Costing provision. What can be included?

[PinkGownofDoom]

I need to show that my DC’s provision exceeds the notional SEN budget of £6000, but I don’t know what I can include in costs.

DC is not attending their mainstream primary school due to burn out. They have the following in place:

A tutor provided by the LA (and funded by them).

Weekly SaLT (private sessions funded by me as waiting lists are so long).

Weekly physio (private sessions funded by me again due to waiting lists).

Some other minor things that were recommended by the Ed Psych and which I fund.

The overall cost of provision she is receiving is £6200 per annum, if I exclude the LA tuition.

If I include the LA tuition, the cost is approximately £10000 per year.

Can I include the LA tuition when costing for tribunal or can I only show the other things? (because technically if DC was in school, the tuition wouldn’t be a cost).

Would this be enough to show an EHC is needed?

TIA
Kerrie

No you can’t

You put costs that you are privately incurring

Any adaptations? Excessive travel?

Darn! I thought I could use the tuition to show that DC needs are not being met in their primary so is incurring costs.

No excessive travel involved.
DC does do a an extra curricular which is needed for social and physical well-being (gymnastics and netball). I fund these as is usual for any parent. Could I include these or is that CF territory?

£6200 is unlikely to be enough is it?

I’d put the extra curricular down yes

When you add up the weekly salt sessions and the weekly physio

how much?

surely you know whether £6200 is enough given what you privately pay?

You honestly wanted to receive money for something the LA is funding?

@Flipdiddle I’m not sure you’ve understood what I am trying to do. Do you mean am I asking the LA to pay me? Not at all.

I need to show costs on a piece of paper, for this purpose, the “money” does not actually exist. I need to total up the amount of provision to show it exceeds £6000. No money is exchanging hands.

@Flipdiddle £6200 is only £200 over the SEN notional budget. I was asking if this was enough to show it exceeds it.

I am not asking the LA to pay for anything. I am simply writing down costs.

The weekly SaLT and physio sessions total £6200.

I do appreciate your help; please be assured I’m not trying to extort anyone for my own financial gain 😁. I am simply recording costs to show DC school can not meet need from their own resources.

Is this a refusal to assess appeal or refusal to issue?

You do not necessarily need to prove £6k has already been spent. That is a myth perpetuated by LAs and some schools.

However, yes, you can include the s19 provision. The home tuition is different from the provision normally available in MS.

Things typically seen as extra curricular can sometimes be included as SEP in EHCPs.

Also, the s19 provision doesn’t sound like it is a suitable, full-time education, so you should also request that it is increased.

It’s a refusal to give an ehcp appeal. The appeal isn’t until next year but I’m organising everything now.

Is it all just about the money? Can plans only be given if a school is spending more than £6000?

Because DC is out of school have you requested an expedited hearing?

No, it isn’t all about the money and you don’t necessarily need the school to have spent £6k. Think about can DC’s needs be met by the provision ordinarily available in MS and will DC’s needs actually be met.

Do you have reports from SALT and physio? What are the reports from the EHCNA like? Have you considered whether you need independent EP and OT assessments?