EHCP support thread no. 4

[Phineyj]

We've nearly filled the thread again, so here's a new one. Welcome everyone: newcomers, people stuck in the process; battle-hardened veterans of many years...

Here are links to previous threads:

EHCP support thread - www.mumsnet.com/talk/special_educational_needs/4834986-ehcp-support-thread

EHCP support thread no. 2 - www.mumsnet.com/talk/special_educational_needs/4989146-ehcp-support-thread-no-2

EHCP support thread no. 3 - www.mumsnet.com/talk/special_educational_needs/5077140-ehcp-support-thread-no-3

Please can anyone explain to me what the difference is between a voluntary controlled primary school and an Academy converter primary school in terms of support they would give towards a child with a ehcp?

You could look at Academy21 too @Icantpeopleanymore. I was quite impressed with their offer and it's accredited as AP so DD's existing school could commission it in theory.

@Cinnamoncupcake there isn’t a difference. In both types, the provision in the EHCP must still be provided, and the LA remains responsible for that, as always. And, assuming they are mainstream primary schools, not special primary schools, both must make their best endeavours to meet a pupil’s SEN. The rules for naming them are the same too.

@Icantpeopleanymore that’s brilliant.

Personally, I wouldn’t use TCES. There are better options, IMO. Too many have bad experiences, particularly where there are attendance concerns. Read their attendance policy.

There are loads of online options. Not just schools, but other options such as tuition or online courses too. It all depends on DD’s needs. Start by thinking about if DD will manage online or does it need to be F2F? If online, what type - online schools vary in their style and delivery of the content as well as what subjects they offer, and that’s not considering other online provision such as tuition or courses that aren’t via an online school (e.g. south west science courses or technology triumphs courses or Faregos centre’s courses (a Home Ed centre but there’s no reason DD one of their courses).

Most online providers can’t be named in section I because they aren’t registered institutions. For most online providers, section I is blank and the online provision (not the specific provider because specific providers shouldn’t be named in section F) is detailed in section F. Some LAs are now naming some online providers including Minerva and TCES in I now some have their accreditation.

Thanks @BrightYellowTrain . I liked the look of TCES online as they seemed to be set up in a more therapeutic way..not sure how attendance online would work.

I also looked at Gaia learning, academy 21, learning circle and kings inter high.

I think a mix of face to face without the pressure to put her camera on might work.

I like the idea of an online provider because I think she'd be overwhelmed by lots of different platforms. Some of them seem to offer bespoke packages so she wouldn't have to do lessons every day, this would suit her, she would need to be able to dip in and out of work when energy allows.

I'll keep searching I guess.

@BrightYellowTrain thank you, I’ve been preparing myself by looking at loads of different schools and have noticed ones that are voluntary controlled seems more negative about ehcp compared to academy converter, I can’t get to visit the special school yet but we are hoping to have a decision on if they will issue a draft or not soon, we’ve just gone over 14 weeks

@Cinnamoncupcake it is more important to look at the individual schools than the type. There are dreadful schools in each type of establishment.

they seemed to be set up in a more therapeutic way

Hmm, not sure I agree there @Icantpeopleanymore. Lots do not have good experiences. For example, their attendance policy is more inline with a mainstream school (because they were going after accreditation). I don’t know your feelings about it, but they also use PBS.

Other online schools you could look at such as Wolsey Hall, Cambridge Home School Online, Net School, Highgrove, Thomas Keith Independent School. There are loads of options. All different in how they run. There are also others such as Eton Academy, Pembrokeshire college and Oxford Learning who offer a more limited number of GCSEs/iGCSEs to one extent or another - it is quite common for DC to use multiple providers.

Hi all, hope you don't mind me joining.

Looking for mediation advice please

We were refused an EHCP after assessment. We have mediation on 13th Feb. I contacted SENDIAS for support and they have sent me lots of links and documents but most of them focus on tribunal rather than mediation.

Can anyone advise exactly what I need to prepare for mediation and in what format? Is there a template we could use? Thanks

@HorrorFan81 I wouldn't bother with mediation.

I shall quote my husband "we think she needs an EHCP and they don't. What's there to mediate about?"

At least the tribunal follows the law. LAs seem to do whatever the hell they like!

@HorrorFan81 if you decide to go ahead with mediation (it is often used as a delaying tactic), you should check the LA is sending someone with the authority to make decisions. Often they don’t, which renders the whole thing a waste of time because they then claim they have to take it back to ‘panel’.

There isn’t a specific format you have to use. You need to show DD meets the legal threshold set out in section 37(1) of the Children and Families Act 2014, and reference the evidence to support that.

Be careful with SENDIASS. Some are good but too many repeat the LA’s unlawful policies. They receive LA funding so many will ultimately toe the party line.

@BrightYellowTrain thanks for the input, it's just so bewildering with everything out there. I've booked a few calls to at least just see what a few of them offer.

Thanks @Phineyj and@BrightYellowTrain Mediation is in less than 2 weeks so feel like I may as well go through with it at this point

I've just been re reading the letter which was sent informing us of the decision to not issue and have realised they don't actually state their reason.

