DD14 wants to home school, options without an ehcp

[48wheaties]

Hi there, I think I know the answer to this, but my DD in year 10 has had steadily falling school attendance due to anxiety. We changed school in year 9 as she was struggling in a grammar. Anxiety has been confirmed by the GP, and she's had a couple of weeks off school prior to half term.
We have got dates in the coming month for private ASD assessment, counselling, private OT and private psychiatric assessment because of low mood and suicidality.

The school have done nothing proactively, however, when pushed by me they have agreed to a shorter day, of say, 2 hrs from next week. The head of year and senco have both suggested home schooling in meetings, which i suspect is unlawful. DD still is terrified to go in, because of other kids asking her where she was, the sensory environment etc. She feels even a sort time in school is like asking her to hold a spider for 5 minutes as opposed to one hour. Same terror.

For clarity, I went through similar with her brother, who has diagnosed ASD and spent the whole of his year 8 out of school with anxiety (thankfully he went back to school, but he already had an ehcp, so the LA were forced to help).

My gut instinct is to remove my daughter from school for her to decompress and have her assessments done. I know she is close to school leaving, so by the time we go through ehc needs assessment, ehcp write up, appeal, tribunal for EOTAS she will be about 19! Can I remove her for her sake (under the guise of EHE) and let her enjoy life? I can teach a bit of maths and cooking and life skills. She can go back to education when she's better. I just want my happy daughter back!

Do I have any other options?

Yes, you absolutely can withdraw her from school and give her whatever education is suitable to her. It doesn't have to cover the same subjects as are done at school.

Depending what there is about the school environment which is contributing to the anxiety, you could also include some school-type elements in her home education if that works for her. For example, many colleges have a 14-16 programme. Home educated kids can do just one or two subjects at college as a complement to the education they are receiving at home. Also, in many areas there are tutor-led (I)GCSE study groups for home educated kids, which teens might attend for a few hours a week.

Bottom line is that your daughter's happiness and health is the top priority. There are various ways to get an education. Despite how the school system operates, there is no age deadline for doing that. Neither of my kids took any GCSEs at 16. One is now 24 and at university, while the other is 17 and is learning life skills at home; GCSEs aren't appropriate for her, but she might later do the more practical and straightforward Functional Skills exams.

Mumsnet has a home ed board if you want to chat more about options, and there are loads of local and national home ed Facebook groups.

Don’t deregister and EHE. Parents often find it easier to get support when they remain on a school’s roll, even if their DC can’t attend. Crudely, you are someone’s ‘problem’. If you EHE, it is easier for professionals to sweep DD’s needs under the carpet. However, that doesn’t mean DD has to continue to attend if she can’t. If DD can’t attend school because of her MH the LA has a statutory duty to provide a suitable, full-time education under s19 of the Education Act 1996. This should begin once it becomes clear 15 days will be missed. The days don’t need to have already been missed or consecutive. If you EHE the LA will say you are making suitable alternative arrangements, thereby relieving them of their duty.

The school should not be trying to off-roll. Part time timetables should also be short term aimed at reintegration. After that DC should either be attending full time or alternative arrangements made as well as part time school/instead of school to ensure they receive a suitable full-time education.

She isn’t too late for an EHCP. They can continue until 25, or 26 in some cases. The benefit of an EHCP is it can include therapies and other provision far in excess of what DD will otherwise receive. EOTAS packages can include provision the vast, vast majority of parents wouldn’t be able to afford to fund themselves.

You're right that the school mustn't encourage you to deregister your daughter and home educate her simply because that suits their needs better. At the same time, if you've decided home ed IS actually the best way forward for your daughter, you don't need to get too hung up on their motivations, or keep her at school just to prove to them that they don't get to push her out!

Thanks for your replies. I haven't made my mind up yet. I certainly want to see what the assessments throw up before making a decision. She might as well stay on roll until then!