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!!

Hello, can I join please? I have Yr6 twins with ASD. One DT has had an EHCP since Yr4 but both school and the LA have been shambolic in executing it. It is with the LGO and the deadline for the LA to respond is soon.

Other DT was refused assessment, then refused to issue on the back of rubbish reports which were done under duress; I had to instigate a judicial review because of delays. The LA ignored independent EP report. Tribunal is almost one year away.

As an aside, I’m wondering if anyone in the know about how MS schools operate can tell me if DT2 is likely to get the following or if it’s just pretty on paper. I do not expect it will happen without an EHCP:

DT2 needs twice daily meetings with a mentor such as SENCO to brief and de brief their day.

DT2 needs teachers who understand their complex needs.

DT2 needs social stories to help their understanding.

There’s more, but I don’t think even these basic things will happen. Is a SENCO really going to have time to meet DT2 twice per day?!

Those don't sound unachievable but I think realistically it would have to be a member of the SEN team, not the SENCO herself (I guess there must be male SENCOs, but I've never met one).

My school (a mainstream comprehensive) has 60 students with EHCP in years 7-11. The SENCO is not going to check in with any of them twice daily. But one of the girls in my form has a designated person (a HLTA) who does just that.

I agree, highly unlikely to be the SENCO, but could be a key person/mentor/pastoral support worker/TA. Although without an EHCP, this may not be guaranteed every day, twice a day. Teachers’ understanding of DT2’s complex needs will depend on the teacher. Some are better than others. To an extent, it will also depend on the SENCO and how good they are at supporting teachers and providing them with information.

Have you requested an expedited hearing as DT2 is phase transfer year?

For future reference, if provision detailed, specified and quantified in F isn’t provided, you can look at judicial review. Most of the time, the threat or pre-action letter is enough.

@fedupallthisrubbish Thank you so much for your kind words, its appreciated

@ThomasWasTortured How do I request an expedited hearing? It is frustrating because I know DT2 will get minimum help and he is more obviously in need than his brother!

DT2 also needs a sensory diet implemented in to the day , multiple times per day. His primary do this when they can but in a MS secondary, I’m unable to fathom a TA taking time out to be trained in his needs and then implementing it daily without an EHCP.

@Phineyj That sounds reassuring. It’s so exhausting the whole process.

It is exhausting. As soon as you sort one bit, another one pops its head up. Educational whack-a-mole.

I feel for you having twins.

@CopASealOfThese as you have already submitted an appeal, you can make the request via a RfC SEND7 form. Don’t forget, before sending it to SENDIST you need to consult the LA first.

@ThomasWasTortured I had no idea I could do this. I will consult the LA and request an expedited hearing. TYSM. :)

@CopASealOfThese Even if the LA ignore your email consulting them on requesting an expedited hearing you can still send the SEND7 form, just say you consulted the LA and they haven’t replied and attach your email.

@ThomasWasTortured Send7 downloaded as we posted! How long is reasonable to give the LA time to respond?

5 working days is generally considered long enough.

@Phineyj Yes double the trouble it certainly is! DT1 has the EHCP but thrives with the right support and after a turbulent beginning is settled.

I thought we had it nailed until DT2 started to struggle and he needs more support than his brother , but it’s proving hard to get. I don’t have a great relationship with our LA so the cynic in me wonders if this is partly the reason they are blocking all support for DT2.

@ThomasWasTortured I’ve sent the form to the LA and asked for a response within 5 days. Thankyou.

Hi @ThomasWasTortured Sorry I missed your post when scrolling, but just read it now, so thank you so much, this really helps me a lot, I will take your advice it's exactly what I needed to know and extremely helpful thanks :0)

@CopASealOfThese I suspect the situation has worsened since the pandemic. So many people are on long term sick and that includes people in LAs and schools. Ed psychs are in shortage. Lots of unfilled teacher and TA vacancies.

I don't imagine you're even in their top 100 of "that parent"!

@Phineyj Yes I suppose that is likely true. It’s just hard not to take it personally when it’s your DC . Irrational of course, but the fight is extremely tiresome .

Amen to this.^

Morning,

Oh that's an interesting point thank you - maybe I need to specify a monthly update in the EHCP 👍

No I think the last meeting was the last annual review last year. My husband did see a few teachers at one parents evening in Oct (I think) The salt lady emailed some targets but I think she is completely wrong with some of her points - so I even wrote an email to the senco asking whether she was any good or not as she could do more damage than good - she needs to build a relationship with him first but she had some wacky ideas that defo won't work with my son so I hope she isn't pushing them. God knows what the OT person is doing / has done / not doing as there is no equipment in school. He would be better off doing skiing lessons to gain OT (that has crossed my mind that it would be a better use of OT or whether that would be allowed 😂)

Annual review on Friday - I think it would be better to add in a clinical psychologist for weekly therapy or something like that .... but doubt I can say oh by the way I think I'd like someone else on the EHCP.

Also, all his reports are now out dated as they only last a yr and no way I'm paying for more professional reports ....

Not long to go until the end of term - the countdown is on 🤩

Provision in EHCPs is taken from the evidence rather than just what parents say, so you will need evidence a monthly update, clinical psychology sessions, sports/exercise sessions are required.

This is where we are screwed by ourLA who refuse to include any provision unless suggested by their own EP. Will not undertake SALT/OT reports themselves either and will not act on independent ones.

That”s not uncommon, but you can appeal, and SENDIST do consider independent reports.

Hiya!

I'm just wondering whether at the annual review of the EHCP - "update to the story "whether the school should write in there that they have had 2 meltdowns at school in there? As it just states the facts but it doesn't state the reasons behind it (he didn't want to go to homework club until 5 as he hates homework and thinks it's pointless) so I kind of feel like it's a bit unfair in there. Or is it that they are highlighting that he can meltdown if triggered?

Thanks - I feel super stressed by all this rubbish arrrrrhhhhhh x

You could request the triggers be included, but in the grand scheme of things I don’t think it matters, it isn’t really going to make a difference to anything. Sections B&F of the EHCP are the important parts.

Rather than focus on what the school have written, could you use it to discuss homework and the way forward? Has the homework load been reduced to just the basic essentials? Have you considered looking at DS’s timetable to see whether essential homework can be done during the school day?

Thank you for your reply! I really appreciate it.

Yes I've asked extensively to bring him home after school finishes but he has to stay - it's compulsory- there is no flex. Ive asked the senco and even the head but if I want him at that school he has to do the hrs and that includes staying until 5pm.

It's absolutely catch 22 - we feel its the best school for him at the minute ..... so difficult this sen world and eduction.

Onwards and upwards need to do that ipsea training 👍 thank you I'll focus on those 2 sections in the EHCP x

Is the school wholly independent? Who is it compulsory for? Everyone? Or a subsection? The latter isn’t enforceable, and depending on the specifics may be discriminatory. You could try to get no after school homework club in F, along with a limited amount of essential homework or even no homework.