EHCP for 17 year old

[LadyGnome]

DS2 is in U6 and has developed a substantial visual impairment over the last few months. This was utterly unexpected and maybe be due to a genetic condition. It is likely that he will meet the criteria for being registered blind.

Is there any value in pursuing an EHCP given he is in his final year of school (assuming he can successfully sit his A levels and go to Uni).

The hospital OT team have referred us to the Sensory team at the local council and the school have independently spoken to them as well.

I don’t want to spend too much time and effort on an EHCP battle if it won’t add value.

You'd probably be best advised to spend your time finding a university with good student support.

RNIB have a textbook service.

Can DC read the 36 point adapted exam scripts OK?

Do the exams officer and SENCO know? Will DC write or type exams? Do the subjects have any diagrams? It used to take me forever adapting Economics A-level papers for a visually impaired student. I needed lots of time to prepare suitable tests, mocks etc.

EHCPs end once the young person goes to university and you are extremely unlikely to be issued one in time.

School should write a covering letter to UCAS explaining.

If DS is going to go to university next September requesting an EHCNA is unlikely to be helpful. He will be able to apply for DSA for university.

However, if there is any chance he won’t be going to university next September, you should request the EHCNA now. You don’t want to get to next summer and realise DS won’t be going to university and you do need an EHCP.

The school are going to speak to the exam board as he will need a reader and possibly a scribe too. He can’t read 36 font easily. They can touch type but may need their answers read back.

We are also looking at the University’s extenuating circumstances processes as some of the have forms so we can outline what has happened as part of his application.

Thank you both by the way. I should have said that up front. I think we won’t pursue the EHCP yet but if next term the he doesn’t have offers or A levels are looking challenging then I will apply so he would have something for the next academic year if he isn’t going to Uni.

It is worth reading JQC’s exam access arrangement guidance and trying different adjustments. For example, some pupils find a computer reader easier than a reader and some find speech to text software easier than working with a scribe. DS is also likely to need extra time and rest breaks.* *

The school should mention the circumstances in their UCAS reference.

If there is a chance DS won’t go to university next academic year, you should request an EHCNA now. Don’t wait. The statutory timescale is 20 weeks if you don’t have to appeal, but many do have to appeal, some more than once, and appeals are taking a long time.

Thank you both. I thought I would update. The school agreed to put in an EHCP request so we are waiting on the council to respond.

We will be getting his formal certification/registration as severely sight impaired (Blind) this week so that should help.

The school have got him a reader and a scribe and are doing a trial run with his mocks this week. He is only doing one paper for each subject now then they will assess how it went before scheduling another set of mocks. He has had some practice sessions with the reader already.

His Uni applications are in and he has had his first offer through. A couple of the Unis have foundation years that he may be able to default onto if he doesn’t meet his offer.

Pleased to hear the school is being supportive. Have they asked for input from a QTVI?

Keep an eye on the deadline for the LA informing you if they are going to assess or not. LAs often breach the timescales.

Yes the QTVI has been into the school to observe my DS and has made some suggestions. I’ll keep an eye on the deadlines - thanks for the tip.

The saga continues. I received a decision not to assess yesterday from the Council. Happily the QTVI and habilitation officer were visiting DS in school yesterday too. The QTVI said they hadn’t even spoken to her before making a decision so she was going to challenge it for us.

Today I received confirmation that, following a conversation with the VI team, they will be assessing after all.

How they could determine that suddenly losing most of your vision wouldn’t impact your ability to work at expected levels is beyond me.

Glad you have an agreement to assess now.

Make sure the LA sticks to the timescales and seeks advice and information from everyone they need to.

The LA must seek advice from:
a) the child’s parent or the young person;
b) educational advice (usually from the head teacher or principal); (for those with a visual impairment, if the person responding is not qualified to teach DC with a VI, then the response must be advice given after consultation with someone who is qualified.)
c) medical advice and information from a health care professional;
d) psychological advice and information from an educational psychologist;
e) advice and information in relation to social care;
f) advice and information from any other person the local authority thinks appropriate;
g) where the child or young person is in or beyond year 9, advice and information in relation to provision to assist the child or young person in preparation for adulthood and independent living; and
h) advice and information from any person the child’s parent or young person reasonably requests that the local authority seek advice from.

H can include things like OT, habilitation officer, SALT and clinical psychologist.

Thank you that is very helpful