EHCP and anxiety - "as required"

[VagueSemblance]

I've been reading lots of useful threads here and gained a lot from them while working on DS's EHCNA. I see that "as required" is too woolly to be useful on an EHCP.

The trouble is, I can also see why it's there on our draft. When DS is calm he can cope well and actually doesn't need a great deal of support, but when he isn't he needs a tonne of help in class, or to be withdrawn and work elsewhere. A provision to withdraw him "as required" when overwhelmed would make sense.

Can anyone advise on how this kind of variation can be well handled in an EHCP please, to ensure he gets the support when he needs it?

I'm also wondering if we should be pushing for specialist provision as the only way to get him off this rollercoaster of anxiety, but maybe that's for another thread. Many thanks if anyone can help.

I should mention it's not purely anxiety, his primary need is that he's autistic.

On its own "as required" isn’t detailed, specific or quantified enough to be useful in an EHCP. Even in the situations you describe “as required” isn’t enough, as what makes it required? Left at just “as required” is likely to result in you and school having different ideas about when provision is needed, and the provision being unenforceable. You have already started to clarify it by adding “when overwhelmed” on the end.

It is difficult to advise on specific wording without knowing DS, the reports (as provision in EHCPs is taken from the reports) and the EHCP. But for an example there is a difference between “1:1 as required” and “when overwhelmed X will be given 1:1…” going on to detail what overwhelmed looks like in DS, who will provide the 1:1 and what they will do to support DS.

Also think about whether DS can be adequately supported without a dedicated full time 1:1. DS may not need 1:1 all the time, but can you predict when he does need support? If you can’t, without a 1:1 there all the time DS may not get the support he needs, when he needs.


If it is something that you would be interested in SOSSEN have a draft checking service.

Are there therapies in the EHCP, including MH provision?

As dory says the problem with 'as required' is 'as required' by whom? The danger of phrases like this is that they are unenforceable.
If your Ds is anything like mine (ASD), when he starts to get overwhelmed and his anxiety builds, he isn't able to articulate his needs or be in a position to ask for help. He has 1 to 2 support at all times from a consistent adult and they are now skilled at recognising the signs and can act before he gets too overwhelmed.

If you walked into my Ds's classroom sometimes, you wouldn't even be aware that he has additional needs - but that's because he has full time support. So the TA has ensured that Ds has got to class (he's secondary), knows and understands what the task is, feels calm etc. Of course not all Dc need that level of support but I guess what I'm trying to illustrate is that some Dc are only able to 'cope well' due to a high level of scaffolding and someone in the room at all times to spot signs of rising anxiety.

You don't say how old your Ds is. If he's going to be transferring to secondary any time soon, it is worth considering what level of support he's going to need there. You mentioned you're thinking of a specialist placement, that to me sounds like you think your Ds does need a fairly high level of support/intervention in order to achieve his best.

Thank you both.

Sorry I should have said, he's in Y8. Yes the draft has extra therapy on anxiety and social skills. Thanks for the reminder on SOSSEN @Imitatingdory, I need to do that. @Toomanyminifigs like with your son, he loses the ability to communicate as soon as he needs to, and that makes it difficult for him to feel safe.

It's just so difficult to see clearly when it's your own child. My instinct is that he'd be better off somewhere much smaller, but that doesn't mean he'd necessarily be a good fit for special school either. His needs are so much a reaction to his environment, I think. Still, much better to be identified as not coping in Y8 than Y10.

DS3 is similar to toomanyminifigs DS. When he is coping he copes very well, but when he isn’t he isn’t, and can’t communicate the need for support well or at all. He has a full time 1:1 including breaks and lunches.

If you don’t think DS will cope in a mainstream due to the size and busyness of the school, do you have any nurturing independent mainstreams within travelling distance? EHCPs can fund them if necessary.

Sorry to be a pain, I know wasn’t your original question, but in addition to the MH therapies and social skills provision does section F include SALT and OT?

You're not being a pain. we don't have the full draft at the moment, still waiting on SALT after pushing and pushing them to assess with ipsea letters, and OT looks woolly but not sure yet.

Small nurturing private schools are not accepting any more SEN students. I'm looking a bit further afield but then that gets even harder to convince LA to pay for. It's reassuring to hear that 1:1 support is possible for social/emotional rather than academic needs though.

What week are you on? In order to meet the 20 week deadline the LA should send the draft by week 14. Anyone asked for advice must respond within 6 weeks, if the LA/NHS can’t or won’t assess within the timescales the LA must commission independent assessments. If 20 weeks are up push the LA to finalise and appeal rather than going back and forth. If they won’t complain to the Director of Children’s Services and threaten Judicial Review.

There are small nurturing independent MS who accept pupils with EHCPs, so it is worth investigating neighbouring areas.

DS3’s primary need is ASD, he is academically able and in top sets, but needs full time 1:1 and a host of other adjustments, interventions and therapies.