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!

@Applemist yes, the wording needs to be more detailed, specified and quantified. For example:
“Access to” is too woolly. It does not mean she will actually receive it.
“Staff”, what staff? Teacher, class TA, 1:1, cleaner… what training, experience, qualifications?
“As needed” is too woolly.
“planned into daily/weekly timetable” - far too vague. For example, how long for, how frequently, who will it be delivered by… depending on wider wording it may even be a case of just because it is planned on the timetable doesn’t mean it will definitely happen.
“All provisions are provided by Teacher, teaching assistance or emotional literacy support” - this needs tightening up. As it stands, this could mean nothing more than the class teacher providing the support whilst simultaneously teaching the class.
“under direction of SENCO” - what direction? A 1 min email at the beginning of the year or something more involved?

The draft does not list a setting at the moment - we are going to panel in June for a LA autistic school.

The draft must not name a placement or type of placement. But it must be finalised before June. And if your preferred placement is not named you should appeal then, not wait for June.

No there are no alternative provisions in place at the moment in respect of her current setting - the school are dragging their heels a bit on this.

The duty to ensure DD receives a suitable full time education lies with the LA. IPSEA has a model letter you can use to request the provision. Post back here if the LA refuse, delay or ignore you.

@RMNofTikTok I am sorry to hear you were in an accident and have been unwell since.

@rmntiktok sorry to hear about your accident and hospital admissions. What an awful few months! I hope the appeal goes your way at least.

This thread is half way full and it's the second one - I started the first one last June I think. I'm happy we all found each other :)

On more trivial matters, I have to make a football themed Easter bonnet by Wednesday. Not entirely sure my crafting skills are up to it...

Thanks both!

@Phineyj thank goodness Ds school didn't do Easter bonnets! I would have cried! I can see fine, but I'm a terrible designer 😂

I posted this on the pub chat thread but I really need to utilise this extremely helpful thread more!

I’m just filling out the IPSEA model letter so that I can request the LA to consult SALT and OT for the EHCNA. I’ve written a good piece on why SALT should assess DD. Whereas I’m not quite sure how to articulate what I want to say for OT. Would I speak about her difficulties with most things sensory related and state that she will need help with things such as her motor skills?

For those that have requested OT, can I ask why your child needed it? I always get slightly confused with what OT can assist with even though DS has been under their care his whole life! I appreciate any help:)

@Phineyj I do not miss those days!

I’m not ignoring you @MinnieTruck, I have just replied on the other thread.

Thanks for the detailed EHCP message @SearchingForSolitude . Have copied for later use.

Sorry to hear @RMNofTikTok hope you're coping.

No crafting skills, that's what Etsy and other online sites are for imo @Phineyj old school football rattle aka a box on a stick with a bean/button as the rattle?

My question of the day is.. having had the LA concede they should asses needs on deadline day (football related there!) They've said they will be in touch, we have followed up letting them know we know they have a month to do so. And it's gone quiet and only a week to go. What is our next step?

Thank you so much for this!

Today has been a crazy day where lots of things have randomly come together - after 2 years of struggling.

He had his first MindJam session this morning and it was the most animated I’ve seen him in weeks

He has his first session with his key worker at a local autism charity / youth club tonight which he’s been on a waiting list for for months

And, the LA turned over the decision not to issue an EHCP in mediation!!

Can’t believe it - he isn’t dressed yet today and has gone down a rabbit hole of researching which video games he wants to play on MindJam and won’t do any schoolwork - but I actually feel a tiny bit positive about it all…

Lots of great news, @Sleeplessi.

@Bendattheknees I would chase the LA. The LA must notify you they are going to assess within 2 weeks of the notice date. If they are not going to issue they must inform you within 10 weeks. If they are going to issue they must finalise within 14 weeks (Reg 45, SEN Regs 2014 for unopposed appeals). Assess within 4 weeks was before the amendments to the SEN Regs were made.

@SearchingForSolitude oh no, I didn’t think you were ignoring me! I keep on forgetting about this thread and thought it’s best to keep all things EHCP related here so I can stop bothering people in the pub.

