EHCP support thread

[Phineyj]

My DD (10) is being assessed for EHCP. The council refused to assess (despite her already being diagnosed with ADHD, ASD, hypermobility and vision problems following eye surgery).

School have been supportive throughout and they are going above and beyond to keep her engaged in education.

She's about to go into year 6 though.

I took the LA to the tribunal and won.

They must produce the plan by 4th August. I think they probably will (they've stuck to deadlines so far...ish...). But I've got all the IPSEA complaint letter templates primed!

The hardest thing about the whole process is that no-one else in my life understands it or what it's like to spend all your free time essentially begging people to document the deficits your child has.

It is also a hard realisation that no-one cares much about your child's education except you.

I am also a teacher so I feel sad on behalf of the SEN DC I teach as I am told little about their needs (I spent a whole day doing DofE with one recently...I don't even know what her EHCP says...)

Join me if you are also grimly trekking through the EHCP jungle!!

@mrslamb

Thanks @Phineyj - a support thread is a great idea.

I am struggling at the moment. DS is in mainstream secondary and has complex needs. He has multiple diagnoses, including physical conditions, impairments to cognitive functioning, differences in social understanding, communications and interactions, sensory needs, plus related anxiety and EBSA.

Despite being at his school for 2 years (with attendance at 50%) we still don't have basic pastoral support in place. Despite medical evidence and the regular presence of health professionals in meetings, school's orientation remains on quality first teaching. An independent EP report has done a good job of documenting unmet needs, underpinned by assessment which has shown his functioning in several areas to be in the bottom for 1% for age range.

Whilst this evidence has resulted in an EHCP despite initial opposition from school, the plan itself is useless, and, surprise surprise, consists of 27 woolly requirements for 'class teachers to do all of the time'.

The LA EP who has not consulted with the Psychs who have been working long term with us as a family, has reduced, and in some areas, misrepresented DS needs and refused to correct factual inaccuracies. (I have exhausted LA complaints process on this (ccd to Director of Education) - my requests have just been ignored).

I will appeal, but it comes at a high price. Including the cost in family well being from the long term exposure to organisations who deny children and their families their basic legal rights, and then behave unethically to cover their tracks. Whilst I know the origins of this lie in the funding crisis, it has created some pretty nasty organsiational practices that make a big contribution to why SEND parenting is so stressful.

What kind of things do they suggest class teachers do? That's of interest to me as a class teacher (I don't do KS3 but I have in the past).

Watered down versions of what a bit of 1:2:1 would have provided. I'll be interested in what you think of these in the context of a busy mainstream secondary. Thing is, DS is still being regularly penalised for inattention and distractedness, so it would appear that subject teachers have not yet been supported to develop a basic appreciation of DS's need. So the main issue is not that these are bad ideas per se, but the implausibility of them ever actually being delivered. To give you a flavour (there's another 22):

-DS will be provided with a range of strategies including CBT, mindfulness, visualisation, balanced thinking strategies. To be provided by all Teachers, in all lessons when required.

-DS will be provided with strategies for regulation to dishabituate high stress levels by being given regular experience of being in a calm state. To be provided by all Teachers, when needed throughout the day.

-DS will receive instructions in single steps supported by visual approaches. To be provided by all Teachers in all lessons.

-DS will receive teaching using multi-sensory methods. All Teachers, in all lessons.

-DS will be supported to develop understanding with comic strip converations. All teachers when situations arise.

Oh good Lord.

No those are not reasonable expectations of a subject teacher in KS3 with 30+ kids in a class!

I don't know what they were on, the person who wrote that.

That's reassuring (sort of). Having been so comprehensively gas lit I doubt my own judgement these days.

Was thinking about taking a list to parents evening, and capturing reactions!

Yes. I am amazed the LA aren't more worried about their liability. Having a 'have a go hero' method of delivering mental health interventions to kids with very complex needs is brave.

I think the problem is you can have an absolutely amazing EHCP. However, some teachers don't want to learn or help or even understand the diagnosis. His form teacher in one year hasn't spoken or emailed me once - with someone which quite a big EHCP and a full time 1 to 1 id thought they would be all over me but I think it's easier to ignore it all.

That's where my problem is ..... some teachers are amazing 5* (adapt the lesson eg the English teacher FABULOUS produces different work that he will enjoy. The maths teacher AMAZING gives him extension to include the homework so he doesn't know he is doing it) but some teachers really don't want to deal with Sen kids so it doesn't matter really what's wrote in the EHCP.

I've suggested a book that would help them understand him (less than a hr to read) but some people don't want to invest the time / energy as they have all the other children to deal with.

Or I'd happily meet with any teacher / they could ring me anytime to chat - but I suppose it comes down to time.

Also, flexibility goes a long way - however some teachers are too rule driven to get this and unable to flex for one child. You have to all do the same thing in the class.

Annual review in a bit - not sure if I can add anything extra ..... it's like a ticking time bomb

@Phineyj - well done on getting your DC's assessment underway. I hope you have a better experience. What evidence is available to support the plan? Have you had a decent experience with the LA EP?

How active is your SENCO @fedupallthisrubbish? Are they prompting colleagues?

She is newish and her first senco role - I'm not sure what is said behind closed doors. She seems nice.

You can only hope or pray (and I'm not religious) but gosh the stress of a sen child and school. It's crazy!

Anyways you can make a complaint or go to LGO - I got a bit of a payout as they wasn't delivering the therapy on the EHCP which they should of been - the entire thing is just draining and time consuming. And I'm waiting for the LGO to come back to me so we will have to see what they think about my complaint (regards how rubbish the LA about the length of time for the EHCP / tribunal stuff) 😂....

