EHCP section F wording

[Treaclebear]

Hi everyone,

I really need some help, if anyone can share their experience, thank you .

My daughter is 6 and we’re at second draft EHCP stage.
In Section F, almost every need is paired with wording like:
• TA “daily support” or
• TA “daily support throughout the day”

I asked the Educational Psychologist to make this provision quantified (hours / frequency). She said she would only change some instances from “daily support” to “daily support throughout the day”, but would not quantify further.

During the 15-day period, I emailed the caseworker asking whether the LA could make Section F quantified. She later told me by phone that QC did not make it quantified, but she is offering a collaborative meeting with the SENCo and herself to “discuss”.

My questions are:
• What is the point of a meeting if they’ve already said they won’t quantify?
• Has anyone else had an EHCP where Section F just says “daily support” or “daily support throughout the day”?
• Do you think wording like “up to 3 times a week” is still vague?
• Did you accept this wording, or did you challenge it / go to appeal?

I’m trying to understand what’s reasonable and what’s enforceable before agreeing to anything.

Thank you 💛

If the LA has made it clear they won’t amend so F is detailed, specified and quantified, then a meeting is a waste of time. Push them to finalise and appeal.

Sadly, many EHCPs have vague and woolly wording such as daily support. That doesn’t make it right. Also see wording such as “access to”, “would benefit from”, “regular”, “or equivalent”, “opportunities for”, “as appropriate”, “would be useful/helpful”, "should be provided', “such as”, “e.g.”, “etc.”, “is/if/as required”, “as advised”, “key adult(s)”, “small group”. "For the whole school day' is tighter wording than "throughout the day".

Up to 3 times a week is still too poor. The ‘up to’ needs removing. Up to means it might be once a week for 5 mins, for example. You also need F to state the training, qualifications and experience of the TA and precisely is ‘support’? Where will it be provided? What is the ratio? How long for? If the wording is not detailed, specified and quantified, it is not enforceable and the EHCP isn’t worth the paper it is written on.

I didn’t accept vague and woolly wording, I appealed.

I accepted vague wording as I understood I had no right to force any changes as a parent and I didn't want to appeal a third time in 18 months.

But, I had an 11 year old who was doing ok at school (8 years of largely positive school experience behind us) I think with a 6 year old it's more crucial to get it right and I would appeal as well as pushing back at the meeting.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/special_educational_needs/5309128-ehcp-support-thread-no-5?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=app_share