EHCP help - specifically re. activity outside borough and personal budget queries

[Teens25]

I am supporting a friend with her son’s EHCP review because English is not her first language. I have no experience in this. She has found a new activity/place she wants her son to go in the autumn, this would be in addition to his college. The reason being they offer more practical tasks, mentoring and therapy with animals and horticulture, lots of things that are really supportive of his autism and these aren’t offered at his current college. I am concerned that this activity, although in the same county, is outside the local authority borough and I have no idea whether this in itself means that she can’t even present this new provision at the review? If she was able to secure personal budget for her son, would that allow her to spend the personal budget wherever she deems fit, if it supports his EHCP plan, so by getting around the issue of this Centre not being in the same local authority borough? Any help anyone can offer would be greatly received. I’m feeling out of my depth and feel that she is now looking at me to be a bit of an expert on this , I have googled my questions but cannot find an answer. I need people with lived experience and more knowledge than I to advise, thank you to all that chip in!

Would suggest you post this on the EHCP thread for most traffic. Someone more expert than me will be along shortly no doubt, but generally the first issue is that she'll need evidence this provision is required to meet a SEND need in the EHC plan? Have the college SENDCO, or other professionals working with your friend's DC, been supportive of this idea?

Being out are borough doesn’t prevent a child or young person from attending.

What a PB can fund depends on the EHCP and PB agreement. Presumably you actually mean direct payments? DPs are one way PBs can be funded.

Your friend will need evidence to support her request.

Thanks to the parents that responded. I am relieved to hear being outside borough wont be the barrier - im sure other things will! with the way timings worked we are presenting this new activity in the pre review document and at the meeting, we havent known about it sooner. For some reason choosing category for this post EHCP didnt come up. My inexperience on this site meant not sure how to post in EHCP thread. I think these answers help me where we are up too 😀 thanks again

For some reason choosing category for this post EHCP didnt come up.

I’m not sure what you mean by this?