Children with diagnosed SEN before primary?

[Pinenuts91]

What happens if your child has complex needs and SEN diagnosed before primary?
Can you choose a primary they will cope with? Or is it the catchment area only choice? Is ECHP in place beforehand? Or is it a different type of school? What's the process?
If they are under a variety of specialists will they direct and coordinate it all?

Watching as I’m in the same boat with my nearly 4 year old daughter, I really fear what’s going to happen when she starts school in September. She isn't going to cope at mainstream unless she has a 1-1 all day, they say they can’t fund a 1-1 as a ehcp wouldn’t fund enough for a 1-1, but I feel she might not qualify for a special school either. I’m hoping the ehcp doesn’t get rejected before September and it states everything she will need on there. She is due to see a paediatrician soon for neurodivergence symptoms and then preschool will be sending off the ehcp there writing up, apparently it helps to have a professional input when applying for a ehcp.

My DD just turned four and was diagnosed with ASD a couple of months ago. Already diagnosed as we went through Right to Choose once she was placed on the NHS waiting list.

Her EHCP was finalised in the summer and so my understanding is that I don’t apply for schools during the normal application process and instead select a preferred school during a review of the EHCP that should take place in this term (the autumn before reception starts next year). Due to this, your options are not limited to the catchment area and your preferred schools are consulted to see if they can meet need.

@Cinnamoncupcake My DD is in a mainstream school nursery and has a full-time 1:1. The school asked the council for additional funding so that this could be provided. Make sure the council stick to the deadlines during the EHCP process - check out the IPSEA website. Do your research so you know your DC’s rights and don’t believe everything you are told as there is a lot of misinformation out there, especially from the council.

@Pinenuts91 I believe that various professionals give their input during the EHCP process (some are requested as standard and you can request any further input your DC needs) through assessments and reports. It’s the council and parents who co-ordinate the schools process.

You can select a special school as your preference (if your DC has an EHCP) but you may need to appeal for this to happen.

Having SEN &/or having a diagnosis doesn’t automatically result in an EHCP. If you think an EHCP is required, you should request an EHCNA. On their website, IPSEA (a charity) has a model letter you can use. You should take charge yourself rather than waiting for professionals to do it for you - they may never do it or it may be months/years down the line,

Without an EHCP, you will be limited to mainstream schools you would get a place at via the normal admissions arrangements. You would need to look at the schools’ oversubscription criteria and the data on the last place offered in recent years. You can state preferences (the number depends on where you live) but there may only be 1 realistic school. SEN isn’t taken into account in oversubscription criteria unless the school has an exceptional medical and social needs category. Where schools do have an exceptional medical and social needs category, it isn’t easy to be considered under it. The bar is fairly high. Most DC with SEN won’t qualify because all schools are expected to deal with most types of SEN. In the minority of cases where it does apply, you need professional evidence that only that school is suitable. It will need to say “In my opinion…” rather than “Mum says…”

The exception to the above re being limited to mainstream schools is if your LA has specialist early years assessment places for those who are going through or need to go through the EHCP process.

With an EHCP, admissions aren’t via the normal admissions process. You would be able to state your preferred school. This could be a mainstream school, including schools you wouldn’t normally be given a place at, e.g. if the school is oversubscribed and you live too far away. It could also be a special school. There are limited reasons the LA can refuse to name your preferred placement. However, that doesn’t stop LAs refusing and forcing parents to appeal.

@Cinnamoncupcake you need to request an EHCNA ASAP. The process takes 20 weeks if you don’t have to appeal, but many do have to appeal, some more than once. If you need to appeal, you need all the time you can get. You won’t have a finalised EHCP be the normal admissions deadline, therefore you must submit a normal application just in case because there is the chance you will not have an EHCP by next September.

If 1:1 is detailed, specified and quantified in F, it must be provided and can be enforced. Focus on that rather than funding. If your preferred placement is a SS and the LA doesn’t name that, you can appeal.

When they say they will have a meeting with the nursery, is that what it is about?

Do you view the schools first to know which she will cope with?

This will sound awful, but I don't actually know what an ECHP is or does? I presumed professionals dealt with that 😅 I've obviously heard the term being used, and that it provides 1:1 and support at school but this is all new to me and I'm trying to arm myself with as much knowledge as I can.

For mainstream schools, some have open evenings/mornings/afternoons where parents can look round. Even if the school(s) you are considering don’t, you can request an appointment to visit. You should also contact the SENCO to speak to them.

For special schools, some have open days. Some have toddler groups you might be able to attend. Some don’t speak to parents at this early stage.

Who has said they will have a meeting with nursery?

An EHCP is a legal document that, among other things, sets out a child’s needs, the provision they require to meet those needs and the placement they will attend. It may or may not include 1:1.

IPSEA and SOSSEN are charities who support parents. They have lots of helpful resources on their websites and have advice lines. It can also help to read the SENCOP.

Yes we have a toddler group for special needs she goes through the council.

The meeting is being set up with the complex needs clinic, they are coordinating the care (physio, speech, development, paedeatrics)

The MDT will be about how different agencies and departments can work together to ensure DD has her needs met. Rather than things falling between the cracks because it’s someone else’s domain. If they are on the ball, they will also discuss an EHCP if an EHCNA hasn’t already been requested. Personally, I wouldn’t wait to request the EHCNA.