Education Other than at School (EOTAS)

[Peanutlicious]

Has anyone had experience of their children being declined by all mainstream and all specialist schools in the county and being offered an EOTAS package, whereby the LA help you put together a package of learning and recreational activities for your child and fund it? So like home ed, but it's not voluntary, it's out of necessity. Can anyone share their experiences (good or bad) please as it's looking like this will be the only option for my 14 year old who has been out of education for a year (autism, adhd, C-PTSD, lots of MH and social issues). Thank you

Not experienced myself just supported family with EOTAS. Be clear with LA that you are not going to be a constant presence, i.e. provision in section F must assume that your 14 yr old has an education that does not rely on your assistance or presence. Many EOTAS packages are implicitly reliant on parents/carers without explicitly stating this. Read section F of the EHCP very carefully. Get specialist legal advice if you can.

This is really helpful, thank you. I've already given up my career, pension etc for a year and I think you're right they need to know I cant/won't sustain this long-term.

I have 2 DC with EOTAS/EOTIS (EOTIS is currently the preferred by SENDIST) and have supported others to get EOTAS/EOTIS (with or without the C on the end) too. The good is DSs have their needs met, and it works well for them. The downside is it isn’t the easy option, especially in the early days.

It is important to know EOTAS/EOTIS is not EHE. With the latter, parents are responsible for education. With the former, the LA retains responsibility. They cannot compel you to organise, facilitate or deliver the provision. The LA is responsible and that duty is non-delegable.

Many have to appeal for a proper EOTAS/EOTIS package, I'm afraid. LAs often think they can get away with funding a bit of tuition and maybe a small amount of therapies or Mindjam and sport/exercise if they are feeling generous. A good EOTAS package is far more than this. Done properly, it isn’t the cheap option LAs like to think it is.

Legally, EOTAS/EOTIS is only possible if it is inappropriate for provision to be made in a school.

What do you think? Do you think a school can meet DS’s needs? If your preference is a school, non-wholly independent schools can be named even if they object when consulted. You only need an offer of a place from wholly independent schools. Although the LA may force you to appeal. Also, have you looked at any potential schools in other LAs that are within travelling distance? 1hr15 is generally considered the maximum recommended travel time at secondary. Some travel further, though.

If DS is out of school now, is alternative provision in place?

Thank you, this is really helpful too. My son does 4 hours of alternative provision per week but he wants to stop. This would mean he is literally doing nothing and living a very insular life.

If the current provider isn’t working, rather than stop, the LA should look to swap provider. Often tapping into DS’s interests (or what he used to be interested in if he has dropped interests due to his MH difficulties) helps. Even if DS can’t partake in something directly with others (either F2F or online) there are options the LA can try.

nothing to add on eotas other than to say we had our son at home for 18mths due to no school place and it was literally the best thing that ever happened to him. He didn’t have a eotas package, he had 3 hours a day with a tutor but didn’t engage at all. So we let him choose his own learning and he really enjoyed it.
After a year he was asking to go back to school, saying he felt lonely etc., which really motivated him to address the things that were going on with him which meant he wasn’t getting school offers - he had some behavioural problems due to unmet needs in school.He was a different kid after that year and a bit where he could just feel more in control of how he learned - we took all pressure off, and he really grew and changed and developed in that time, rather than just surviving.
it’s tough in that it takes it toll on your own life, but it was the best thing we ever did. School’s still tough for him, but he’s so much more engaged with the world, has more confidence/self-esteem.