Is it normal for a SENCO...

[Namechange8463]

To not know when an EHCP needs assessment should legally be undertaken?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't the only two tests that 1) A child has or may have an SEN and 2) That they may need provision from an EHCP?

Not four criteria, which includes that the child is below expected academically for their year group? Where is she quoting this stuff from?

I am aware that my DD8 is 'high-functioning' and masks a great deal at school and therefore it took a lot of pushing from myself for them to even refer her for a diagnosis... And even then I felt massively gaslit and that they were just doing it to humour me.

However the SENCO does seem reasonably well-informed (ensures a lot of SEN-friendly measures are put in place on a whole-school basis), is responsive and happy to placate... Which is why I am completely shocked with her response to my suggesting I was considering a parental EHCP assessment application.

I was fully expecting discouragement, yes, but not factually incorrect information.

What do I do now? Do I become that parent who quotes legislation back at her?!

@EndlessLight That is a good point.

I am perfectly pleasant in my email correspondence with her, though I do find I take on my more formal, business-like 'work persona' in the way I phrase things. I am very matter-of-fact, including when I point out when things weren't done (like the additional transition activities she said would happen at the end of last year), so hope she doesn't take it personally.

Ensuring correspondence remains formal is no bad thing. I always remember one day my email could be read out in court. This mug is aimed at solicitors and HR but applies equally to parents navigating the SEN system.

Great mug! 😁

@EndlessLight @Phineyj Sorry to be a pain, some further questions if okay...

1. Do you send copies of evidence to back up statements about why an EHCNA is needed at the point of initial application?
2. Does the school get sent a copy of your application?
3. Is it worthwhile and appropriate to point out things that haven't happened that the school said would happen even if you don't have evidence of that? For example, I have email correspondence relating to DD having additional transition activities at the end of year 3, but no evidence that they didn't happen.

Another thing (but which I have no evidence of, but may not be too important anyway in the scale of things)... When I did broach the subject of DD's drop in reading attainment with her teacher at parents' eve last year, her teacher said she was putting together a small lunch time reading group for a few in their class and wrote DD's name down. When the group started, DD wasn't on the list and when DD asked her teacher about it, she had completely forgotten what she had said to us and said she wasn't in the group... Aside from anything else, I was a bit annoyed about that as DD was a bit upset by it!

(No evidence that they didn't happen other than an email in which I state that they didn't happen).

If you have evidence supporting the fact DD meets the legal threshold for an EHCNA, send it. You can mention support DD needs but isn’t receiving/the school can’t provide/is only being provided by the school providing support that would not typically be available at a SEN support level. Don’t get bogged down in the history of what did/didn’t happen. Whether the school sees all your application/evidence depends on the LA.

Thank you @EndlessLight

So would these needs be:

• Occupational Therapy (to support sensory needs, as recommended by OT report)
• EP assessment (to understand educational requirements as I don't think the school has identified DD's needs fully? Evidenced by drop in reading attainment, little improvement in fine motor skills, VMI discrepancy?)
• Writing support (the OT recommended small-group intervention, but again would benefit from EP assessment or specific OT assessment on motor skills?)
• Support/play therapy for emotional regulation (evidence only really reported by us, documented in ASD and OT reports. The school does actually employ a play therapist and I did ask if DD could be added to the waiting list; the SENCO replied that she would, but she couldn't tell me how long it was and the PT could only see 3 DC per week.... She would 'review whether it was still appropriate' once (if) she got to the top.
• S&L assessment and social skills support? (DD is very verbally fluent, and as previously mentioned, is probably seen as confident and social at school, but ADOS did (obviously) flag limitations in communication?)

You can include all those points. Remember you don’t have to prove DD needs an EHCP. You only have to show DD has or may have SEN, and may need special educational provision to be made via an EHCP.

Thank you again @EndlessLight It's hard to know how much detail/evidence to provide, but I will try and be succinct.

Detailed enough to get your point across without waffling.

When I was doing this I stuck exactly to the Ipsea guide from their website. Have you looked at it?

www.ipsea.org.uk/asking-for-an-ehc-needs-assessment write 2 or 3 paragraphs addressing each of the first set of bullet points.

Treat it like a piece of academic work.

Thanks very much @Phineyj Yes, I have read that; do you mean the template letter? Or the bullet pointed list of guidance that the LAs follow?

My plan was to follow the template letter and obviously under the first legal test, include DD's diagnoses and referrals (backed up by HCP reports), then for the second, use headings to divide it into DD's areas of need (for example, academic, sensory, emotional regulation, school anxiety/avoidance) and for each of them, include:

• What the need looks like
• Where I don't think it's being met or fully identified (either because of no progress, eg increase in school anxiety between years 2 and 3; academic discrepancies and recommendations for outside support - eg OT)
• Back those assertions up by referring to specific pieces of included evidence (and page numbers of reports if necessary!)

Does that sound sufficient?

And that seems to be my strategy; have become almost detached from it and treating it like a work assignment (which does actually involve evidencing!)

Yes that sounds fine. Do that.

I didn't need the template letter as my LA uses a portal so there was already a structure to follow.