They say 'we do not propose to issue an EHC plan at this time'. Then say he would benefit from an IT assessment, a SEN Support Plan review, and a robust transition plan.

They do not make reference to the Ed Psych report which was done, which has a list of around 26 interventions (of various kinds) suggested

It's all a bit baffling

Please may I join the thread?

I've just got my two daughters draft EHCPs through and I feel a little out of my depth. I did enquire about a draft check but they wanted £150 and I do not have that spare at the minute.

One DD has ADHD and anxiety/fears around being "trapped" and doors being shut. Other DD probable ASD through is academic.. struggles with sensory issues and anxiety/emetophobia. Has been out of school since April 24 as has younger DD.

@fedup1212

Hello from someone me who also feels out of their depth!

I’m currently going through my son’s EHCP. I’ve learnt from this these that Section F is vital. It outlines the provision.

Here is a link:

https://www.myfamilyourneeds.co.uk/support-child/ehcp-section-f-explained/

This is the part that is enforceable by law.

@fedup1212

I’m also insisting on rewording phrases such as:

DS is extremely passive to : DS is engaged when the environment supports his needs.

I.E - Change the environment before you blame DS for lack of progress, or find fault with DS.

Thank you @RibbyJumper

I will take a look when the DC are in bed and try and go through them

@fedup1212 take one draft at a time.

Go through all the reports with highlighters. Highlight all DD’s special educational needs in one colour and all the provision to meet those needs in another colour. Each need should have corresponding provision.

Then go through the draft and make sure all the highlighted needs are in B and the highlighted provision is in F. Make a note of anything the LA have omitted from the draft, any needs without corresponding provision, any woolly and vague wording, anything the reports have failed to include, and any reports the LA has failed to take note of.

When you go through F, look out for vague and woolly wording. For example, “access to”, “would benefit from”, “regular”, “up to”, “or equivalent”, “opportunities for”, “as appropriate”, “would be useful/helpful”, “such as”, “e.g.”, “etc.”, “as required”, “as advised”, “key adult(s)”, “small group”. Provision must be detailed, specified and quantified. If it isn’t, the EHCP isn’t worth the paper it is written on and cannot be enforced.

When you come across vague and woolly wording, check the reports to see if they are woolly and vague or if the LA has watered down provision. If the reports are vague and woolly, ask the LA to go back to the report writer(s) to make the reports detailed, specified and quantified. Provision in EHCPs is taken from the reports, so if the reports are vague and woolly, the EHCP will be too. If the LA has watered down provision, make sure to request the LA sticks to the wording in the reports.

Also make sure any health or social care provision that educates or trains is in F. For example, LAs like to put things like SALT, OT, physio, etc. in G (health care provision) when it belongs in F.

Re draft EHCPs - our LA is shockingly bad at this. The LA EPs don't even bother writing their reports properly. I reviewed one for a friend a few weeks ago where needs were specified, but the report didn't even bother to add corresponding provision for all needs, never mind specified, quantified and detailed...... Yet another battle to get the report corrected, then the draft. And the LA legal bods say that these things are "a matter of professional opinion" and so they won't intervene or uphold any complaints..... 🤦

I’ve just had an email from the Local Authority offering me £500 for their muck up. This is ludicrous. It’s actually made me feel very emotional, because it just seems so morally wrong and - of course - that £500 should be spent on helping a child/parent who needs it most. I don’t want it. This is not about money. It’s about the best interests of children. FFS I despair.

Take it and donate it to SOSSEN or IPSEA?

@RibbyJumper lots use the money towards funding independent reports for their next appeal or the next pre-action letter they need.

If you really don’t want the money, as @Phineyj suggested, I would still take it and donate it to a charity.

I’m finding that each and every time I get correspondence regarding DS, I almost don’t want to read it.

I closed the email as soon as I read that yesterday. I need to brace myself again and respond. I’m still scouring DS’s EHCP which makes me emotional too.

I don’t want that money because it would feel like money obtained at the expense of another child’s welfare. I would give it to charity, but I don’t want to give my account details or even see the figure in my account.

I just want to scream at them to deploy resources in a better way, make it easier, stop the smokescreens, put the children’s needs first.

I feel like I’m in a better position than many because I feel like I have some knowledge now. I’m beginning to understand the system. I really can’t thank you enough @BrightYellowTrain - you are a godsend.

Knowledge is power.

I look at my friend whose son never got an EHCP throughout his schooling, who now won’t leave his room and won’t attend school. That’s where any £500’s should be going, or should have gone.

Hi @RibbyJumper, I understand how you feel (I teach kids with and without EHCP and in many cases I suspect the difference is someone advocated for them at the right time in the right way, not their needs).

You can't possibly solve institutional, political problems all by yourself.

The money is an acknowledgement they got it wrong. Use it for good.

I am not just saying that. I did the same with the energy subsidies a couple of years back

Not taking the money won’t mean other DC get more support.

Well quite.