Post GCSE support

[Fr0styfeet]

DD is in year 9 of mainstream school. She is autistic with adhd and dyspraxia and has had an EHCP stating she needs 1:1 LSA since year 5. Her current school only goes up to GCSEs so she will have to move at the end of year 11.

Thinking ahead, and knowing how hard we had to fight previously, can we expect the sixth form or college she goes onto to continue to provide the same level of support? Should we be thinking about legal advice, getting expert reports done again to ensure this is in place before she moves? Or is support automatically reduced at 16+ to encourage independence?
Has anyone had a similar situation at all they can tell me about please? Thank you.

Support isn’t automatically reduced post 16. Less provision doesn’t automatically mean encouraging independence. That is a myth LAs like to perpetuate in order to save money.

In EHCPs, the provision detailed, specified and quantified in F must be provided. The LA is ultimately responsible. That still applies post 16.

You don’t need legal advice at this stage (and many don’t at all).

In the autumn term of Y11, there should be a phase transfer review. Then the phase transfer EHCP finalised by 31st March of Y11.

In preparation for the phase transfer review, as DD moves into and through Y10 and right at the beginning of Y11, it is a good idea to ensure you start to look at placements and ensure evidence is all in line.

You don’t need to fund independent assessments at this stage (and, again, some don’t at all).

Right now, the best thing you can do is ensure preparation for adulthood is discussed as part of the Y9 AR. You might find this booklet helpful when looking at PfA. I will also post some screenshots from another document - I can’t upload it because the link isn’t available on the internet anymore and MN doesn’t allow links to documents.

First 5 pages of second document.

Second 5 pages.

Next 5.

Last 4.

That is a super useful booklet @ExistingonCoffee!

Thank you so much for this @ExistingonCoffee. These are really helpful resources. We’ve recently had the y9 AR and although pfa was mentioned briefly, it wasn’t discussed in any detail unfortunately. I will ask these to be incorporated next year. In the meantime we can start trying to address some of these in our home life.

One other thing I’m worried about. If the sixth form / college can’t confirm DDs offer of a place until GCSE results day, how can they employ an LSA ready for her starting there a few weeks later?

Thank you so much. I’m really grateful.

Unfortunately PfA provision is often overlooked.

When you say you have recently had the AR, do you mean the whole AR process has been completed? Or do you mean you have had the AR meeting but the rest of the process is complete yet? If the latter, you can still raise PfA. If the former, you could appeal if you wanted to.

The phase transfer EHCP must be finalised by 31st March of Y11. Post 16 settings are named in section I of the EHCP just like schools are. Just like for school aged DC, non-wholly independent post 16 settings can be named even if they object and the same exceptions apply. However, that doesn’t always translate to being admitted to specific courses within the institution. Although sometimes the EHCP will be written in a way that they should be on specific courses/learning certain things.

I think you'd probably have to assume it wouldn't be in place (the 1 to 1).

If 1:1 was detailed, specified and quantified in F, I would be doing everything possible to ensure it was provided from the beginning. Otherwise there is the potential for the LA and college would be setting DC up to fail.

I mean sure but I have never worked anywhere that could have recruited a 1 to 1 between results day and the beginning of September - obviously an environment with sufficient TAs or pastoral staff where someone could do it temporarily while someone is recruited would be more likely to manage.

Have you got places in mind, OP?

They would (should!) have from the 31st March.

Thank you for your replies. The AR has been submitted to the LA but not issued so there is still time for us to request additional pfa actions to be added. Not sure how this would be incorporated into DDs timetable and who would oversee it, LSA I guess. But I’m realising that it needs to be addressed.

@ExistingonCoffee We’re not sure about post -16 placement yet. There are a few options locally, FE colleges, 6th form college or a-levels at a local school sixth form. Any of these will be a huge change from her current very small independent school.
DD is doing well but I’m not sure she’s academic enough for a-levels. She doesn’t really have much direction or ideas on future career. We will start visiting open days in the autumn when she starts y10. I think we’ll need to ask early on about how she’ll be supported through the transition and how / when an LSA will be provided. She won’t manage without that in place.

to ask early on about how she’ll be supported through the transition and how / when an LSA will be provided.

This will depend on what provision is in F. Any provision DD reasonably requires must be in F. The provision in F must be provided and can be enforced.

She doesn’t really have much direction or ideas on future career.

Part of PfA can be looking at support from a specialist careers advisor.

The scope of PfA is huge. Who delivers it depends on what ‘it’ is. It could be an LSA, but it may not be. Staffing would need to be covered in the EHCP. It doesn’t always have to be delivered during normal school hours. It depends on DC’s individual needs and the provision in question. And it would need to be set out in the EHCP.