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!!

@ThomasWasTortured Absolutely no apology needed, you have helped me so much 🙂... I will check IPSEA website for the model letter just in case they do breach the timescale..... handy to have and know about 🙂 thank you!

welcome and good luck @LushFloral good luck to your daughter too
I'd apply yourself asap. There's good advice on IPSEA and SOS:SEN websites. And here in this group!

Instead of hearing whether LA are going to issue today I just heard our EHCP coordinator has moved on and they're hiring for a replacement. We're supposed to be all done in less than 4 weeks. I feel like goalposts are moving again.

@LushFloral finally got time to reply properly.

I'm a secondary school teacher as well as a mum of a 10 year old with SEN.

Regarding the year 7 issue, I'd ask for a meeting ASAP with the year or phase (KS3) leader and the SENCO to discuss reasonable adjustments that can be put in place for your daughter this side of half term. At my school this could include arriving early and sitting in the library, a time out card, permission to go to the student resource room or SEN room if overwhelmed in lessons, an early lunch pass, a reading buddy from year 12. Etc.

Regarding the EHCP, first you need to find out what process your council use for a parental request for EHCNA. My council use a portal. Some councils, you need to write a letter (IPSEA have a model one on their website). Would you like to see my application for a model? The council refused to assess but I appealed to the tribunal who told them they had to.

By the time you've done all that and a SAR to primary you'll have loads of evidence and you've already got various diagnoses.

I would hold off on the SAR to the secondary for the moment (although keep all emails they send you and notes on phone calls and meetings). As you say, it's only been a month plus a SAR places a heavy admin burden on a secondary and you need them on side to write helpful stuff in the EHCNA request.

Lush if you are going to submit the EHCNA request now/soon I wouldn’t wait to submit the SAR to the secondary. It will give you evidence of their belief they have exhausted their resources (the LA is more likely to agree to assess if you can evidence DD’s needs at secondary, otherwise they are more likely to state you need to wait to see how DD settles at secondary), and you will be able to cross reference the information the primary school sent to check you have received everything.

Phiney LAs can’t lawfully dictate how parents request an EHCNA. A letter such as IPSEA’s letter is sufficient even if the LA says it needs via their portal or hub.

Although my LA have been about as useful as a chocolate teapot, the portal was actually really easy to use. It even generated a little timeline, which was handy when they flouted it.

Thank you so much ListlessCat, Phineyj and ThomaswastorturedI really appreciate your posts and am very happy to have found this board.
My local SENDIASS have now replied offering to support me with completing the EHCP request form so I’m also feeling a bit calmer now that there’s also the prospect of a real face to face person to talk to if needed.

@LushFloral be a bit careful with Sendiass. I haven't used our local one, so I'm not speaking from experience, but they are local authority funded not independent. It's as well to read the SEN Code 2014 yourself plus IPSEA's commentary on it. Just in case your Sendiass tell you anything that is not actually legally correct (such as the old chestnut that "you can't get an EHCP if your child is academically able.")

Thanks for the heads up. That’s really frustrating. I don’t need a signposting organisation (though can see the need for that too). I need an independent guide to the application process and some practical help which I thought this was. Well I’ll go along and see, but take it with a pinch of salt.

Look at IPSEA and SOSSEN. Some areas have a truly independent local charity, CIC, or service other than SENDIASS and the parent carer forum. Some SENDIASS are good, but too many repeat the LA’s unlawful policies. As phiney says, just be careful with them.

Hurray, SENDIST appeal against refusal to issue sent off. It came to 134 pages which is too many as they say maximum of 100, but hopefully they will overlook that as it's mostly because the LA OT waffled on for pages and pages and used very large font.

Just a top tip for others: you can download Adobe Acrobat, use it to collate your tribunal bundle and then cancel it again before you get charged.

And so the waiting begins (again).

Well done @Phineyj! Glass of something nice tonight?

It's a shame about SSENDIAS.

Locally they are a bit wet. When asked to support on blatantly unlawful behaviour in respect of refusing to code absence as illness, despite extensive medical evidence, they declined to get involved.

I had the last creme caramel. More my style!

Hello people
New on here
My 15 year old autistic son - with three years of no school until this year- has a tribunal tomorrow. We're appealing against the LA's refusal to issue an EHCP.
It's such a long and complex story but he's currently in a PRU specialising in children with SEMH/ neurodiversity - largely children who haven't been able to access mainstream education or like DS who have had long periods out of school. He's doing a few GCSEs this year. Then the placement ends.
The fucking LA have the gall to say that this proves they are offering him an education and that he doesn't need an EHCP. We waited two years for this and in May 24 it ends and they're expecting him to skip into unsupported mainstream sixth form without any extra support other than that which a mainstream sixth form can provide.
I'm so nervous about tomorrow. We have a privately funded advocate representing us but I want to see the whites of their eyes when they tell us my poor child is going to have to manage without any specialist provision for 16+ even though he's patently very vulnerable and in need of significant extra support (his current placement costs them £16k a year).

@Penelope1703 welcome. That sounds tough. I hope it goes well tomorrow. Do you have any 6th forms in mind?

Not really. It's so hard. There's so little specialist provision at 16+ who provide both a-level (eg maths physics chemistry) PLUS the life skills, how to make friends, how to talk to shopkeepers, how not to have a meltdown when your bus doesn't turn up, and learning support. We are in Surrey so perhaps More House or Wemms in Long Ditton. Or a mainstream sixth form with a significant package (what that would
Look like I'm not sure, maybe HLTA hours x lots, plus ELSA type support and maybe a PA?).

PS thank you. X

It might be worth giving Kings' Maths School a call? Not necessarily because they'd be suitable but I'd bet my bottom dollar they've educated a few DC like your son. They're nice people there.

Ooh thanks. I will do.

Did you see wemms on the bbc

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4n457g4ynyo

read the ofstead report too done last month - not a great read.

surrey aren’t placing children at wemms currently.

From what my friends have told me about what happened to their children I wouldn’t put my boy there. Equally there will be some happy children there…. Before someone comments .

Suppose you have to view the school on whether it suits your child

Have you looked at hurst lodge?

St Dominic’s? Unstead park

Or even places like Merrist woods / Elysian? If a formal setting doesn’t work?!?!?

As well as the ones you mention and Unsted Park if boarding is suitable have a look at Breckenbrough, Alderwasley Hall, West Kirby, and Gretton. If a school doesn’t offer all the subjects DS wants, but can meet all other needs you could look at the school provision being supplemented with a tutor or online school. If there isn’t an appropriate school/college you could look at EOTAS.

Wemms, like many special schools, is divisive. Parents either love it or hate it, as acknowledged by the OFSTED report. Although that also states more than half the parents would recommend it.

Also, have you joined Facebook groups
ehcp surrey
We shine local network

You have this - you defo have the upper hand - watch surrey crumble in a tribunal.

Are they bringing anyone with them as professionals? Or just the “case worker”