ADD EHCP

[ADogAndThreeCats]

We are going to have our EHCP meeting at school which I requested at a Local Council. I would appreciate any advice about what to mention, and what to say...

My Y6 DS has ADD and exhibits symptoms of dyspraxia. This includes his PE, coordination and inability to handwrite longer pieces. It's not only about the legibility of his handwriting ( awful) but, most importantly, his hand gets tired very quickly. The handwriting struggle affects the development of his writing skills, particularly in creating stories. Last year, the teacher paid no attention to my recommendation of allowing my DS to type. Only half a year later did the message sink in for her, but it had already affected my son's writing skills.

Therefore, I would like the option of typing longer pieces of accommodation to be included in the EHCP statement, so I don't have to struggle with the lack of communication between SEN and the teacher, to say the least.
We are unlikely to get a 1:1 ratio because my DS is above the expected levels in maths and reading. This is due to the fact that he is very bright and my hard work with him at home. He could benefit from somebody helping him to pay attention as he is inattentive and his mind flies around even during tests.
CAMHS rejected him as he is missing that H in ADHD. He is not impulsive or hyper. He is calm, just inattentive. This is confirmed by the teachers who struggle to keep him focused but not enough for CAMHS
I am struggling to get an appointment with a paediatrician specializing in such cases. My GP says the referral should come from the school, but the school has done nothing despite I have been raising this issue since Year 3.
Now, after I completed the EHCP request, the SEN at school suddenly started panicking and completed the referral to OT. OT responded that they had already spoken with the school's SEN about it and sent a letter requesting referral forms. The school sent me a scan of a letter addressed to the school's SEN lady asking if I had heard about it. I must admit I was shocked that they sent me a letter that wasn't addressed to me and they clearly lost!
Last year, SEN wanted to meet regularly with my son, but it never happened. When I asked why it never took place, I received loads of excuses. I was truly fed up with it and that is why I think that only EHCP may help.

Any advice before EHCP meeting? Many thanks in advance

Do you really believe that your son is ahead because of the work you've done at home and nothing at school has counted? The 30+ hours they spend at school. And all to get an EHCP?

The only time I've known a child to get an EHCP whilst ahead academically is when they have severe mental health and have previous childhood trauma

@strawberryandcreams

>You need to schedule a meeting with the SENCO and ask them to put in a referral to the OT.

Please read about it in my initial post. They lost the letter from OT.
I already achieved a lot by applying for EHCP. It created panic at SEN dep at school and they contacted OT. Please read what I written initally.

>Again you need to talk to your paediatrician.

Really? Honestly, please read carefully my inital post.

@strawberryandcreams

I am exhausted and stressed with endless problems I came here for help and not to be bullied or patronised. Thanks for your attention.

So, has the LA agreed to assess?

If 1:1 is required it can still be part of EHCPs. LAs don’t like it because it costs money, but it is possible.

Many schools don’t have the staff/resources to deliver TA support not detailed in EHCPs.

There are many academically able DC with EHCPs. I have 2 such DC myself and have supported many others.

What I meant was, LAs often say a lot of things that are myths/unlawful policies e.g. have to be 2+ years behind, school spent £6k, 2 APDR cycles. In some areas SENDIASS repeat these myths/policies rather than give accurate information.

Why would CAMHS refuse to see him for having ADD instead of ADHD when in fact he doesn’t have a diagnosis of either?

OP ask for your thread to be moved to the SN or SEN boards. Or start a new thread there.

If the EP for the school doesn’t feel he meets their criteria and they haven’t referred to OT, then I agree, that if you feel these things would be useful, you will probably need to commission private reports.

I can assure you that no one at school will have panicked because you want an EHCP. Either work with the school sensibly and try to understand their point of view or move your son to a different school. A battle doesn't help anybody, including your son.

Be there done that.

You are not willing to hear advice. My LA lost my daughters referral. I chased up every day. It's a minefield.

It sounds like the school have messed up, but the problems haven't been fixed. Cahms have said no and so did the Ed psych.

So I'm confused about what you want done with your son who is within normal limits for behaviour and working above ARE.

Does he have social needs?

What happened after the OT referral letter was lost? Did they still have an appointment date on their system?

