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!!

Great news.

It may just be LA incompetence, but I would query the LA’s email.

I have! They probably haven't even actually looked...

Sums them up really, @Phineyj.

Oh honestly. Spoke to the admissions people and the SEN unit just hadn't looked. There is a valid application. Grr, as if it wasn't all stressful enough without them giving out misinformation.

I just got our initial date, which is 20/12. Is it likely to be brought forward or do they usually stick to the initial date? Been given until May for extra evidence.

Thanks!

You can complete a send7 to request it is moved forward, but there needs to be a compelling reason eg child currently is not in school, or is in year 2, 6, 9

He is at nursery, local schools have said they can’t meet needs long term, so September might be tricky! If that makes sense!

Also…when do you get a time? I assume it will be at the address on their letters? ie for me it’s in Darlington.

It's online @Coatsy

Ah! Would prefer face to face, but understandable! How long does the hearing typically last? Sorry basic questions I know!

@Coatsy if DS should start school in September request the hearing is expedited on the basis DS is a phase transfer year.

While the majority of hearings are still virtual, if there is a particular reason you need the hearing to be in person you can request it. Most hearings are listed for 10am, minority 2pm, you will find out at least a couple of weeks prior. How long hearings last depends on the specific case. It could be extremely quick if the LA turn up and concede (grrr!), or it could last most or all of the day (more likely with BFI appeals than refusal to issue), more likely it will between the two extremes.

So, the echp EP report went to the panel yesterday and I'm hoping to hear back by the end of the week.
This is one thing that stood out to me in the report - xxx needs a small, nurturing learning environment with smaller class sizes (upto 10 students) to support his emotional wellbeing and learning. He needs to be taught by teaching staff with experience of working with children and young people who have experience and training with ASC and related difficulties with emotional wellbeing’

Any thoughts on whether this is recommending a sen school?

The wording could be tighter, but is better than some. What training/experience? 1/2 day presentation 2 years ago? ‘must have’ rather than than ‘needs’ is less woolly. Need doesn’t always mean must. There’s an article that compares EHCP wording to an employment contract that gives the example of needing support, but that need doesn’t necessarily mean you will receive it. Depending on what is available locally, some ARPs are set up in a way that could deliver smaller environment/class size up to 10. How ARPs are set up varies, some enable pupils to spend all the time in the unit whereas others expect pupils to spend most time in mainstream.

Nowhere near specific enough.

What qualifications/training do they must have?

How much experience do they must have?

Thank you both, I feel like it's good they have given a number of students but I understand that the experience part isn't specific enough...
I just want to be able to say - mainstream cannot provide a small group of 10 students !

Just received word that the ehcp has been approved, so that is good news, I was worrying I'd have to appeal

Hurrah! That is brilliant. When you get the draft go through it with a fine tooth comb. It isn’t just the experience/training part that is too vague, but that is part of it. Previously, you mentioned DS already receives 1:1 for part of the week, yet that isn’t detailed, specified and quantified, did you go back to the EP about the report being inadequate? Do you have a preferred placement in mind?

No I didn't as the senco seemed to think the whole report was good, she said it was very thorough. I will have to go through it properly again and see if there's things I can use from it in our favour.
It states in the report he currently receives 14.5 hours 1:1 at school. And then 10 hours group learning. I think. Something like that.
And no idea to be honest ! It's a minefield to us, all new to it and baffled really. I do feel though that ds needs to be in a sen school, he just can't cope with the pressure, the workload and he also really really struggles socially, he doesn't have any friends at school and that's starting to bother him now he's getting older

@ThomasWasTortured Communication and Interaction, Cognition and Learning, and Sensory and Physical - these are the named areas of need

Greetings comrades. This thread is about to fill up, so come over to thread no. 2 when it does.

EHCP support thread no. 2 - www.mumsnet.com/talk/special_educational_needs/4989146-ehcp-support-thread-no-2

Well done @34weekmess <sounds thread klaxon>

From what you have posted today and previously, the report seems woolly. Be careful taking the SENCO’s word about the wording. For example, it is of no use to only state what DS currently receives. It needs to say what he must receive going forward, by who, when (e.g. unless explicit the 14.5 hours might not include the parts of the day DS needs 1:1), what… ‘Group learning’ is too vague, a class learns as a group. I imagine there are needs in all 4 areas that require provision.

Quick question from me. If SENDIST don’t overturn the appeal and they don’t believe DD needs to have a EHCNA, is there a specific time that needs to go by before you can apply for an EHCP again?

I’m just wondering whether you can gather more evidence and apply again straight away or if you have to give it a certain amount of time? Probably a silly question but I wanted to ask!

@MinnieTruck if your refusal to assess appeal isn’t upheld there is no time limit for requesting another EHCNA.

See you on the new thread all!

Thank you everyone.