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!!

Glad that was positive @Phineyj.

I'm needing to raise non-compliance but have been faffing around putting it off as I don't want to breach the relationship.

@Phineyj Yes that does sound positive !!

@MrsLamb Thank you, and yes I know where you're coming from.
He was a nice guy, but I know ultimately it isn't his decision.

How much weight does an ep report have when it comes to the LA making a decision? Does anyone know ?
I explained how the class ta is run ragged between 3 classes and cannot be there for all the kids.
The ep said something along the lines of "ds needing someone for himself that can guide him, but not someone stuck to him like Velcro throughout the day" at this point I said no not all day, but for a certain couple of lessons he does need someone there with just him.
I tried to be every clear ds needs 1:1

Well, in our case it appeared to make no difference to the EHCP decision.

But it's still a useful document to have.

For us, it was the first time anyone had actually put on paper that DD was working 1-2 years behind her peers, which as a teacher I could see was the case.

Frankly I only had to compare to the 8 year old next door to see that. But no-one would say it.

Hmm. The ep said something along the lines of "ds needing someone for himself that can guide him, but not someone stuck to him like Velcro throughout the day" This sounds suspiciously close to how LAs often misrepresent the research to justify not including 1:1 in EHCPs.

LAs often pay quite a bit of attention to LA EP reports, but LA EP reports are often poor and don’t accurately reflect needs and the required provision.

@ThomasWasTortured I've just been listening to "Antisocial" on BBC radio 4. It was about judicial review. They didn't mention SEN once...

It's a waiting game now isn't it. The ep reckons I should know in 3-4 weeks lol here's hoping !

What's funny though, the morning I sent my stage 1 complaint off, within 4 hours I had a locum ep calling me to arrange the assessment, I don't think it was a coincendence !

@Phineyj that doesn’t surprise me. SEN and disability in general is often an after thought to society as a whole.

@losingthe sadly DC whose parents know the system and can advocate for them get better support. It really shouldn’t be that way, but it isn’t going to alter any time soon. Arguably this fails most vulnerable children the most.

I had a meeting yesterday with headteacher and senco they think DD needs a Sen autism school. I agree. The school in mind requires a doagnosis Daughter is still awaiting nhs diagnosis.

To support our daughters EHCNA I have sought small talk speech and language therapy for full salt assessment. We have an appointment in a few weeks. They follow nice guidelines and can assist with ASD assessment, the salt therapist advised when she does the speech assessment she will screen for ASD for referral. What does this mean? Do places accept private diagnosis

LAs and schools cannot have a blanket policy of refusing to accept independent assessments. The validity of any assessment and potential diagnosis is less likely to be questioned if the assessment follows the NICE guidelines &/or the HCP works/has previously undertaken NHS work.

My LA has had to contract out OT assessments to a charity as they don't have enough capacity in house. There was a bit of an issue with accessing the report, as it was unclear who actually had ownership of it - the local healthcare trust who'd commissioned it or the LA who'd requested it. But eventually we got it.

We've had no issue with the original ASD ADHD (ADOS/Qb check/SLT) (private) assessment being accepted. That organisation appears to have done most of the diagnosis for our Borough (at parents' expense natch) and is staffed by moonlighting NHS consultants.

The private OT report (sensory) I don't think was worth it as the NHS don't seem to accept that sensory needs are a thing. Although I suppose if we'd not managed to wrestle the LA report out of the system, at least we'd have had something. And it opened my DH's eyes to the needs as he was the one who took her along.

Long story short - a good quality report's definitely better than no report. Knowledge is power etc.

@Phineyj sadly, that’s not an uncommon problem, If both the LA and independent OT/service are being difficult, SARs to both should work.

Sensory OT provision can be part of an EHCP even if the ICB doesn’t commission sensory OT.

Thanks, @ThomasWasTortured, just got to get the EHCP now eh! I've sent off the SEND 7 form today to request an earlier tribunal date. Predictably, heard nothing from the LA in the 5 days.

So the next key date is 15th Dec, by which the LA have to send me their response. Although "have to" is beginning to seem rather elastic.

@Phineyj it won’t come as a surprise to you, but don’t be shocked if the LA breach the deadline.

As frustrating as it is, from your posts, I believe you will get the EHCP. It is the LA playing games, again. Hoping you will shut up and go away, and even if you don’t it saves them money in the short term.

