Referred for assessment, but now left school?

[Anonymity1]

I am wanting the truth, and so does my lad.
But more so, I want a happy teenager, not a bullied / bad / misunderstood one, hence I took him out of school to home educate.

90% of what we are doing is either stuff he likes, or wellbeing related. Since he's been out of school, I have had only good feedback (complete opposite of entire school life).

Sadly I don't think I have the knowledge / skills / finances to help him make the best of things in the longer run. Yet I don't know whether things will magically be better if / when he returns.

I don't know how the professionals will work out what is going on his whole life, all his social struggles, if they speak to those who see him in a different environment, which he enjoys (and is constantly supervised and supported).

But if they don't see the rough then can his future education ever be smooth?

Or will I have to home educate him forever (another 2 years from September)?

What assessment has your DS been referred for? Is it for a potential condition?
My Ds has an autism diagnosis. Yes, they did ask his teacher to fill in some paperwork, but it was mainly done based on what I had to say and of course his assessment.
I was worried that he wouldn't get a diagnosis as he likes spending time with adults in a structured environment. However, the professionals who met him totally 'got' his difficulties and he did get a diagnosis. They are very highly skilled and trained.
I would say that where I am though, the wait time for any kind of ASD/ADHD/ADD assessment is currently over two years. It sounds like he's heading into GCSEs? Legally, support in school should be based on need - not diagnosis anyway. My Ds had full time support in place before he got his diagnosis.

Or are you taking about an EHCP assessment? If you haven't already, check out the Ipsea website. There's some information here about DC not currently in school:

www.ipsea.org.uk/getting-temporary-education-put-in-place

'The LA has a legal duty to secure suitable, full-time alternative education for those children of compulsory school age who, by reason of illness, exclusion or otherwise, may not for any period receive suitable education unless such arrangements are made for them (section 19, Education Act 1996). This applies whether or not your child has an EHC Plan.'

I would try and contact them for some advice/info. They offer a free advice phoneline. It can be very hard to get an appointment though so you may need to try every day.

Stop EHE. As toomanyminifigs posted, if DS cannot attend school the LA must provide an alternative, and you should apply for an EHCNA.

@Toomanyminifigs

What assessment has your DS been referred for? Is it for a potential condition? My Ds has an autism diagnosis. Yes, they did ask his teacher to fill in some paperwork, but it was mainly done based on what I had to say and of course his assessment. I was worried that he wouldn't get a diagnosis as he likes spending time with adults in a structured environment. However, the professionals who met him totally 'got' his difficulties and he did get a diagnosis. They are very highly skilled and trained. I would say that where I am though, the wait time for any kind of ASD/ADHD/ADD assessment is currently over two years. It sounds like he's heading into GCSEs? Legally, support in school should be based on need - not diagnosis anyway. My Ds had full time support in place before he got his diagnosis.

Or are you taking about an EHCP assessment? If you haven't already, check out the Ipsea website. There's some information here about DC not currently in school:

www.ipsea.org.uk/getting-temporary-education-put-in-place

'The LA has a legal duty to secure suitable, full-time alternative education for those children of compulsory school age who, by reason of illness, exclusion or otherwise, may not for any period receive suitable education unless such arrangements are made for them (section 19, Education Act 1996). This applies whether or not your child has an EHC Plan.'

I would try and contact them for some advice/info. They offer a free advice phoneline. It can be very hard to get an appointment though so you may need to try every day.

It took 7 months for them to screen the referral and decide to assess for ASD. Previously a cahms referral was rejected. He is certainly not autistic in the traditional sense, although so many people have suggested it, I think he half believes it. I really don't know.

He got snippets of help at school, but not anything that made a meaningful difference. Some staff were more helpful / responsive than others. The last meeting I sat, I was told he pretty much needed constant babysitting at social times, also that things were better when he'd been off-site once a week. I found a free alternative for him but they didn't get round to approving it. He was getting angry at school and snappier at home too, not doing great academically either. He had started getting suspensions (last year it was inclusions) and I was afraid he would have eventually been expelled, the way that things were escalating.

Nobody at school ever suggested EHCP assessment (though they referred him to charity, social services, as well as cahms etc - so they must have been looking for some kind of assistance).

Anyhow, I decided to jump rather than be pushed... Which negates the need for a lot of things from the LA perspective I suppose. If only I'd looked at the link you sent months ago (if not years ago)!

Anyhow it's reassuring that the team were able to assess what they needed to in your son without too much input. If we ever get to that point, hopefully they will figure out what is going on with my son too.

Thanks

@Imitatingdory

Stop EHE. As toomanyminifigs posted, if DS cannot attend school the LA must provide an alternative, and you should apply for an EHCNA.

School (and probably LA) would argue there is no reason he "cannot" attend school. I agree that he "can" but believe it would have been detrimental to his wellbeing.

Letter from HT stated they wanted him to stay as "we feel that we are able to meet the academic, welfare and mental health needs of your son here at this school." - Which is ludicrous considering all the referrals, punishments, paperwork they must have on him.

Would HT's letter deminish the requirement for LA to assess needs?
(Or is it just them evidencing that they are not trying to off-roll?)

There is much more to ASD than the stereotypical view of autism.

There are 2 separate elements.

1. Provision under s.19, the Education Act 1996. Being unable to attend due to the detrimental effect attending has on mental health is a valid reason. The LA have a statutory duty to provide suitable alternative “education at school or otherwise than at school for those children of compulsory school age who, by reason of illness, exclusion from school or otherwise, may not for any period receive suitable education unless such arrangements are made for them.”

1. An EHCP. The only legal threshold for an EHCNA is a) has or may have SEN, and b) may need SEN provision to be made via an EHCP. Many parents successfully apply for an EHCP despite the school claiming they can meet the child’s needs, so don’t worry about the HT’s letter.

You have probably made securing either harder than it would otherwise have been if you had stayed on the school’s roll, even if DS did not attend. Crudely, you are someone’s problem when on their roll whereas it is easier to sweep needs under the carpet when EHE as the LA will say you are making suitable alternative arrangements therefore they are relieved of their duties.

Do you have evidence of the referrals, exclusions, meetings? You can submit a SAR to gather evidence.

Thank you.

I asked for full records last year and got a handful of bits from predominantly that year. Not half as much as expected considering all the conversations. Nothing from primary.

Is No 1 or No 2 more useful in your opinion? I don't have the time or energy for making too many arduous enquiries. But it would be good to get some support if possible.

You need both. 1 will be quicker, but won’t result in assessments that will help you and others understand DS’s needs and it won’t result in as much provision. Also, the statutory duty only only applies to CSA pupils. 2 will take longer, the statutory timescale is 20 weeks from application if you don’t need to appeal, but many do. But it will include a needs assessment and can secure more provision than is otherwise available and is essential to secure provision post 16.

Make a formal SAR request.