EHCP support thread no. 5

[Needlenardlenoo]

Another thread is nearly filled so here is a new one for when we need it. I am the original OP but have name-changed due to admin (let's call it spring cleaning). We got our EHCP finally in June last year and are in a state of cautious optimism two terms into the year 7 transition. There has been no contact from the LA at all to us, but perhaps no news is good news, sometimes. The next challenge is going to be the annual review. I am feeling a bit paranoid the LA might try a cease to maintain. Anyway, onwards and upwards and best wishes to all!

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
EHCP support thread no. 4 -
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/special_educational_needs/5197351-ehcp-support-thread-no-4

“How have we ended up in this situation where parents are so alarmed by the attitudes of mainstream schools that they believe the only way their child’s needs can be met in empathetic surroundings is by taking them out of school entirely and requesting EOTIS?
This is a huge fail in inclusive education, and makes a mockery of the Children and Families Act 2014. We understand – of course – that schools are under huge financial pressures. But there is something about the way some schools externalise this pressure onto the families of children with SEND, and the way they sometimes talk about individual children, that should make us all uncomfortable.”

It is awfully hard not to take it personally.

I received a couple of letters from the LA during the tribunal process that said basically don't worry your head, "ChildName" will have a school.

Well yes, she will. But will it be one that meets her needs? Not if I leave it up to you plonkers.

I do know no-one has got it in for me personally at the LA. They don't care and they aren't meant to. It's impersonal.

@Needlenardlenoo

DC’s caseworker has actually sent me a few - more personal - supportive emails, explaining exactly why she wants to help me. I’m also getting same day responses.
Of course everyones experience is different, but in my case - it’s the school who have been difficult. Whether that’s misinforming me (as my first point of contact) or using pretty old fashioned and dismissive language to describe DC. When I’ve then asked the caseworker - is this correct? - she’s supported me and then I’ve gone back to school with the right info.

There is much in the news about ‘off-rolling’ : which I interpret as schools attempting to not take or remove children based on the school’s best interests (funding/results). Whereas decisions should be made in the child's best interests.

This is - absolutely - what I think has happened in my situation.

The current caseworker may appear supportive, although you should be cautious, but your previous ones have given you incorrect information and fobbed you off too. It isn’t all on the school. For example, the LA fobbed you off about the AR process and passing the buck about not adhering to the timescales. Then further fobbing you off by saying they couldn’t finalise because of the phase transfer EHCPs needing attention.

@thatsnotmygarden

I absolutely take heed of what you are saying, and you always give excellent advice.

Yes that did initially happen. At some point a felt a shift from the LA caseworker. It was around the time that I had re annotated for about the 5th time about speech provision and caseworker realised she’d been misinformed by the school. Ok, she should have checked with SALT, but it’s such a fundamental thing to misinform the caseworker about?

Since then a definite shift - almost same day answers, I don’t receive ‘5 days to respond’ anymore - and they’ve introduced a smiley face grading system at the bottom of each response.

I think my problem is I get too emotional and rely on vibes. I perhaps read too much into what I hear and see. There have been two exclusions from DC’s initial class by middle of Year 1. I saw another reception child being dragged screaming into a classroom last week by SLT, with the SENCO shouting ‘shut the door’ as she tried to escape back out. I was also shouted at by the SENCO two months ago for asking to see evidence of speech interventions.
And I have worked in schools in different capacities. There has been such a change over the past 30 years (I am old with a young DC). I can’t remember one exclusion in any school I’ve worked in and now it seems far too commonplace. We mustn’t exclude children.

From 30 years ago - and without the age of diagnosis - I was given a class of children. My job was to teach. My job was to differentiate - so all the children in my class could achieve at their own individual pace.
No child was excluded. As a teacher, it was my responsibility to evaluate my teaching methods, not evaluate a child’s pathology as the barrier to progress.

No child was excluded.

That may have been the case in the class you taught, but it wasn’t the case nationally. The permanent exclusion rate in 95/96 (the first year reliable exclusion statistics were collected) was lower than in 22/23. It was 0.17% in 95/96. Whereas in 22/23 (the latest year where whole year statistics are available) it was 0.11%. The data for the autumn term if 23/24 was 0.05 and for spring term of 23/24 it was 0.04. The summer term’s data hasn’t been released yet.

And there are more DC with more complex profiles in MS now.

@thatsnotmygarden

I do think I have taught it some ‘good’ schools though. One with a very visible Headteacher who deeply cared about the children and put any blame on my teaching methods before blaming a child.
Despite this being a school in high area of need - we went from a school on special measures to best progress in our area.

My pp should have said higher obviously. I should not pause part way through a post without proofreading it.

