How do I start the EHCP process for my preschool child?

[Devilsmommy]

My ds is 3.5 and has been referred to community pediatrics with the aim to be assessed for autism at some point. He attends a childminder 3 days a week for 5-6 hours a day. However it's looking more and more likely that she's going to ask me to take him out of the setting because of his needs and her inability to be able to cope with him with all the other children there. He doesn't actually start school until September 2027 so I'd like to get one sorted for when he does start as preferably I'd like to be able to get him in a specialist setting due to the fact he's still non verbal and has so many sensory issues that I think mainstream would just be setting him up for failure. So wanted to ask how do I go about starting the process of obtaining an ehcp basically. I've seen a lot of knowledgeable people on this board so hopefully you can help me with how to start. Thanks in advance for any and all help😊

On their website, IPSEA has a model letter you can use to request an EHCNA.

Some areas, have special sit early years assessment places for those going through or needing to go through the EHCP process. It is worth looking if your area does.

Has the childminder applied for early years inclusion funding? Have they asked the Area SENCO (and if your area still has them, the specialist teaching service) for advice?

Thanks for the reply. Yes the childminder has applied for some funding, don't know if it's the one you said but it was because of his needs so possibly. I know the childminder had someone come out to watch my DS and they said that he didn't meet the threshold at that time. However they've seen him again and said that he definitely needs more help and to be seen by an occupational therapist really. It seems to be nigh on impossible to get a referral to occupational health though. I'd have to ask if she's spoken to the area senco. I'll have a look to see if my area has an early years assessment place for the EHCP. Thanks so much for this info, there's just so much to go through and fight for and all before they're even starting school😅

Definitely request an EHCNA and appeal if refused.

One thing that will help you to learn now is to not believe everything LAs and connected professionals say. That will say you a lot of time and energy going forward. Whoever said DS didn’t previously meet the threshold, wasn’t correct.

In some areas, you can self refer to occupational therapy (not occupational health, that’s a different thing that doesn’t apply). If you can’t the HV or GP will be able to. If you request an EHCNA and the LA agrees to assess, an OT assessment can be part of the needs assessment.

Oh brilliant, I didn't realise that. Definitely going to get started on the ehnca and hopefully he will be able to see an occupational therapist for that🤞 thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. I've had such a struggle to even get to this basic starting point so it's nice to get advice from someone with the knowledge needed. Honestly I'm so bloody grateful 😊

I would suggest trying to get occupational therapy referral as well as the ehcna. Think of it as a "belt and braces" approach.

Two things that mean it makes sense to pursue both concurrently:

• Some areas do avoid including OT in a needs assessment unless they are already working with the child. It should be part, but it isn't always
• the Ehcna may be rejected and you may need to appeal. This would make it a very long time before input if you wait

Thanks for your reply. I completely agree that doing both would be best. I feel like if an occupational therapist could see him they would see the issues I'm talking about because the GP just treats me like I'm a hysterical first time mother. I knew something was up when he was two but they just kept telling me wait and see wait and see. It's only because he's coming up for 4 still non verbal and a report from his childminder detailing his issues that they did the referral to pediatrics for assessment. Will definitely try get occupational therapist referral whilst also applying for the ehcna. Thanks for that😊

Is DS also under SALT?

Sort of. We had an appointment with one but it wasn't realised until we were there that it was the wrong area. She did the appointment anyway and gave me tasks to do with him. However she kind of made it worse for him because she was so strict in a way that she didn't build a rapport with DS at all. He'd only just turned 3 at that point so her demeanor wasn't comfortable for him. At one point in the appointment DS made his sound to get my attention and the therapist stood right next to him and said god that's an annoying noise isn't it? I honestly couldn't believe she said it and though DS doesn't talk his comprehension is 100% so he heard the contempt in her voice and understood her perfectly. He completely refused to engage with her after that and that's leaked over to home when I try asking him to say something. I fought with GP to be referred in my area and thankfully have been but been told it's a 7 month wait. He's going to be 4 before he sees a SLT now🫤 sorry for the long one, just wanted to explain how it is😅

Thank you so much for this. Will have a look tomorrow when I'm more awake 😅 Very much appreciated 😊

did you complain? If you request an EHCNA and the LA agrees to assess, advice and information from SALT can be part of the needs assessment without the need to sit on the normal waiting list. Then, if an EHCP is issued, SALT can be included in it.

Be careful with free guides from advocates. Advocates are an unregulated area. While some are good, some do more harm than good. I haven’t looked at that poster’s free guide for requesting EHCNAs so can’t comment on it, but after someone asked me a query related to their free guide on EOTIS, I would be careful. The EOTIS guide wrongly says section I of the EHCP must state EOTIS. This is not correct. Legally, for EOTAS/EOTIS, section I must be blank as per case law.

@scoopofmintchocchipicecream I didn't complain though I wish I had have done. She honestly caused more harm than good 😡 thanks for the advice about the advocates. I'll stick to what I've been told here because I don't want any extra hassle on top of what I'm already dealing with. I'm just getting so stressed out because the childminder he attends seems like she's going to eventually ask him to leave because he's getting worse with some of his behaviours. Though he's not doing it in a malicious way that doesn't stop him being a danger to himself and the other children 😞 I'm just so worried about school because if he's still non verbal at that point I'm just not going to be comfortable sending him to mainstream when he can't tell me if he's getting bullied or something. It's a minefield and a really scary one at that

You could still raise it if you wanted to.

To start to learn about the SEN system and SEN law, have a read of IPSEA and SOSSEN’s websites. They are charities. They both have advice lines too. You might also find it helpful to read the government’s SENCOP.

@scoopofmintchocchipicecream I'll definitely check those out. Bless you for all the advice and help 😊