How to tell child about his EHCP

[wonderingcat]

Hi. My son's got his EHCP last month and offered a secondary school place with it. I am struggling to come up with a good way to tell him about his EHCP without making him feel that he's different from other kids. I'm wondering if anyone had the same experience before or have any suggestions? He should know about it by April because I have been told that the school will organize a school visit for children with EHCP at the end of April. Thanks!

If DS is in Y6, has additional needs significant enough for an EHCP and has just gone through the EHCNA process, I imagine he already knows he needs a bit more support in certain areas, so could you not just explain the EHCP is how that support is provided?

To be honest, I don't know if he is aware that he needs support. As he is academically doing well, his school has not got much help to offer him. He has ASD and TS but gets treated like everyone else in school. I will try explain to him about the support he will receive in secondary school soon. Thanks for your comment.

The finalised EHCP should be providing support for the rest of primary. It isn’t just for secondary. If DS is treated exactly the same as other pupils, is the EHCP vague and woolly and are appealing, and the school needs reminding they must make their best endeavours to meet DS’s SEN and they must make reasonable adjustments.

Did DS not question why the advice and information for the EHCNA was gathered? Has he never mentioned anything related to his difficulties that are severe enough for him to be issued an EHCP?

Can you just frame it as "awesome news, you've got a slip of paper that means we get to choose our secondary, and make the school give you extra time on exams" (or whatever)? Ie, it's a positive thing!

An EHCP doesn’t always mean extra time, so I would be careful about saying that.

I just told DD she had a plan that meant they would take special care of her.

She enjoyed the transition activities with the other EHCP kids and made a couple of friends that way.