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Here you'll find advice from parents and teachers on special needs education.

EHCP advice please

6 replies

Pittitypitpit · 23/11/2025 17:39

Hi everyone, I’m hoping to get some advice and perspectives on my daughter’s EHCP draft. I’ve spotted the EHCP support threads and will be reading through those (probably for weeks!) but didn't want to just burst into there for advice before reading through as much I can.

We’ve just had the education meeting with the LA, and they’ve agreed to take a possible placement with Enemy of Boredom (EOB) to panel next week. EOB seems like a great fit for her — interest-led, digital-media based, very small groups, and geared towards neurodivergent learners with high anxiety- everything the EP wrote in her report.

The EHCP coordinator originally mentioned Nisai Virtual Academy, but this feels much more generic and not really as good a match for her needs and current stamina (she has Autism but also health needs that leave her exhausted and with mobility issues). They also dismissed MindJam as “not used by the LA”, even though the EHCP specifies ongoing mentoring — I’m currently waiting to hear back whether EOB can cover this though as they look very supportive. I'm just feeling a little worried that they may reject EOB and try to use Nasai.

I’ve been asked to get some extra information from EOB for the panel (costings, qualifications etc.) They also said EOB wouldn’t be named in the EHCP because it’s not a provider the LA uses — is this how things are usually done?
I’d really appreciate any advice from others who’ve:
• had EOB agreed through a panel
• had alternative/specialist providers named in the EHCP
• dealt with LAs preferring only their usual providers
• navigated mentoring provision when an LA rejects a provider they “don’t use”
• or just have general experience of post-16 EHCP placements.

Any advice would be really welcome- I was so optimistic when the EP was so good at seeing my daughter’s needs, but I’m starting to feel a little naive now the reality of getting the right education in place is starting to hit!

OP posts:
2x4greenbrick · 23/11/2025 18:01

EOB wouldn’t be named in section I (placement) of the EHCP. That applies whether it is a provider the LA usually uses or not. It is not a school or college.

Neither would EOB be named in section F (special educational provision) of the EHCP. Case law is clear providers should not be named in F. This is as much for the CYP’s benefit as anything.

Instead, section I would be blank for EOTAS/EOTIS. The provision, but not the providers, that makes up the package included in F. The provider can be included in J (the personal budget section).

A proper EOTAS/EOTIS/C package would include more than just EOB, but they could provide part of the provision.

Nisai and EOB are quite different; if the wording in F is right, Nisai wouldn’t be able to meet to provide the provision in F if EOB was the suitable option.

Ignore the LA saying Mindjam is “not used by the LA”. It can be. Providers do not have to be on the LA’s approved list/in their AP catalogue. The provision in F must be provided. This is where having the wording in F written correctly is important because then in many cases, it is a case of the approved providers not being able to provide the provision in F/not being suitable. Then LA’s duty remains regardless of the LA claiming they only using approved providers, so they must accept provision from someone not on their approved list, however it is funded, and it can be enforced.

Not my own DC, but I have supported others whose DC had/have EOB as part of their EOTAS/EOTIS/C packages.

Pittitypitpit · 23/11/2025 20:01

Thank you so much for this, it’s really helpful! Reassured to hear that it’s usual for a provider not to be named, it left me feeling a little unsettled when she said that!

Just to give a bit of context, here’s what the Section F currently says in the relevant bits:

B1 – Social communication & interaction
• A mentor/key adult to model and reinforce social communication
• Varied opportunities for social interaction if she wants them

  • Delivered by the setting

B2 – Learning & engagement
• Interest-led learning (e.g. game design, coding)
• Tasks broken into manageable steps with breaks
• Assistive tech for organising/recording work
• Structured support with time management & goal setting
• Visual timetables/digital tools
• Opportunities to build English/maths flexibly
• Access to digital media/computing learning when she is ready

  • Delivered by the setting

B3 – Anxiety & sensory needs
• Gradual exposure to social environments with adjustments
• Sensory breaks
• Regular check-ins with a trusted mentor

  • Delivered by the setting

B4–B6 – Daily living, pacing, independence
• Visual schedules and reminders
• Supported life skills (cooking, budgeting, etc.)
• Use of mobility aids & pacing strategies
• Adjustments to sensory input as needed
• Option for a personal assistant/mentor for community access if she wants this

  • Delivered by the setting.