It's all very confusing

@YellowRosesWithRedTips

>So, has the LA agreed to assess?

They agreed on a first meeting at school

I spoke with my DS teacher yesterday and she said that in the ideal world my son should have 1:1 because of attention issues but she says that in practice they may not grant it because they spend only on those who are below expected ( cannot say the word "underperformers" because somebody found it inappropriate here)

> In some areas SENDIASS repeat these myths/policies rather than give accurate information.

does anything depends on me, meaning what I say. Or does it only depends on our luck with who will be representing EHCP. I would appreciate your insight on that

Underperformers is extremely rude and dismissive of children with EHCPs. Yes, do not use it.

Nobody is bullying or patronising you, but just trying to point out that, whilst it seems the school could do more to take account of your son’s needs, he doesn’t have a formal diagnosis of a condition and the accommodations he needs can be put in place without an EHCP.

@strawberryandcreams

>So I'm confused about what you want done with your son who is within normal limits for behaviour and working above ARE.

You are assuming that I know the SEND system and all of the procedures very well and I know what to expect. No, I don't.

I needed to start the process of giving a gentle shake to SEN at school for my son to be referred to OT and paediatrician. For half of it at least mission has been accomplished as they have done something like noticing that at the beginning of this year, they have not responded to OT

I was hoping that EHCP may be a statement that includes the provision of typing during exams because last academic year experience with SEN and teacher was that they have not done anything about it but moaned when he was Below Expected in writing ( no shit sherlock, what a discovery they made after me telling them that for 2 years...)

Yes, there is a whole range of social issues that also should be addressed. He is different. Children can be mean as a result.

They agreed on a first meeting at school

That isn’t an actual response though. The LA has 6 weeks to inform you whether they are going to assess or not. Have they do that?

With an EHCP, 1:1 can be given to those academically able. Without an EHCP very few get 1:1 nowadays because of funding and staffing. Follow up the verbal conversation with an email so you have a paper trail as evidence.

does anything depends on me, meaning what I say. Or does it only depends on our luck with who will be representing EHCP. I would appreciate your insight on that

I’m not sure what you mean? SENDIASS don’t have a say on whether an EHCP is issued or not. The best thing you can do is read IPSEA and SOSSEN’s websites and understand the law, rather than what the LA say and what like you to believe.

well, a sentence above ( not from you) was very argumentative in tone as if I knew ins and outs of EHCP and all process and had a "fancy".

And I totally agree with the latter part of your sentence. The school could do more. So I spent 3 years trying to achieve it. I got entirely fed up and even if EHCP will not be granted, maybe and only maybe it will inspire SEN team to do something. It already did. They panicked and contacted OT. Now, how do I make it to paediatrician...?

So it can be frustrating.

I think a referral to the paediatrician is necessary (don't need a specialist)

They can send out a connors questionnaire for ADD and ADHD. Plus a social communications questionnaire for ASD.

Fill it in, and you should get an app with the paediatrician. The waiting list is long.

Is they suspect ASD (social communication issues), your child will be placed on a waiting list to have an ADOS assessment.

In the meantime, chase up the paediatrician services and see where you are with the OT referral.
A school meeting with the SENCO to discuss laptops in classrooms and you can push the school to have the Ed psych look at your child.
They said no to me first time round and wanted me to pay privately. I said no. And the Ed psych came and did an assessment.

It sounds like everything stopped after the first hurdle.
You may get an EHCP, but without an evidence (reports from Ed psych, paed, OT etc) and without a diagnosis, it will be quite tricky. It can happen without diagnosis, but evidence will be needed.

@YellowRosesWithRedTips We are too early in the process. We are in week 3. I filled EHCP request and next day the meeting at school was arranged with EHCP representative in participation and SEN. This will take place this week. Nothing else has been done yet.

>The best thing you can do is read IPSEA and SOSSEN’s websites and understand the law,
will do. Good advice.

OP, it is possible to get an EHCP when the school could do more but won’t.

Using a laptop and assistive tech can be part of the provision in an EHCP.

Unfortunately, it is unlikely you will get an EP assessment from the LA/school outside of the EHCP process. Funding is tighter than in the past, and that’s not mentioning the EP shortage.

