DS has been granted an EHCP! Now what?

[NDandMe]

I just got the call yesterday, and am waiting for the draft EHCP to be emailed to me.

If you could give me any advice at this stage, what should it be? What should I be looking for in a well-written EHCP?

DS is 7 years old, has a 1:1 already, and is on a reduced timetable to keep him in school at all. When he has a 'bad' day, he's violent, angry, uncooperative to the extreme, and has been suspended as a result. He's on the pathway for ASD and ADHD assessments, but the waiting lists are long of course.

I'd like to investigate specialist schools, but the spanner in the works is the fact we're moving counties in a few weeks, so will need to work with a new council to get him sorted. Any insights would be gratefully received.

Might be worth you joining the EHCP thread?

How good are the reports that have gone into the assessment, particularly the EP advice? What did that say about settings?

There are more expert people posting on the EHCP thread, but basically you are looking at whether DC's needs are all documented and if each need has a provision or provisions which you are confident will address them so that DC is able to participate in a 'suitable' education and is supported to achieve their potential.

Do the outcomes reflect you and your child's goals? Do they read as demands placed on your child, or on how people will work together to produce desired outcomes?

In terms of provisions you are look at these to be detailed and quantified. Who is delivering each item, how often and what will it consist of? It helps to think about it back to front: how would you know if each provision was not being delivered so that you could enforce the plan? Broad statements 'about appropriate support as required in every lesson by teachers/TAs' are not helpful as you'll have no way of knowing if any of it ever gets done. Obviously you'll need evidence to justify any tightening though.

Given there are distressed behaviours, I'd be looking for specific provision around how these will be handled. Did the EP say anything about this? Including the use of restorative practices and reasonable adjustments to behaviour policy so that DC is not punished for behaviours arising from a disability.

No idea on the tactics of school choice given your move. I don't think the new LA has to automatically maintain the plan, but someone expert will be along I am sure.

The fact he is on a reduced timetable kind of means that the school isn't working.

1 to 1 hrs - it needs to say precisely how many hours he will receive and whether it will cover lunch or not. Even if it says it - your child might not receive it 🤪

With anything nhs is too slow - I'd say if you have the cash to pay private for diagnosis of adhd / ASD etc

Good luck

Go through all the reports, which should all be in K, with a fine toothcomb and highlighters.

Highlight all DC’s special educational needs in one colour and then all the provision to meet the needs in another colour. Each need should have corresponding provision.

Focus is on ensuring the EHCP is watertight. All special educational needs need to be in B and every need must have corresponding provision in F. Go through the reports, which should all be in K, highlighting all DS’s special educational needs in one colour and all the provision to meet needs in another colour. All the needs and provision highlighted should be in B&F.

The wording in F needs to be detailed, specified and quantified. No woolly or vague wording such as “access to”, “would benefit from”, “regular”, “up to”, “or equivalent”, “opportunities for”, “as appropriate”, “would be useful/helpful”, “such as”, “e.g.”, “etc.”, “as required”, “as advised”, “key adult(s)”, “small group” otherwise the EHCP isn’t worth the paper it is written on. Detailed, specified and quantified provision can be enforced if it isn’t received. Whereas, vague and woolly wording means it can’t be enforced. If you come across woolly wording, you should request it is tightened up. Check if the reports are woolly or if the LA has watered down provision.

Also make sure any health or social care provision that educates or trains is in F e.g. SALT and OT should be in F but LAs like to put them in G.

I'd like to investigate specialist schools, but the spanner in the works is the fact we're moving counties in a few weeks, so will need to work with a new council to get him sorted.

If possible, you should remain in the current LA until the EHCP is finalised. Then, once you move LA, the new LA will become responsible for the EHCP, including the provision in it and the school in section I if attending is still practicable and if it isn’t possible, they are responsible for providing alternative education until the EHCP is reviewed. The new LA will then review the EHCP and potentially amend, reassess or even cease to maintain (although you will get the right of appeal).

In the meantime, is alternative provision being made? It should be. Part time timetables should be short term aimed at reintegration. After that DC should be in school full-time or alternative arrangements made as well as part time school or instead of school. Part time timetables should also not be used to manage behaviour. If they are, it amounts to an unlawful informal exclusion.

Thanks all, I'll use this info when I get the draft EHCP through. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to respond, sorry this fell off my radar over the weekend. Lots to do, when it comes through, clearly!