Thanks for the confirmation about Mindjam too, it felt off that it was dismissed immediately as they ‘don’t use it’. I’m wondering now if I should email back about this before they take it to panel? I hate that we have to fight every little thing without knowing what the rules are- it was stated in such a final way that I’ve just been looking to see if EOB can fulfill her needs on this front and given up on Mindjam.

One last thing, do you know if the YP that went on to use EOB got on well with it and enjoyed it?
Thank you again, you've been so helpful!
Edited for wonky formatting!

OP posts:
2x4greenbrick · 23/11/2025 20:33

Some of those I have supported have DC who EOB has worked for and some not. The same can be said about most APs, so I wouldn’t read too much into that if you think it can meet DD’s needs.

Unfortunately, the wording you have posted here is far too vague and woolly. It needs to be detailed, specified and quantified. For example, who, what, when, where, how… Flexibility can still be included.

Not an exhausted list, but for example:
“Mentor/key adult” needs amending. Who will it be (key adult could be anyone). What qualifications, training and experience will they have? How frequently, how long for?
“Opportunities for”, “opportunities to” and “access to” don’t mean will receive. It doesn’t say how long for or how frequently or really much about the provision at all.
“e.g.” doesn’t mean those examples will actually be provided. Again, it doesn’t say what will actually be provided - who, what, when, where, how…
What “assistive tech”? Who is going to teach DD to use it? How long will the sessions teaching DD to use it be and how frequently? Will there be training for other staff such as tutors and mentors involved in the package so that they can support DD using the assistive tech on an ongoing basis?
What “structured support”? By who - ‘the setting’ is not enough, frequency, length of session?
What is “regular”?
What is covered by “etc.” again frequency, length of session, who…
What mobility aids?
“As needed” needs amending.
“Option for” needs amending
“personal assistant/mentor” needs amending. There is a big difference between the two. Personally, I would push for mentor.

You should respond to the draft, yes.

Go through all the reports with highlighters. Highlight all DD’s special educational needs in one colour and then all the provision to meet the 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 has 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 include.

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”, “small group”. Provision must be detailed, specified and quantified, otherwise 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 whether the LA has watered down provision. If the reports are vague and woolly, ask the LA to go back to the report writers to make the reports detailed, specified and quantified. If the LA has watered down provision, request the LA stick 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.

Pittitypitpit · 23/11/2025 21:06

You're absolutely right, just had a scan through and it's depressingly vague and non committal!

I'll print up the educational Psychologist report and and the Draft EHCP and get my highlighter pens out.

Once again, thanks so much for the advice- I really do appreciate it.

OP posts:
Thegladstonebag · 23/11/2025 23:08

Pittitypitpit · 23/11/2025 21:06

You're absolutely right, just had a scan through and it's depressingly vague and non committal!

I'll print up the educational Psychologist report and and the Draft EHCP and get my highlighter pens out.

Once again, thanks so much for the advice- I really do appreciate it.

As I’ve mentioned before on other forums, think about this like a contract of employment. Would you accept ‘X will have opportunities for annual leave.’ Or ‘X would benefit from a regular salary.’ ‘X will have access to a pension.’

No. You’d want a lot more clarity and specificity. It’s the same with Section F.

Pittitypitpit · 24/11/2025 07:39

Thegladstonebag · 23/11/2025 23:08

As I’ve mentioned before on other forums, think about this like a contract of employment. Would you accept ‘X will have opportunities for annual leave.’ Or ‘X would benefit from a regular salary.’ ‘X will have access to a pension.’

No. You’d want a lot more clarity and specificity. It’s the same with Section F.

Oh yes, thank you, that’sa great way to think about it!

I’ll work on it after work this evening.

I just can’t believe how horribly difficult everything is to fight for, i feel like I’ve been ridiculously trusting over my dd’s school years to end up with her being so let down and in this situation now.

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