EHCP support thread no. 2

[Phineyj]

This is a support thread for anyone at any stage of the EHCP process. I've got an 11 year old girl in year 6 of a mainstream private primary school. I've been seeking an EHCP since she was in year 5, to support her transition to secondary school. She is diagnosed with ASD and ADHD and is working about two years behind age related expectations. Our local authority refused to assess and refused to issue. We are currently in the 11 month wait for a second tribunal which I am hoping (but not sure) will take place before she actually goes to secondary, although I doubt the actual EHCP will be finalised by then. In the meantime I've been enjoying (not) learning all these acronyms and trying to support other people in this journey. In my spare time, I'm a secondary school teacher.

If you, too, are drowning in acronyms and paperwork while finding your local authority (LA) as useful as a chocolate teapot, join your fellow travellers here!

@RMNofTikTok hurray! I'm really pleased for you and your DD.

I went up to see SEN yesterday and they were v helpful. The EHCP kids (and those in the system without an EHCP yet) get invited in to see classes and meet staff towards the end of the summer term. The admissions lady in the office said as soon as she saw me, "You have had your offer, haven't you?" ❤️.

We had parents' evening tonight and her teachers are really pleased with how she's come on.

I'm sure the battles will continue but I definitely picked the right school to work at.

@Phineyj

That's great news! I really hope your LO gets the support they deserve.

D was offered her third choice for secondary, so I've asked to meet with the sendco to discuss the provisions map I have available and determine if they can meet all of the "ordinarily available" provision.

I'm still awaiting a response to my PAP, which of course will be filed with the tribunal along with all of the other correspondence I have.

My solicitor is currently having problems finding an EP with availability, report needs filing by 26/04 😨

Thank you!

@RMNofTikTok if necessary you can request late evidence is admitted, so try not to worry if you can’t get an EP report by the evidence deadline.

Have you thought about appealing your 1st &/or 2nd preferences just in case.

@SearchingForSolitude ahhh I thought they were hard deadlines, I expect this is what my solicitor wants to ring me about on Thursday!

I'm uncertain whether to appeal or go for second round of applications. Ds dad, in his wisdom, moved 20 miles away to live with his partner. I claim the child benefit so school applications have to be made from my address. The only school I am within catchment of was my third choice. The other schools in the centre are random allocation. I'm currently going through all the relevant schools admissions for 2023 to determine if it's worth rolling the dice, as third choice only offered 4 places during second round last year.

Third choice could meet needs if EHCP was in place, they are same academy trust as primary so definitely will not without one. If she had got into first choice, the EHCP would have been less necessary, as they'd already said they can meet her needs.

And of course if an ehcp is issued then the choices do not matter at all.....

@RMNofTikTok ’hard deadlines’ did make me chuckle. SENDIST is a whole other ball game. More often than not late evidence is admitted, especially when you know you will have something else to submit and have let SENDIST know.

You can appeal as well as seeing if you get an offer in the second round.

@SearchingForSolitude I'm so used to cost orders being given out and people being found in contempt for ignoring orders that I think I'm still in shock LOL. The response to the send7 even felt like it had been written by humans, it was much softer than I'm used to reading 😁

That's interesting to know re appealing school places. I may do both. I think I have fairly good grounds of appeal, but I know nothing is ever guaranteed.

Just received a response from SENDIST about 20 minutes ago and we have won the appeal! The appeal was against the LA’s decision for DD to have an EHCNA. It’s been an extremely stressful time for me but I’m so happy that a decision has been made in DD’s favour😆

Great progress @MinnieTruck!

well done @MinnieTruck!

<sounds thread claxon>

Thank you! @Phineyj @Cafetabac I’m going to have a glass of wine to celebrate once the kids are asleep🥂

Congratulations @MinnieTruck 😁

Thank you! @RMNofTikTok I’m happy that we’ve gotten one step further😆

@MinnieTruck so pleased for you!

My DD’s nursery (private, mainstream) is not in our LA, as it’s near my work. If she is issued an EHCP, will the nursery still receive the full funding associated with the EHCP, even though it’s in a different LA. As nursery SENCo was told she’d received more funding if she went to a nursery in our LA.

Does anyone know where I can find more information regarding EHCP funding?

@MinnieTruck hope you enjoyed your wine.

@Ponche if the LA agree to issue, rather than focusing on funding, focus on ensuring all the provision reasonably required is included in F. Then the provision must be provided and can be enforced. EHCPs can be fully funded but LAs won’t do that unless forced. Attending a placement out of area doesn’t change that.

Thank you, only just sent off EHCNA so still in the very early stages. But will definitely focus on provision in F when/if that time comes.

Was just worried about having to move settings in the near future and how that would affect my hours at work etc.

Congratulations @MinnieTruck !! This is great news. Do you know when they will assess your child?
We are also appealing for an EHCpNA.

Our deadline for paperwork is end April however we are asking for an extension to file as the clinical psychologist who is redoing her tests per our solicitor's request can only see our child in May.

DD is 4 with ASD and an EHCP. Trying to get her into right school for Reception. All independent reports (OT, EdPsych and SaLT) say small specialist school, full time LSA, weekly direct OT & SaLT. LA named closest mainstream (that said they could not meet need), no direct therapy and part time LSA . Currently waiting tribunal date.

Thank you again guys!

@UsernameFail I only received the response from SENDIST last night do I don’t have too much information as of yet. There was an information sheet attached though, it said that the LA have to write to me within 2 weeks to say that it’ll make an assessment. Once they do, I’ll keep you updated

Welcome @valkyriee. When you get the date, you know you can do a SEN 7 form to ask for an earlier one as it's a phase transfer?

Thanks @MinnieTruck always helpful to get info off another

Thanks @Phineyj will look into requesting that. We decided to go with an advocate to help us through. It's been such a challenge to even get to this point. *deep breaths. Can't believe how broken the system is. Nice to see there have been some wins here!

@Valkyriee sometimes phase transfer appeals for existing EHCPs are automatically prioritised. If yours isn’t automatically, definitely request an expedited hearing. Are you appealing B&F as well as I? How old are your reports?

Although I’m not there yet. Some positive steps…..
Having lost tribunal for specialist provision in Dec, after a year of fighting, the judge ordered LA to update EHCP as done in lockdown, so new EP assessed and completely agreed to specialist. So I’m just taking the opportunity to update EHCP myself before sending to LA for them to consult chosen specialist schools.

lo not attended since Christmas, not going back (year 7), but I dance the daily ‘not attending’ messages, try and do some learning at home, while I work and juggle everything 😂

EP is new to LA and told me current school is rubbish with ASD, which I agree with. Hope she stays, she’s fab for lo/parents 🙏