After waiting more than 6 weeks for the outcome, we finally found out that we have won our other tribunal. DC2 started at the new school last week (so far so good; such a different vibe from massive MS) and DC1 will start before the end of term.

I still have to read through the newly finalised EHCPs to see if the LA put in everything the court ordered them to, but I need a little breather first. I know it's not going to be the end of the battles but we've had (and won) four appeals in two years. I'm exhausted, but so, so relieved.

Thanks again for all the advice, support, commiseration and encouragement throughout. I'll carry on lurking and paying it forward where I can.

@SpaceInvader321 that is truly wonderful news.

@SpaceInvader321 it's such a change to hear some seemingly good news! Well done and I really hope it is a new beginning for you all . Onward and upward.,

Yay @SpaceInvader321 and I'm glad they're sorted for September.

My daughter had a fab first annual review (the SENCO is delighted with her) and then got a detention to internal isolation this week "to see what it was like..." One step forwards...

Great to hear SpaceInvader321, well done and breathe before the next wave hits.

Needlenardlenoo, that made me smile too much.

Son has been in his SS for a month now. Settling in, nicely and coming home happy with a bit more school talk; swearing like a trooper so dealing with what means.

First AR is next month. School said they had it for next February as "the LA said one had been done" (was the amendment of the setting following our winning the appeal) so put them right. I said lots of provisions aligned to previous school so no longer relevant; parents and social worker weren't at such a meeting; legally it should happen thank you.

Paperwork from previous school being bundled together with their observations so far and coming to us on Monday. Not strictly the 2 week prior but am giving them a bye this first time.... We keep on trucking.

Well I'm glad someone got some amusement I teach at the bloody school and didn't know whether to laugh or cry! She didn't like it though as it was "like prison". Hopefully that's the end if that experiment...

Oh and yes, the swearing. DD (who looks very sweet) could make a squaddie blanch.

We have had to start a swear box.

Needlenardlenoo that made me smile too.

Bendattheknees as part of the AR process you should point out the EHCP should be written for the child, not the school.

Thank you @thatsnotmygarden - a good reminder and will keep in my back pocket.

A swear jar may work @Needlenardlenoo but how to keep it interesting and new for an adhder 🤔 It is funny to hear, if I wasn't the parent. His London accent makes it FAC but being in the SW he adds RK to it.

Aha posh swears! We don't actually have a jar as the mere idea of it incensed DD so much it made her somewhat stop. I mean, I knew she could, as if she said even the mildest word in front of extended family they'd be so shocked, and she never has.

Just joining in please. Off to appeal I go again I think. I nearly got PTSD from the last one.

We have an EHCP and got independent specialist school but unfortunately all isn’t as it seems. We were absolutely desperate as MS wasn’t working and fell for the talk but over the years they don’t seem to deliver and then conveniently blame the LA for not supporting etc.

The LA is actually stumping up a significant amount of £ to fund the placement and subcontracting delivery to the school who rather than wanting to deliver the support seems hellbent on watering it all down, making themselves unaccountable at every turn and stalling. Anyone else experienced similar? Thanks

@Fififizz some independent SS prioritise the money at the expense of the pupils (and sometimes the majority of their staff). The management and leadership in some independent SS is reprehensible. I wouldn’t touch some of them with a barge pole.

Having said that, not to excuse the school at all, but the LA is ultimately responsible for the provision detailed, specified and quantified in F, so I would also go back to them too.

Do you have another placement in mind?

@thatsnotmygarden

Yes, I thought I saw there was going to be investigation into the independent ss sectior. Might’ve been after that panorama programme about a ss in Liverpool I think. Ultimately the LA is responsible but it’s like a racket going on. The LA have outsourced to a very expensive placement and feel they’ve given the rolls royce of schools and everything should be rosy meanwhile the ss cherrypicks from the EHCP and fails to deliver knowing it’s very difficult to get evidence to prove what’s actually going on or more to the point isn’!

Not currently. I feel scarred by the whole experience.

The Life Wirral school was one in a long list of scandals involving independent SS. It wasn’t the first and wasn’t the last. I’m sure there will be others in the future, sadly.

Some independent SS are brilliant. Those that are not give the sector a horrifying name, leave parents disillusioned and some children and young people traumatised.

The LA has an online portal through which it wishes to share drafts etc. and upload documents. I have heard bad things, such as LA caseworkers tampering with wording and not informing parents they have made changes to drafts/finals.

Caseworker hassling a little for us to agree to have our email addressed added.

Do we have to engage with this or can we insist on good old fashioned emails (at least then you have proof that a document is what it is and date stamped by sending time/date)?

Change of setting type - added to final but what if no setting consulted and agreed by Sept?

Remain at current school even though setting type changed?

Draft only has 7 silly mistakes and nothing added from the only new report submitted at AR.

FFS