Kings InterHigh - EHCP

[vinoandbrie]

Hello.

One of my DDs is autistic, and her current primary school is saying that they don’t feel they can do anything further to support her, and alternative provision has been suggested.

DD is bright, academically able, and in year 5.

The special schools in our area do not cater for children who are academically able.

In light of this, and in light of the issues she is having at school (over-stimulation, TAs who need but aren’t getting significant additional training, difficulty navigating a large class size, distress around lunchtime, assembly, the level of noise and number of people etc etc), I am starting to think that an online school like Kings Inter High may be the answer for her.

How would this work in terms of the LA funding it? I believe that although I could request a personal budget for resources she might need at home such as laptop, paper, stationery, the therapeutic provision that she currently gets from an external provider delivered via school, that the actual fees for an online school would need to be paid direct by the council.

Also, if we were home schooling, what would happen in terms of exercise under her EHCP. We’ve never had a personal budget before, could I request a budget for eg 1:1 swimming / riding lessons (she doesn’t function well in groups unfortunately).

We have an EHCP review meeting shortly, and school only just flagged that they are basically not able to meet need, although when we moved earlier in the year they obviously did say they could meet need, which they said in good faith. I want to be as prepared as I can be for that meeting.

If it is inappropriate for the provision to be made in a school, then it is EOTAS you want. The LA remains responsible this way. What is included in an EOTAS package depends on DC’s needs. It can include swimming and horse riding, but you would need evidence they are required and for them to be included in F. You will need evidence EOTAS is required and you may have to appeal.

A personal budget is the overall notional budget necessary to deliver the provision. The PB can be funded in different ways:

• Direct payments whereby you are given monies to organise provision yourself.
• LA or school controlled funds where they commission support directly.
• Third party arrangements where a third party is given the funds to manage on your behalf.
• A mixture of 2 or 3 of the above.

A minority of LAs will give a PB to those EHEing, but the majority of the time if you EHE the LA will say you are making suitable alternative arrangements thereby relieving them of their duty. And, even if you do get a PB for EHE, it will not be to the same amount as that available via EOTAS.

Have you looked at independent schools and out of area schools? You may have already looked at them, but I mention it as some don’t realise it is an option.

TAs who need but aren’t getting significant additional training

Is this training stated in the EHCP? It should be. Then it would be enforceable.

Thank you, agreed we would want EOTAS rather than EHE.

Re the training for TAs, yes this is in the EHCP. It was being delivered where we used to live no problem, by our provider of choice.

Due to various holdups with the council we’ve moved to, this is only just over the line in principle as of this week, albeit services have not started, as there is further wrangling over payment terms between the council and the provider. This has meant no provision of this service since we moved many months ago.

The school has now said that they are at the edge of the accommodations that they can make for DD. Which is what has made me think that maybe online schooling is the way forward, with the council paying for the online school, plus a personal budget to cover other bits and bobs for her.

If the training is stated in F (and not woolly or vague) then it can be enforced. The new LA become responsible for ensuring the provision is provided. Email the Director of Children’s Services threatening JR.

@vinoandbrie Kings Interhigh is not Ofsted registered so many authorities refuse to name them in an EHCP. I know of two families who tried unsuccessfully to have them named in an EHCP.

However, some authorities must use them as Interhigh do have children funded via EHCP. However, this is usually via a sister company part of Interhigh called Academy 21.

I would check your local authority alternative provision directory to see if they are listed there. It may not be an issue, but it’s often not as easy as people think to have them named for EOTAS, it will depend on your authority.

Interhigh can’t be named in section I in any LA, but regardless of what LA you live in they (and other online schools) can be part of an EOTAS (where section I should be left blank) package.

@BlueBrick You’re right, they can’t be named as provision in Section I (my mistake, I meant they wouldn’t include them as Eotas).

I do know of two separate authorities who refused to consider them for any kind of provision due to lack of Ofsted registration. Unfortunately, neither family appealed so I’m unsure what the outcome would have been.

LAs say a lot of things, but it is possible to get online schooling as part of EOTAS whatever LA you live in. Parents may have to appeal, but many have to get a good EHCP, whether it is for EOTAS or a school. It is a shame the parents you know didn’t appeal, the majority of appeals are upheld. EOTAS can include provision made via unregistered provisions.

@vinoandbrie Did you enrol with Interhigh in the end? I am looking at it for my very similar sounding yr5 child as a short term solution while we try to find a suitable specialist placement. Sorry I know this is an old post.

Hello, my DD is still in mainstream for now. We limp on. Sorry I can’t be of more help, good luck to you and your DC.

Thanks @vinoandbrie we are also limping along in mainstream while we try to find something better.

It’s so very tough isn’t it. I’ve had another email today from the SENCO about another minor disaster at school. It’s death by a thousand cuts.