Thank you for your advice as always. I’m going to go through the SENCO’s evidence with a fine tooth comb and see if there’s anything OT related mentioned there. I’ll also do the same with the Paeds report. Not to ask too many questions at one time but will DD’s EY Autism Officer have an opportunity to submit evidence for the EHCNA?

@Sleeplessi great stuff!😆

Thanks @SearchingForSolitude off we go then.

Bottle that positivity for the bleak days @Sleeplessi!

@MinnieTruck you aren’t bothering people in the pub! No one there minds questions. If you want the LA to seek information and advice from the EY Autism Officer you should request they do. They may do anyway, but there’s no guarantee they would, so you should request they do.

@SearchingForSolitude maybe I’m just paranoid haha😆 okay that’s good to know. I’ll definitely request that too. I don’t have any evidence at all to back up OT’s input but I’n going to ask anyway! I’ll report back once I receive a response, thank you again x

@Sleeplessi what ever good luck emblem you're carrying around with you, I need it 😂 congrats on all fronts!

Omg! The LA have conceded and have agreed to issue an EHCP!

I'm still in shock!

Whoop whoop!! Seems like you didn’t need that good luck emblem after all😆

@MinnieTruck I know right?!? How I even completed the appeal 2 weeks after my RTC and half a functioning brain I'll never know 🤪

Does anyone know how long they have to issue a draft following a consent order?

@RMNofTikTok oh gosh, so sorry to hear about your accident. Supermum’s can’t be stopped!!🦸‍♀️ I have no clue about the next steps but I’m sure someone will answer that soon enough

Thanks @MinnieTruck I was in a really serious pile up on the m4 at the beginning of Dec involving a lorry and fatality, the motorway was shut for hours and it made national news. However I was incredibly lucky, I walked away with concussion and a partially dislocated shoulder! Oh and whiplash, but I think that was a given 😂 I was unable to speak properly and really bad memory deficits until the beginning of February, even now my word recall is about as useful as a chocolate fire guard at times. But I could be dead, so I'd rather struggle with words than the alternative!

Just putting together the EHCNA letter to my LA. What sort of things have you included? For KS4 ASD dd. I have gone through areas of need - do I need to include provision maps from school given they will ask for that info anyway? I have attached diagnosis letters but have no in depth reports from professionals as "it doesn't really affect her" (to quote the paediatrician!) I am fully expecting them to decline the request - but do they usually ask school for info before making this decision?

I have plenty of information about the impact in terms of missing lessons but quantifying the need for specifics such as SALT or OT is harder. Which is obviously why she needs the assessment :-)

To add, I have model letter to base it on and understand the process as per code of conduct as I work in education, but the practical point of how much to add in is what I am struggling with at a personal level!

@RMNofTikTok Hurrah. Unless the consent order states otherwise the timescales in SEN Reg 44 apply. So, they must issue a draft within 5 weeks of the date of the Order and finalise within 11 weeks of the order.

@handmademitlove include as much relevant information as possible, but don’t waffle. Don’t rely on the LA asking for or being given any information. If you want the LA to have the evidence, send it yourself (but don’t delay making the request if you don’t have the evidence yet). They should approach the school, but it isn’t unheard of for them not to.

Oh wow, that’s amazing! Really pleased for you - we’re still in shock as I’m sure you are too. Thought we’d have to go to tribunal which could have been next Feb! We have no idea what will go in DS’s draft as the EP report from the NA was so dire but feels like a positive step

Nothing has actually changed though - DS is baking a cake for me in his PJs currently as it’s my birthday today whilst I try to work and the kitchen looks like a tornado has hit it - but feels like maybe something positive could happen

We walked past the grammar on the way to the youth club last night and had a big chat about it. But I then asked him if he could see himself there and he said “no” - baby steps!!

Great work @RMNofTikTok and @Sleeplessi! Really great to hear of people's successes.

@handmademitlove I included provision maps, pupil passport, attendance record, I didn't really have a lot to begin with but kept sending it in as it became available.

@SearchingForSolitude I might as well draft the next PAP as there's no way my LA will do a draft in 5 weeks, they've just joined the safety valve scheme and people have been waiting 9 months for EPs. I'm certain I'll be back on here lodging a contents appeal in 4 months time LOL