EOTAS?

[Onlycoffee4]

Hello, I’ve posted before about my child. She’s 10, autistic and a notorious school refuser. She has really bad school based anxiety. We pulled her out of school in year 4 after two years of refusal, and I home educated. After eventually appealing and getting a EHCP awarded, the LA found her a place in a ARMS unit. She seemed keen, but in the mornings would break down and say she just can’t do it. Secondary is coming up in September and I just don’t see how she’ll ever cope with that change.

I’m looking to secure EOTAS, just looking at what hoops I’ll have to jump through and the chances of securing this? She doesn’t have any other agency’s involved, the LA already have her ASD assessment, speech and language assessments and EP Assessment yet are still pushing for mainstream. Her caseworker is especially unhelpful saying we just need to keep trying.

You should have had a phase transfer review already this term. Have you? This is where you raise amendments required. Following the review meeting, you will get the chance to comment on the proposed amendments referencing your evidence. Then the LA must finalise the phase transfer EHCP by the 15th Feb.

Many have to appeal for EOTAS/EOTIS, especially for a proper package.

The legal threshold for EOTAS/EOTIS is that it is inappropriate for provision to be made in a school or college. You will need evidence of this.

If there are no other agencies or professionals involved, the EHCP is poor. Regardless of placement/EOTAS, you should look to improve this.

@2x4greenbrick the annual review is next week. How can I get more evidence or improve this? Thank you.

The phase transfer review meeting should have already taken place this term. The LA is at risk of breaching the 15th Feb deadline.

You can ask about updated advice and information as part of the AR process.

As part of the AR process (the meeting is just one part of the process), updated advice and information should be circulated at least 2 weeks before the meeting. Has this been done? Unfortunately, the evidence gathered during this process is often poor and many EHCPs are written in a way that doesn’t include professional time.

Are you following up verbal conversations with emails? That can help build a paper trail.

Many have to appeal and look at independent assessments as part of an appeal.