Does this sound like a reasonable request for an EOTAS package?

[EndOfTheWits]

MS placement has broken down completely in the second year of secondary. DS is out of school. I want to have his EHCP amended for an EOTAS package to include support for mental health, social skills and academics.

Would it be reasonable to request the following?

An online education or school
MH support regularly
Funded social activities in the form of alternative provision (art therapy, Lego therapy and such like).

TIA .
Margot

Sounds reasonable. Although I wouldn’t call art therapy or Lego therapy social activities. They are both therapeutic. What about SALT, OT? Some kind of exercise? Resources/equipment/subscriptions/memberships/budget for trips out? TA/mentor? Professional time? Travel costs? Other possibilities include music/drama lessons, care farm, mindjam, cooking lessons.

I would decide whether you want online tutoring or online schooling and not mention both.

In order to secure EOTAS you will need to prove no school is suitable.

Very good points. Can all of that be included in the EHCP? Who would fund things such as resources and equipment? I’d feel rather cheeky asking for the LEA to pay for trips out and exercising (such as trampoline parks?) or is that what the idea is?

Margot :)

Everything I listed and so much more is educational provision and can be included in EOTAS packages. The LA can fund it all.

If DS was in school he would entitled to PE lessons so some form of exercise provision is completely reasonable. Not to mention it often meets other needs e.g. self regulation, social skills, motor skills… I have known membership to a trampoline park, trampoline lessons or rebound therapy be included. Other forms of exercise I have heard of include horse-riding, gym membership, swimming, yoga, football sessions, tennis lessons, parkour, climbing lessons, kayaking, dance.

If DS was in special school accessing the community and preparation for adulthood is part of the curriculum, which is where trips out come into play. They can also meet other needs/outcomes too.

That makes a lot of sense. I never looked at it that way; I thought I would have to fund it all myself and felt a CF asking for too much.

I now know I’ll need to show that there are no suitable schools. Our LEA have tried and failed to find a suitable placement but none of the ones they’ve approached can meet his needs (and I agree with this). MS is not suitable, independent is not suitable and specialist is not suitable.

It is highly likely I’ll need to appeal for EOTAS.

TY,
Margot

Don’t worry about asking for too much. Have you got evidence for all the provision you want?

DS1 has a comprehensive EOTAS package costing well over £100k.

Gosh that is an expensive package! Would you mind sharing some examples of what you have in there?

What kind of evidence should I have? The online schooling I can prove is very much needed.

SaLT is needed and again I will have evidence for this. It will be therapies, social and leisure based activities I will find hard to prove are needed.

Do you have independent reports? It is them you need e.g. EP, SALT, OT, psychiatrist etc. They will give you evidence. Provision in EHCPs is taken from the reports/evidence so you need provision to be included in there.

DS1’s package includes: (Some are term time only, some extend in to holidays)
15 hours of 1:1 home tuition
2hrs ‘ordinary’ OT
3 x 1 hr physio
1 hr each of SALT, ELSA, SIOT, clinical psychology, Lego therapy, rebound therapy, swimming/hydrotherapy/aquatherapy (1 session with a mix of the 3) and either kayaking or climbing (normally do climbing in winter, kayaking in warmer weather).
12 hrs HLTA to act as the second act outside the house and escort for travelling.

Also, 1 science practical per half term, travel costs, subscriptions and memberships, technology and assistive tech/specialist software, sensory equipment, gym membership and equipment. Professional time and supervision. A budget for resources, activities and sundries.

He also has social care funded respite.

I have reports from OT, SaLT , EP and psychology but they are not independent; I’ll need to have a look through these and see if I can use them as evidence for EOTAS.

That’s a very comprehensive package you have for your DC. Thankyou for sharing; it’s given me confidence to ask for exactly what I think DS needs.

If the other reports are LA commissioned it is highly likely they won’t be as detailed, specified and quantified as independent reports and that you are going to need at least 1 independent assessment.