EHC for secondary school only?

[Mangobrango]

Eldest has ASD, ADHD and dyspraxia, academically very very able. Currently fine in our village primary with small class sizes etc, no homework so time to unwind, low demand home life.

I know that he will fail at the local large state secondary, it’s too big, too much, too busy. I know in the right setting he will be amazing. I suspect he masks a lot at school too.

We couldn’t afford private school so our only other option is to apply for a EHC plan, school wouldn’t support this as he doesn’t require much help at school yet. I don’t want to send him for a year to watch him fail and then apply,

Has anyone ever applied for a EHC plan for a child that is basically fine but needs to name a secondary school?

Lots of DC don’t get EHCPs until late primary or secondary so don’t think it is too late. How old is DS? The LA should look forward. For example, where an EHCNA request is submitted during Y6 it should consider the upcoming transition to secondary. You may have to appeal. The initial threshold you need focus on is a) has or may have SEN, and b) may need SEN provision to be made via an EHCP.

He is Y5, should we apply for one even though school don’t support it? Is there a way to say that primary is fine but secondary is where he will need help?

Many schools don’t support EHCNA requests saying DC don’t need or won’t get an EHCP but parents go on to successfully apply themselves.

Adjust your wording. Primary isn’t ‘fine’. DS is just about getting through the days in primary with a lot of support and adjustments that wouldn’t be ordinarily available in a typical mainstream. He is masking. He isn’t really coping at school and he isn’t ‘fine’. I also suspect there are needs not yet identified e.g. sensory needs requires sensory OT and SALT needs.

Thank you, that’s really helpful wording.

School won’t do any assessments, should we start compiling our own? Sensory wise, he struggles with noise but is often under reactive (especially to pain), I guess I have a few months to get my ducks in a row before I apply!

Personally, unless money is no object, I wouldn’t seek an independent assessments now before applying for an EHCNA. Anyone good will have a waiting list. Also, if you apply for an EHCP and e.g. the LA agree to assess but not issue and you have to appeal, as many do, by the time you get to a hearing any report now may well be considered out of date. And, if the LA e.g. agree to assess but not issue you may decide instead you desperately need to target your money at e.g. independent OT and SALT reports and the LA EP report will do (not brilliant but satisfactory compared to the need to get independent SALT and OT).

You could consider making a subject access request to school to gather evidence.

Hi, we were in a similar position and I made an ECHNA request in October of year 5, with the support of school but no actual practical help (because they had little relevant experience).

I don't want to depress you, but we still don't have an EHCP because we had to take the LA to tribunal to assess and then again to issue. And this is not unusual these days.

So we had to use the regular school application process anyway. Which meant finding a suitable school ourselves.

However the LA did do the required reports eventually (the summer after my request and the first tribunal order).

The EHCP should be done by June although I don't know if it'll be any good.

Come over to my EHCP support thread for advice.

@Headfirstintothewild's advice is good. We've spent £6k so far (although about half was on private ADHD and ASD assessments).