AR sen school AIBU

[Mummytodw]

I hope someone can re assure me this is right? my child is 7. She is autistic and requires high level support in all areas, she is pre verbal.

We fought for a sen school for almost 3 years, i got private diagnosis, private salt and ot report for evidence towards an ehcp for my daughter, we had to appeal at every stage and we were already waiting a couple of years to even get a diagnosis and now my child is finally in a sen school with a good standard ehcp.

It was our first ar the other day, I did not receive any information from school other then there would be a meeting until a couple of days before. I accepted it politely and asked if I needed to prepare for this ar they said no just turn up unless I have things to add, I had already provided the latest pead report.

Wheni went to the meeting the senco had taken lots of very specific provision out the ehcp, she took out 1:1 through out the whole school day said my child didn't need it, took very specific ot and salt out as she said this was delivered throughout the day anyway and sensory breaks ect are included and it was written for an ms, she said this is not how our school works... I got very upset because I paid for these reports and assessments, the la agreed to the provision and was under the impression this should be happening. School said daughter doesn't need that specific provision, she has not been getting in and is progressing regardless. I don't know if she even is progressing because they share limited information

I don't know what to do I have no evidence to argue this as they are not transparent in sharing information I now feel like I don't trust the school and i dont know whats right or wrong. The senco said its because it's the first time since a battle to get child in I don't have to battle anymore... I just don't know. I don't trust them it feels off and I dont know why :(

Contact the school and LA.

The AR process should be:
Updated advice and information must be circulated at least 2 weeks prior to the AR meeting. This is important for a successful AR.
Then you have the AR meeting.
Within 2 weeks of the AR meeting, a report must be circulated.
Within 4 weeks of the AR meeting, the LA must inform you if they propose to amend or not and if they are, they must send the amendment notice at the same time.
Then if the LA is going to amend, the LA must finalise within a further 8 weeks, so max of 12 weeks from the AR meeting.

If the correct process hasn’t been followed, you need to raise it. A key part of the AR process is preparation prior to the AR meeting, including the updated advice and information sought.

If you disagree with the report following the AR meeting, you can highlight this to the LA too.

The school doesn’t amend the EHCP, the LA does.

If the provision is required, it must remain.

Thank you I thought this was the case
I felt extremely blindsided... I also noticed the senco was wanting to remove provision but not need. I have emailed the la re timeliness. And I guess if school persist I will need to appeal

If the LA propose to amend, you will get the opportunity to comment on the amendments. You can propose amendments, referencing your evidence, and remind the LA there must be provision for every need and F must be detailed, specified and quantified.

Thank you

Right so to clarify... school are merely putting in suggestions. They cannot remove provision.

The school have carried out updated salt and ot but they are not in depth and if anything show more needs.

The ehcp was court ordered as I had to appeal section b f and I to get senschool. This was finalised in April 2025. I agreed to wait for space provided the ms was compensated to help us in the meantime. I have personally not had independent reports done in the meantime for this AR. Is something I should be doing?

For clarity also I am open to change if I deemed suitable but everything i have seen since Sept shows me the need is still very much there.

I would save your money. It doesn’t sound like you need independent reports at this point. If you have to appeal, you might consider asking the independent professionals you used for the appeal to write an addendum.

Yes, at the AR meeting, the school is discussing what amendments they believe are required. All other attendees can/should do the same. The advice and information gathered beforehand should inform discussions. The school will then circulate a report after the meeting. This is only mentioning recommendations, not actually making amendments to the EHCP. The school cannot amend the EHCP itself. The report shouldn’t be all one-sided. All PoVs should be recorded. Sadly, some schools don’t do this, which is why you should contact the LA if you disagree with the report. Following the AR meeting, the LA will then propose to amend or not. They may or may not listen to the school (or you or other professionals).

Thank you for explaining this so well. I have emailed the la and advised I did not have the information in time. I do actually still have ongoing complaints as the correct salt has never been provided and school want to remove that.

The normal timescales of the complaints process mean it isn’t a suitable remedy for failure to provide provision in F. It takes too long. Have you looked at a pre-action letter?

I know you're right, I have emailed the newly appointed head of send for my area today at 5pm and he has responded at 9pm this evening. Think he is now looking to resolve as everything is meant to go through this online thing called the hub but I haven't got access to that either!! So I literally cannot update anything. From the email received this evening he's looking into the salt as it hasn't been delivered. And looking to sort the hub so I can upload all my information too. Without being too optimistic I found his response more sincere then any of the communications I have had from the send school.

Thank you for your help. I honestly did not think I would need to do anything like this and it did floor me. As I had studied the ipsea courses as well.. I guess even send schools are budget led to some extent

Pre action letter is next step if this isn't resolved within the next few days