>In the meantime, chase up the paediatrician services and see where you are with the OT referral.

yes but I struggle to get referred to a paediatrician. The GP says that the school should refer us and the school hardly managed to complete the referral to OT ( as a result of panic because I completed EHCP) because they neglected it and lost a letter from OT 😩that they sent in Feb/March.

>Is they suspect ASD (social communication issues), your child will be placed on a waiting list to have an ADOS assessment.

yes, there is something around that for sure. Who is doing ADOS? Isn't it something that CAMHS is doing? CAMHS said in the letter that he is missing impulsivity and hyperactivity to qualify for assessment 😭

@YellowRosesWithRedTips

>it is possible to get an EHCP when the school could do more but won’t.

that is why I started it. Obviously, there is negligence from the school side.

>Using a laptop and assistive tech can be part of the provision in an EHCP.

and that is exactly what I am after. I am exhausted with endless battles about
it.

>Unfortunately, it is unlikely you will get an EP assessment from the LA/school outside of the EHCP process. Funding is tighter than in the past, and that’s not mentioning the EP shortage.

I will be even happy if they motivate the school to send referrals and place in EHCP info about typing. Any little counts. In 12 months time we will know more if he needs 1:1 or not and how to help him.

@strawberryandcreams

>They can send out a connors questionnaire for ADD and ADHD. Plus a social communications questionnaire for ASD.

CAMHS has done it. He is definitely not ASD - they stated. And for ADHD as I mentioned they said he is not hyperactive or impulsive. I am shocked but my conclusion is they do nothing about ADD.

>A school meeting with the SENCO to discuss laptops in classrooms and you can push the school to have the Ed psych look at your child.

yeah, discussed it with teacher, SENCO and I am battling it every year. I think this year teacher got it. But I need that in statement. I am exhausted with all process

Op it sounds like the school have let you down.

You can make the referral yourself.
The connors questionnaire gets sent to you and the school. Both needs to be filled in and sent back before you will get an appointment with a paediatrician. It's a long wait time. Over a year.

When we went to the appointment, we got the adhd diagnosis there and then. Then, put on a waitlist for ADOS test. To diagnose ASD. This is done by a specialist speech and language therapist. Then it's a further few months before an actual diagnosis is given.

So in the mean time, go to the meeting. Be clear about what you want- interventions by the school to help your child. He cannot be the only one within the school with additional needs. A TA can deliver these interventions as instructed by Teacher and SENCO. Request a laptop. A wobble cushion? Breaks every 20 mins or so, to aid concentration. Fidget toy.

Am I right that your son hasn't been diagnosed with add or dispraxia?
CAMHs are very slow but normally their correct and a psychologist or physiatrist will read the reports sent in from school, doctors and home and if criteria isn't meet then they won't see the child.
ECHP are not just for children that need more help to focus or more help academic their for youngsters that need more support in certain parts of school life. This maybe a 1to1 a 2 to 1 or a small group. My son does have diagnoses of autism, adhd, touretts and dispraxia and he doesn't have or need a echp but he can use a laptop in certain subjects but not all, he's doing his GCSEs now and is at a main stream school. He had learnt different ways of coping as although he's unique hes also at a mainstream school. I use to worry how he'd cope but he does. He has loads of friends and a girlfriend and although struggles at times you wouldn't know. He's also a teenager who a little shit. Try and relax and if the school aren't worried you shouldn't be. He'll be at secondary and they will put in any help he needs.

When you say cahms has done it. As in you and the school both completed a social questionnaire and then a formal assessment took place to look for autism? Because from what you've said, it sounds like it could be a mix of add and ASD. Also, I thought my DD was ADD, but was diagnoised with ADHD after assessment.

Who assesses for ASD and ADHD varies area to area, and it isn’t always the same team who assess for both. In some areas it is CAMHS, others it is paeds, and in some it is standalone teams. Whether you can self refer depends on the area you live in. Whether you get questionnaires before an appt also depends on the area you live in.

ADOS is a tool that is often used during ASD assessments. It isn’t always undertaken by a speech and language therapist.

If the LA refuse to assess or refuse to issue an EHCP you should appeal. The vast majority of appeals are upheld.