?

No, you can't use the EHCP budget to pay for an assessment at a private school. Does it have any arrangement whereby the assessment fees get knocked off the first term's fees if he gets a place?

You won't get funding for an independent school unless you can prove that your child's needs can't be met in cheaper provision. It's likely that you will need to get section F of the Plan to be amended to include provision that can only be provided in a special school, e.g. small classes, specialist teachers etc - but you will only get that if the reports say so, and if you can show your son is not making progress at his current school.

Oh okay. I was lead to believe by the senco that I would be allowed to use the budget. She doesn’t really tell me any information and from everything I’ve read on mumsnet everything she has told me is 100% false. My son is in year 5 and his dyslexia is really bad. He can’t read at all but his senco seems to think the school have provisions to help him. He’s been there since Nursery and only got his statement and EHCP two years ago. This private school seems absolutely perfect for him.

Yes you can meet with the LA without your Senco. Obviously I dont know your circumstances but I contacted the LA because our Senco wasn't implementing what was in the EHCP. I went to the council offices with files of evidence. She got hauled over the coals for it as she couldn't provide evidence she was. She's now gone, thank goodness. I asked the LA what funding they were providing he school to meet the needs at the time. Obviously that's different to your case though. What do you mean by you asked her not to add things to the assessment? She can't alter what is written in the EHCP!

It sounds like you have two different fights on your hands. Firstly to prove that your sons present school isn't meeting his needs and the second one being getting the independent named.

What’s happened is she’s taken over from the previous senco who was lovely. Everything I ask of her such as getting my son a 1 to 1 was turned down until the headteacher told her it was a good idea. When we did the years review of his EHCP to see if circumstances had changed we had the interview and then she sent off the EHCP from the previous senco with just her name attached. In the assessment I asked that she not include information about this secondary school she wants to force on my son. I didn’t want her to include it because it’s a main stream secondary school and I want him moved now to a private specialist school because he can’t even read. It’s just like the senco tells me what I want to hear and then does everything her way instead. My son has quite a few kids in his class with learning difficulties but none of them have EHCPs so what is happening is the 1:1 teacher is being used to teach them as well with my sons funding and he barely sees her. I’ve spoken to the senco and the 1:1 but they don’t see a problem and just ignore me. The senco just fobs me off.

Ok, this is common sadly. It's what happened to me until I was brave enough to take her on! It sounds like you need the wording on the EHCP tightened up for a start. I would contact your case worker at the authority (Senco won't like that idea so I wouldn't even tell her for now) basically say your DCs needs are not being met and you need a review. You might have to think outside the box if Senco is going to fight you (as mine did) if you can afford it an ed psyc report is really helpful. You will need actual factual evidence on your DC's levels etc, and not some random number Senco has pulled out of thin air Also have a look at www.ipsea.org.uk for helpful advice. So this private school, has your son done a trial? Is it in your authority area? Is it section 41 by chance? They may be able to help you too. They must have other kids placed there on EHCPs as well as those parents who pay the fees themselves (is that a possible option if necessary?) they should be able to give you ideas on how to fight your cause.

Is this private school a specialist school for dyslexia? Agree you won't get this school until you have looked at all the other schools in the area and proved they cannot meet your son's needs.
When was your son last assessed by professionals? (Ed Psych/OT/ SLT etc)

Write to the Senco about the 1:1 issue so as to lay a paper trail of evidence - if she doesn't deny that the 1:1 is being used elsewhere it will be more difficult for her to deny it later. Then write to the local authority to point out that your child isn't getting the support in the EHCP and ask for their assistance in enforcing it. Point out that it is their statutory duty to ensure this and that you may have to take court action if they can't sort it out.