Indeed and we should probably all get that on a motivational poster 😂.

I have got an excellent track record of not shutting up and not going away.

@ThomasWasTortured thank you from what I've read the people we are seeing are very well known in the field for their good work

Our school have said they will complete EHCP and we will get a meeting to add to the draft they do. Any tips? Can I ask to see it in advance, for example? How far in advance? I won’t remember in one meeting to mention everything in the EP reports, (that the school show no sign of having read) that might be important to include, for example.

Hi @LushFloral, presumably they mean they're requesting the LA to do a needs assessment? The LA carry out the needs assessment and write the EHCP if they decide one's needed, not the school. The school provide evidence though.

If you think they haven't read reports etc, write your own summary of the most important points in bullet point form.

Get used to doing other people's jobs for them; that's my advice.

Thank you. Yes sorry school will be making the request. Agree about doing their jobs for them. It’s a helpful reminder. I really struggle with the increased admin burden of having kids with SEN as well as the financial and social and health burdens. You’re right though.

@LushFloral you can request an EHCNA yourself. That way, you know it has been done ASAP with all the relevant information. If you want the school to do it, there is no standard process for having a meeting/seeing a draft. For any meetings, you should make notes of anything you wish to mention so you don’t forget.

@Mummytodo yes small talk are excellent, I was commenting on independent reports as a whole.

I hear you on the admin!

I've had to step down from a voluntary role I was doing because the paperwork for that was in direct conflict for time with all the tribunal stuff.

A person can only do so much.

Thank you.

Do you think I will need an OT report I don't think the la will do one and I don't think I'll have time to get one done by the time the evidence is due in

@Mummytodo do you think there are significant needs in that area? We managed to get OT done within a couple of weeks but we were able to travel (and pay). However, it wasn't one specifically for a tribunal.

@Mummytodo during an EHCNA, the LA is required to seek information and advice from:
a) the child’s parent or the young person;
b) educational advice (usually from the head teacher or principal);
c) medical advice and information from a health care professional;
d) psychological advice and information from an educational psychologist;
e) advice and information in relation to social care;
f) advice and information from any other person the local authority thinks appropriate;
g) where the child or young person is in or beyond year 9, advice and information in relation to provision to assist the child or young person in preparation for adulthood and independent living; and
h) advice and information from any person the child’s parent or young person reasonably requests that the local authority seek advice from.

H can include OT. Email the LA requesting an OT assessment. If they refuse email the Director of Children’s Services reminding them of their duty under Reg 6(1) of the SEN Regs 2014.

Thank you

I think DD has alot of sensory issues which is a barrier to learning I don't want her to be sort of sent to the wrong Sen school where her learning or education is limited because they have not reviewed her sensory needs appropriately

So today (Monday 27th) is the day evidence is due in for EHCNA…. And what a shambles it all is!

• OT- declined to assess with a very short rejection letter, no phonecall. I complained, got a phonecall explaining they don’t cover sensory needs. They did however write a much more thorough report for advice. Luckily we have a private report to submit.
• SALT- another decline stating DS doesn’t have communication issues. He’s autistic so obviously this is ridiculous. Another complaint, another phonecall, an apology, and another explanation of how their service doesn’t cover this kind of need. They did a new letter at least acknowledging his issues though.
• CAMHS- heard nothing. I will chase this now it’s late, is there a complaint letter I can send directly to them?
• EdPsych- chased this with LA to be told- delays…. So I contacted them myself, spoke to principal Ed Psych who was apologetic. She has agreed that once our independent report arrives (hopefully this week) that as long as I’m happy with it they will use it to go to panel.

So in the whole time since starting this process the only people who have actually seen my son are the ones we’ve paid. His diagnosis was private too. It’s awful!

I don’t think I’m going to complain about the EdPsych assessment not happening just yet, purely because they’ve agreed to use the independent report. I think this could be a benefit that’s worth the delay? Thoughts anyone? I’ve got the contact details for principal Ed Psych now and she said I can drop her a line whenever. Which I will!

But I definitely want to complain about CAMHS, as they’ve not even been in touch in the 6 weeks. But I am wondering- is there much they can add to an EHCP in terms of needs and provision that’s not likely to be already covered in an Ed Psych report?

Also wondering about getting a private SALT resort…. Again I guess it depends what’s in the EP report. The assessment was 2 weeks ago now so I’m hoping we get it this week…!