What's the LGO process like to use @fedupallthisrubbish?

DS has a lovely SENCO and good teachers - it's just a complete mismatch between how they have to work and what the LA stuck in the plan to save money.

@fedfedupallthisrubbish I've never been quite clear what the form teacher's role is in all this. I am a form teacher to 32 year 10 kids in a mainstream school. I share that role with another teacher. I'm with them for about 15-20 minutes three times a week. In one of those slots I teach a PHSE lesson. In another they do silent(ish) reading. In the third, they have an assembly.

The database lists which students have SEN (including the three with an EHCP). The info is very basic. In one case it was wrong (I managed to fix that).

Do you know for sure that the form teacher has seen the EHCP? I haven't seen the ones for my tutees. We don't see the SENCO ever...

@MrsLamb ADOS, Qb check (private), NHS paediatrician, NHS SALT, OT (private and LA - latter happens week after next), OT (LA, this week), letter from private physio, report from optometrist.

LA OT seems pretty nice and competent so we'll see.

It's not gonna fail for lack of evidence...

It's probably going to fail because she's articulate and masks like a champ.

My fear is that once she leaves the school that's taken such good care of her from age 3, the wheels are going to come off.

That sounds good @PhineyJ. Unfortunately our LA refused point blank to do SALT or OT assessments, despite being indicated, and on principle dismisses all private reports when it comes to section F provision, so there is no way short of appeal to get provision in place. Didn't even consult NHS Psych who has worked with us long term.

Yes, secondary certainly feels like a completely different kettle of fish. DS also had the great good fortune to be at a genuinely very inclusive primary school and was well supported, even though for most of the time, undiagnosed. Two years into secondary and we still haven't got even the most basic support in place. Y6 is a good time to push for an EHCP.

Hi,
I just want to add a little message to say thanks for starting this support thread (it is so needed) can I ask @Phineyj you said you won at the LA tribunal, did you go to mediation first? I am asking because my LA has refused to assess, I don't have a diagnosis yet (hopefully soon) but I sent a lot of strong medical evidence from my GP, the LA said there is not enough evidence that the school has done enough to support her and that the support has failed (rubbish the support is not working), but they have refused to assess on that basis, so not sure if I should go to mediation or get the certificate and go to tribunal. its such a lengthy process and so draining but will keep fighting as we all do. but yeah would be interested to know if mediation worth it. Apparently there is a back log with tribunals so that could be lengthy DD currently going to school part time as finding it overwhelming. (LA also know this)
Any advice/stories/hints/tips very welcome
thanks :0)

@CHAKRAlight get the certificate ASAP. Mediation is pointless certainly at this stage. Be warned - the mediation company only gets paid if you agree to mediation, so you have to hassle to get the certificate.

More positively, refusal to assess tribunals are quicker and can be done on the paperwork only. We applied to tribunal just before Christmas and got the ok in mid April.

@CHAKRAlight Don’t bother with mediation, just get the certificate and submit to SENDIST. LAs use mediation as a delaying tactic. If they are going to concede, they will do so regardless of whether you actively partake in mediation or just get the certificate.

If DD isn’t in school full-time, be sure to inform SENDIST as appeals for those not in full-time education are prioritised and the appeal can be expedited.

Also, separate to the EHCP process, if DD can’t attend school full-time, the LA must provide alternative arrangements to ensure DD receives a suitable, full-time education.

@Phineyj Thanks so much for this update it helps enormously, I have a call from the mediation people Thursday morning, so I will push to get the certificate and just tell them that I want to go straight to tribunal. I will update as I go along but thank you for your advice I am taking all the help I can get so this is great, really has me primed and ready for the call. Sad so many parents have to go through this, seems to be what every LA is doing now, no matter how strong your case, they just refuse.

@MrsLamb that sounds extremely frustrating.

My LA (and the tribunal) accepted private reports without question. Their OT is actually contracted out.

Either a professional is appropriately qualified or they are not! Who pays should not matter.

Mind you I discovered after shelling out for the private ADOS that the charity I used seems to have assessed most of my Borough and the neighbouring one... imagine what the waiting lists would be if that charity didn't exist (and it's staffed by moonlighting NHS docs).

Wow that's amazing! We had to wait for a year for a tribunal (which was kind of pointless itself as the LA brought no one or no evidence) they are beyond stupid 🤪

People who support the child and the environment of the school / place. Those 2 things need to be working - otherwise it's busted..... good luck it's so hard

I'm not sure. But literally a 5 minute chat or one email once a term (would be absolutely amazing) saying hi I'm working on your child and there not forgotten would make a HUGE difference to me. I suppose I think the form teacher is the first point of contact (I never harass the teachers I always let them come to me as I don't want to be THAT mum 😂 hence I haven't had contact 😂) ..... not that his form teacher does much with him but suppose it's nice to clock in with the people with the EHCPs. As a mum with a son with an EHCP I'm always like a nervous wreck now! And always left wondering. To be fair his LSA is worth a million pounds she is absolutely amazing. But god knows how his Salt or OT is going if he is having it or not - I've got absolutely no idea 🤪

Anyways it is what it is x

@fedupallthisrubbish Communication, meetings/reviews, summaries etc. can be written in to the EHCP. Do you have anything like that? Having said that, I’m not sure the form tutor is the right person to provide you with the information you want.

I am also doubtful the form tutor will be the right person.

In order to update you on anything, they'd have to ask the SENCO or email all the subject teachers.

I do ring or email parents but only if there's something to ring or email about, if you see what I mean.