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SEN

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

Sixth Form SEN funding

7 replies

LeaveItia · 14/01/2026 20:45

I am interested to hear experiences of dc with EHCPs transition into sixth form.
I have heard from some parents that there is less support post 16 especially for brighter dc.
The school my dd goes to says they actually have more money and more autonomy as to how it is spent. They don’t fund TA support in sixth form and instead use the funding to pay the A level teachers to do 1:1 tutoring where needed.
So I am interested to know what is normal at other schools.

OP posts:
2x4greenbrick · 14/01/2026 23:16

For DC with EHCPs, the provision detailed, specified and quantified in F must be provided and can be enforced. The LA is ultimately responsible for ensuring this is provided. That includes ensuring there is sufficient funding. EHCPs can be fully funded, but LAs mostly don’t do that unless often.

It isn’t up to the school what to provide. If 1:1 TA provision is detailed, specified and quantified in F but isn’t being provided, the sixth form leaves themselves and the LA open to legal action.

SEP in EHCPs doesn’t reduce just because DC move to post 16.

LeaveItia · 15/01/2026 21:44

Ok, maybe I worded my question badly. I am asking for lived experience of how schools support pupils in sixth form.
My dd’s EHCP doesn’t state 1:1 TA support is required, it just has her needs listed. Her needs are reviewed annually by myself and the school SEN team. Things are then added and removed as required.

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2x4greenbrick · 15/01/2026 21:58

How schools support sixth form pupils depends on the individual needs and the SEP required to meet those needs as documented in their EHCP. F can include things like tech and assistive tech, mentoring, coaching, a keyworker, therapies, specialist careers advisor, adjustments to when and how resources are provided, adjustments to the timetable, PfA e.g. things like cookery, money management. Some also have 1:1 some or all of the time. Not just in class by a TA/LSA, but for things such as study skills support, dyslexia tuition, pre-teaching vocab, homework support, pastoral support, etc. That is lived experienced through support numerous parents with the EHCP process over many years and going through the EHCP process including the post 16 phase transfer with my own DC.

LeaveItia · 24/01/2026 12:15

Sorry only just come back to this thread. Thank you that is very useful, I guess I need to find how I can get what she needs written into her plan. 1:1 TA support worked well at primary but has been like a chocolate fire guard in ks3. She is going into ks4 in September so her plan is being reviewed. I have put my views into the parent carer opinions form. I don’t know if there is anything else I can/should do to ensure she gets the best support. Very grateful for your expertise or that of any others.

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2x4greenbrick · 24/01/2026 15:55

Amendments to the EHCP can be made via the AR process.

The key to the AR process is preparation. Go through the current EHCP and evidence so you know where amendments need to be proposed, where the vague and woolly wording is and where the gaps in the evidence are. Provision in EHCPs is taken from the evidence. So it is important the evidence right, otherwise you risk the EHCP being poor.

Make sure the correct AR process is followed. That includes ensuring all the necessary updated advice and information is sought and circulated at least 2 weeks before the AR meeting. Go through those. Make sure it is sufficient and accurate. Raise anything that is missing or inadequate.

Look at PfA. You might find this booklet helpful for that. I have posted some screenshots of another document not available on the internet anymore on this thread that you might find useful too.

When you get to the post 16 transition, there will be a phase transfer review in the autumn term of Y11. This is where amendments for post 16 can be discussed. And the post 16 placement waist be finalised by 31st March of Y11.

LeaveItia · 24/01/2026 16:06

Her EHCP is not available to me as school hasn’t shared it and the local authority haven’t digitised it as it pre dates their system.
The AR happened without any paperwork being shared.

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2x4greenbrick · 24/01/2026 16:15

When the EHCP was finalised/last amended, the LA should (must in law) have sent you a copy. You should contact the LA. It doesn’t matter when the EHCP was first issued or last amended (which should have been for the secondary phase transfer even if it hasn’t been amended since).

It will help you to read IPSEA and SOSSEN’s websites so you understand what the law is.

The AR process should be as follows:
Updated advice and information must be circulated at least 2 weeks before the review meeting.
Then you have the review meeting. You can use this to discuss the amendments required, referencing your evidence.
Following the meeting, a report must be circulated within 2 weeks.
Within 4 weeks of the meeting the LA must inform you if they are going to amend or not. If they aren’t going to amend, you will get the right of appeal at this point. If they propose to amend, they must send you the amendment notice at the same time. You will then get to make representations. You can propose amendments, referencing your evidence, and state your preferred placement. Then the LA must finalise within 8 weeks of informing you they propose to amend/sending you the AN. At which point you then get the right of appeal.

If this hasn’t happened, you need to contact the LA.

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