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!!

Thank you. I'm on it now.

Hurst Lodge looks ideal and I'm going to book a tour.

The advocate is going to present our evidence but I don't know who the LA have on their side. Their statement is so illogical it's ridiculous and I have to believe the judge will see through it.

Elysian doesn't seem to offer a levels unless I'm being daft. Will check out merriest. A neighbours NT kid goes there because she's horse mad and they do equine studies

I'm trying bravely to navigate Merrist Wood website, but it sounds like it possibly doesn't do A levels / traditional post 16 education. An amazing options for vocational training though, really inspiring.

we hadn't ever considered the boarding option because we think maybe he'd be better off not boarding if we can find a school eg more house or hurst lodge which is close enough not to have to, But these look AMAZING. Thanks

Is this St Dominics in Harrow?

No godalming surrey

From your posts, which I appreciate give a limited snapshot, I don’t think More House and Hurst Lodge have enough of a therapeutic environment for your DS, and I don’t think St Dominic’s will be able to meet DS’s needs either.

You might be right. Currently he is getting a lot of ELSA type support from a fairly intensive therapeutic environment, and he is coming on, but he has some PDA traits (which lead to tears and shutdowns rather than anger or aggression) when he doesn't understand something etc. He's so clever though; just needs the right school. Some thought needs to happen here. If we make it through and are offered an EHCP how do you get agreement for funding for these places? Is it more fighting?

I found this document good…

https://nassurreybranch.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/NAS-Surrey-Branch-Schools-list-updated-JANUARY-2022.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3B3k2cDr67s-GUlv7fVCt4KpEiF42MJjJ1qGpc2qx5r4sHYwH6GsdQPvk_aem_th_AUTak6EE9sgWStZARwSB9LP20KYlUZHPDBa9q_4IdE2LqSE1Fuf_nYJMk7O_HMolOsg

yes I just found this myself
It's madness how much legwork we have to put in because you can't trust the system :'(

It is isn't it? (the legwork). I've been a teacher for 13 years and I work with a couple of other subject specialists who have been teaching longer than that.

I told them what I was having to do to get the EHCP and they were .

This is in a school with 70+ DC with EHCP...

Plus I've only got one child and so far (prays) we've only had the odd bit of EBSA.

Some people have several DC with SEN needs. The admin must be appalling.

If the LA are ordered to issue an EHCP you will be sent a draft. At this point you can make representations and name your preferred placement.

For non-wholly independent schools (Breckenbrough, West Kirby, St Dominic’s, Alderwasley Hall, Unsted Park) the LA must name your preference unless the LA can prove:
-The setting is unsuitable for the age, ability, aptitude or special educational needs (“SEN”) of the child or young person; or
-The attendance of the child or young person would be incompatible with the provision of efficient education for others; or
-The attendance of the child or young person would be incompatible with the efficient use of resources.
Schools can be named even if they object, and being ‘full’ is not enough of a reason on its own to refuse to name your preference.

For wholly independent schools (More House, Gretton, Hurst Lodge), need an offer of a place and to show the LA’s proposed school(s) can’t meet DS’s needs &/or it isn’t unreasonable public expenditure.

Ultimately, you may have to appeal again.

Thank you. This is really helpful. I really appreciate your help.
He missed most of year 8, the whole of year 9 and 10 with 0% attendance due to EBSA. Years 7 and 8 were a bit dodgy too (transition then pandemic). He has really suffered and having barely left the house for 3 years he has no friends and doesn't really know how to work with peers. His current setting is AMAZING but finite. And they're not going to cure his autism or stop him needing significant support to achieve his potential. (He wants to be an engineer)
A lot of these schools look wonderful but don't necessarily offer a 'proper' 16+ curriculum ie 3 a-levels or 2 a-levels + a BTEC. Which he should be able to achieve and wants to achieve to get to university.

Hi @Penelope1703 Just want to wish you all the best for tomorrow, these LA's seem to only see the application for EHCP's and not the child, it is so beyond cruel....I really hope you win tomorrow your son deserves to have an education that is right for him not what is right for the LA....Good luck! I so hope you win!

Thank you that's so kind. We're not going to let him down. We'll fight this and if all else fails I guess I sell a kidney. 😊

Have a photo of him too - to show the judge when they ask to describe your child. It reminds them there is a child at the end of this and not just a name

Good luck - I hope it goes well - surrey are shocking - you got this 💪

Some pupils in the settings listed go on to university. Not a huge number, but then they don’t have a large cohort. In the last couple of years (can’t remember what year exactly) Unsted sent a pupil to medical school. Breckenbrough, Alderwasley Hall, More House and Wemms send pupils to university. West Kirby and Gretton also have previously. However, if there isn’t a suitable college/school look at EOTAS.

This is good to hear thank you. We really want him in a school setting after so long at home but if EOTAS is the best thing we'll consider it. His SEMH needs means he really could benefit from contact with peers ideally other weird kids. More research needed (and luck for tomorrow) thanks again

@Penelope1703 that's the spirit 🙂💪

It’s an oral hearing and the advocate has said we can even bring him into the room. I love the photo idea.

EOTAS doesn’t have to be at home and can involve as much peer interaction of is appropriate.

Very naively I thought EOTAS was basically home ed. we paid for a maths tutor for two years so that he could keep up. Which was fine but he missed out on the peer stuff and social skills.
How can EOTAS incorporate friendship building / life skills etc? (Sorry to be so ignorant)

EOTAS is completely bespoke to the individuals needs.

Some DC have EOTAS packages that include barely any social interaction because that is what meets their needs. Others have EOTAS packages that include a lot of social interaction. Some have packages that look like EHE, others don’t. Some have tutors, some don’t. Some involve formal learning, some don’t. You get the picture.

For example:
Tuition - F2F, online, via online schooling, at tuition centres, online courses.
Alternative provisions - e.g. gaming centres, care farms, outward bounds places
Therapies - e.g. SALT, OT, SIOT, CBT, art therapy, music therapy, animal assisted therapy, physio, rebound etc.
Mentoring - either in person or online via services such as Mindjam who provide mentoring through gaming. This mentoring can work on PfA and there can be a budget to support it.
A budget for PfA, accessing the community and social interaction (and mentor/TA to support that) - this can include things like learning to shop, learning to manage money/a budget, but also going to theatre/trampolining/museum/beach...
Sports/exercise - swimming, climbing, horse riding, gym membership.
Cookery lessons
Music/drama etc. lessons
Driving lessons and travel training.

The possibilities are endless.

Wow. Ok I have some work to do clearly! Thank you for describing it in such detail. Really helpful and so useful (and comforting) to know this is an option.