EHCP request and expert reports

[EmmaGemma]

We're at the start of the EHCP process having just submitted out request to assess. We had someone who already had an EHCP review our application and she said our expert reports were nt specific enough. We would like our son to either be in mainstream with lots of support or a specialist school for moderate learning difficulties. Can I ask the experts to add their opinions on which environment would be better for him? And of so, who? The OT would make sense as she knows he has sensory issues by being in such a large classroom or maybe the EP as you would think school suggestions would be more their area. I'm trying to work out which environment is better and how I build my case.

It's a bit early to be worrying about experts' reports. At this stage the only legal test is whether your child has or may have SEN, and may need special educational provision via an EHCP. If the LA agrees to assessments, they will get their own reports, and to be honest most LAs tend to ignore private reports.

You will however need them if ultimately you have to appeal at the next stage, if they refuse to issue an EHCP, or if you have to appeal against the contents of the EHCP. It might be better to hold back to ensure they are fully up to date and, in particular, that they advised on the support your child needs in detailed and specific terms.

Thank you, that's really useful. I've been having a look at the IPSEA website which has been really helpful. The school asked an Ed psych to come in so we have one report from the LA and the private OT report. However, neither actaully say what type of school he should be in. Surely I need someone to say they think he should be in mainstream with support or a specialist school?

The Ed psych report mentions 1 to 1 or small group support but doesn't specify by who and what qualifications. Is that the sort of detail I need?

TIA

The trouble is, you can't lump all mainstream schools together and you can't lump all special schools together - even ones apparently labelled 'MLD'.
The children that get places in the 'MLD' school I taught at 25 yrs ago would all be in mainstream nowadays, (in my authority). In another authority the school you are talking about might be more appropriate for your dc. In some authorities there are only one or two special schools for the whole range of dc. In others there are many. Then there are REsourse Bases which might fit the bill.
YOu can only begin to get answers by speaking to people within your authority and going to visit them yourself.

Yes, the EP certainly needs to say something about who (in terms of training and experience) should give the 1:1 support, how big small groups should be and who should be running them, because the LA is supposed to specify that sort of thing in the EHCP - however, they rarely do. The fact that s/he is suggesting this sort of provision suggests that they are advising on mainstream as it can all be delivered in a mainstream.

You might find SOS SEN's booklet on assessments useful - www.sossen.org/shop/index.php?cPath=22&osCsid=1lfqi41qeogogt1np19j87v3g7

Don't assume that the LA will ignore private ones in drafting the EHCP, some do and some do t (none should). We obtained f/t 1:1 support in ms together with OT interventions from an SIOT and social skills work/weekly play therapy without appealing on the basis of our private EP and OT reports. It was hard and I'm pretty sure if we had wanted ss we would have ended up at tribunal, but if you think your child might be ok in ms with the right support then having robust expert reports to inform the EHCP can be invaluable. They do need to specify and quantity the provision, though not necessarily the school. If you want an ss for an ASC child for instance, you'd probably be looking for reports saying things like 'x needs to be taught in a very small class - max 6 children - with high adult to child ratio - 3:1), a low sensory environment with staff trained and experienced in working with children with ASC etc.' Basically the reports should paint a picture of the provision your child needs and from that you can see pretty clearly which educational settings can/can't meet that need.