Awaiting ASD diagnosis, how to decide on primary education??

[PandRsMummy]

Hi,
First time posting here.
Our 3 yr old son is awaiting an ASD diagnosis, was due to have his MDT team review yesterday but this was cancelled last minute and now won't be rescheduled until December. My husband and I are very torn on what would be the best place of education for him, hubby thinks he needs special school, I'd prefer mainstream with additional support. But there doesn't seem to be anybody who is able to advise us on how to make this decision or how the special school application process works etc.

We've had a look to see which schools are around locally, but their admissions criteria on their websites clearly state they only accept children with an ASD diagnosis plus an EHCP, which we have no idea how to go about getting. But admission criteria aside, how are you supposed to know that is the right place for your child if you can't even talk to anyone about what they offer?!

I understand we are supposed to also apply to primary schools the "normal way" to ensure they at least have somewhere to go, but again how on earth do you identify if they will be able to cater for your child's additional needs if nobody has laid out what is required from them? And we contact local mainstream schools to discuss his needs are they not just going to try and deter us from applying to them because of the additional work involved?

Our older daughter attends a fabulous mainstream primary school which I would be more than happy to send our son to, providing he will be able to access some additional support there.

I feel like I'm coming across as so negative about it all but I'm just getting so fed up of being let down by services, delays/cancelled appointments/poor communication etc. It just feels like the whole world is against us!

Is your DS due to start primary Sept 22? If so, you will have to apply the normal route as even if you apply for an EHCP now (and you don't have to appeal) it won't be issued by the deadline for applications in Jan.

If your DS is awarded an EHCP, then that will change matters and you be able to request a school. Information on choosing a school with an EHCP here:
www.ipsea.org.uk/choosing-a-schoolcollege-with-an-ehc-plan

If you feel that he may need a special school - or significant support at primary then I would recommend you apply for an EHCP for him now. A child doesn't need a diagnosis to be eligible for a Plan - it's based on need.
The benchmark from an EHCP assessment is very low. It's something like: 'has or may have special educational needs'.

Is your DS at nursery? If so, what are they saying about primary? Have you spoken to them about applying for an EHCP? They may support your application but even if they don't you can do it yourself. You can use this template letter. That's what I did:

www.ipsea.org.uk/making-a-request-for-an-ehc-needs-assessment

In terms of contacting schools. I made appointments with all the Sencos of primary schools in my area to go through my DS's needs and sound them out. Some were more helpful than others. If your DD is already at a good primary then they should be your first port of call. Get a meeting booked in with the Senco and explain that your DS may well be joining in Sept. All schools have an SEN budget so they should put in some support for your DS even without a plan. (The issue is that the support isn't ring-fenced for them without one though.)

Thanks I'll have a look at that link. And yes he is due for primary school admission in 2022 so we are on a tight deadline.

I did have a look on the (oh so helpful! ) gov.uk website which just links to our local council website who then give very little away re: the EHCP, implying that this needs to be initiated by someone from the education sector rather than from parents/families themselves. We had been hoping to discuss all of this at the MDT meeting which was then cancelled so now having to take matters into our own hands. Have tried contacting the SEND early years team but are still waiting to hear back from them.

DS is in nursery currently, but we get very little in the way of updates from them either which just adds to our frustrations as it feels nobody is communicating with us despite our repeated requests for regular updates. We were meant to meet with the SENCO from DD's school this week but had to cancel due to DS being unwell, so now won't be able to do this until after the half term.

I'm going to ask to speak to the nursery SENCO today and see if she can get the ball rolling.

Other than admission to a specialist autism school having a diagnosis does not change school admissions or school support.

Is DS receiving support at nursery at the moment?

The threshold for an EHCNA is a) has or may have SEN, and b) may need SEN support to be made via an EHCP. If you think an EHCP is needed apply yourself rather than waiting for nursery to do it. The assessments carried out as part of the needs assessment will help highlight what support DS needs and inform your decision about SS, MS or ARP.

Under the normal admissions arrangements MS can not refuse to offer a child a place because they have ASD, it's just pupils with EHCPs, with and without a diagnosis, have priority admission, and without an EHCP pupils are just considered under the normal criteria. With the exception of if the school has an exceptional medical or social needs criteria and you are accepted as being considered under that, although the bar for that is high - you need evidence only that school is suitable. It is very unusual to be admitted to a SS without an EHCP. However, some LAs offer assessment places whilst a pupil goes through the EHCP process. Not all SS require an ASD diagnosis only autism specialist schools.

For MS ask to speak to the SENCOs. A school's attitude towards prospective parents asking questions about SEND tells you a lot. Ask about transition, what support they offer for social skills/communication/sensory needs etc. Even without an EHCP schools must make 'best endeavours' to support a child's additional needs. SS are unlikely to talk to parents if their DC doesn't have or aren't going through the EHCP process.

My son started reception in 2020 and two years ago we were in a similar position to you.

We had just applied, along with support from his preschool, for an EHCP and were also looking at schools to apply the 'normal' way.

My son isn't autistic but has a speech and language delay.

I spent a lot of time visiting schools, I appreciate this was pre COVID and things have changed now but also looking at schools websites and reading Ofsted reports. I also met with the SENCOs from a number of schools.

In the time between applying and getting the allocation for mainstream schools, DS was awarded his EHCP. In our LEA the SEN panel which approved the EHCPs can also give advice/recommendations about a suitable school and they suggested a mainstream primary with a speech and language resource. I had already seen it but I managed to go with dh to visit again just before everything shut down in March 2020. We were very happy with the school and the EHCP was issued with this school named. Obviously when the mainstream allocation came through in April, I declined the place DS had been allocated.

Apply for the EHCP needs assessment now and then it should be in place before he starts school. Don't worry too much about diagnosis for now unless you want him to go to a specific asd school/resource base.