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Here you'll find advice from parents and teachers on special needs education.

How to respond to draft EHC plan?

1 reply

crescen · 20/10/2023 20:23

Sorry for the long post but I would love to get some advice.

My son started school in September and has settled in nicely. This school has a speech and language unit, where I wanted my son to go, but he goes to the mainstream class (without an EHCP) at the moment. My son's understanding is okay-ish but his expressive speech is severely delayed to the extent that he cannot even pronounce his own name. He doesn't have autism, but struggles with sustaining his attention and is also very clumsy.

I received his draft EHCP this week. The draft plan mentions some 1:1 sessions, which amounts to only about an hour of 1:1 per week. The EP report says, "X's short attention span will impact the information he is able to take in, in a group or busier setting and on his ability to engage in learning activities" but this bit is incorporated in section B but not in section F. Based on the EP report, a total of 60 minutes of 1:1 sessions (per week) are included in section F. The SLT's report is incorporated in section F, saying "Opportunities for small group or 1:1 learning as X responds better to adult direction in these situation." However, there are no quantified recommendations from the SLT, simply universal and targeted interventions (to be delivered by school staff as required). In my response to the draft EHCP, can I ask for the LA to quantify the SLT's recommendations and provide more 1:1 support?

Based on these recommendations, is it reasonable to request for the speech and language unit at the same school?

I spoke to the SENCO today and she told me there was no space available at the resource base. The school is wonderful, because they have made reasonable adjustments for my son's other health needs (which have not even been mentioned in the EHCP). Also it's the nearest school, just 5 minutes walk. At this point I don't want to change his school, but I would want him to have a place at the resource base. Is it possible to say we'll wait until a resource base place is available in the same school? Or do we request for additional provisions in the mainstream setting?

Thank you for reading. I would really appreciate any feedback and suggestions.

OP posts:
YellowRosesWithRedTips · 21/10/2023 15:24

All needs should be in B, and each need should have corresponding provision in F and outcomes in E. If the draft doesn’t include everything say so.

F must be detailed, specified and quantified. No woolly wording such as “access to”, “would benefit from”, “regular”, “or equivalent”, “opportunities for”… Small group also needs defining. Highlight and woolly wording otherwise DS may not receive the provision he needs and it cannot be enforced. Provision in EHCP s is taken from the reports, so are they detailed, specified and quantified or are they vague and woolly? If the latter ask the LA to go back to the report writers to make them detailed, specified and quantified.

Yes, you can request the ARP if that is your preference. You can appeal if the LA refuse.

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