This seems a little far fetched…but

[mydaughterisademon]

Hi All

So I’ve been in the appeal process for my teenage daughter in regards to her EHCP. Mainstream and specialist school have failed over the years (won’t go in to that or we will be here all day). So I gathered extensive evidence together from specialist that she needed eotas (cost a bomb but we paid it). She was diagnosed by the NHS as having a sleep disorder, meaning in the winter months she can’t regulate her sleep and just sleeps at school. So she’s now roughly 5 years behind.

she has quite extensive needs, so the total eotas package (of which I’ve found all the providers) costs £80k. We have tribunal in a few days over a few final issues after I rewrote the entire ehcp. Their total eotas budget for this year is £450k, so we’re taking quite a chunk. They are also trying to bring in a policy framing eotas, section 19 etc in the educational neglect category.

Since I pulled her out of school a year ago, we have had multiple social care referrals. Resulting in 3 s17 assessments. And then this month, with tribunal a week away, they have started a s47. Issues seem to be quite vague, talking about a ‘pattern’ but haven’t actually told me what this pattern is! were now up to 8 visits by a social worker in under a year. And it’s only been happening since I took my daughter out of school. And really intensified after I submitted the appeal. No plan has ever been put in place, just case closed.

Im trying to go not go too conspiracy mode, as the stress has been horrific. But what are the LA playing at?

This cannot be normal. No concerns have ever been found & I’ve never had a s47 investigation in my life until now! One concern was by my elder daughter’s psychiatrist around some difficult behaviours she was displaying, for support. Investigated and no support offered. This seems to be the theme.

any advice? I comply with the investigations, it goes away for a couple of months and then again another investigation for anything relatively minor. I’m really feeling harrassed and there not very compliant when I ask for information.

There isn’t a set limit for EOTAS. They may only want to allocate £450k per year, but that isn’t the same and means nothing.

Not far fetched, unfortunately. What you have experienced isn’t unusual, I’m afraid. It shouldn’t happen, but it does. The LA is trying to intimidate you and punish you. Easier said than done, but try not to let it get to you. Was one of the independent assessments you sought from an ISW?

It doesn’t sound like they have any real concerns.

£80k is actually not that expensive for a proper EOTAS/EOTIS/C package. (There are some judges who have a bee in their bonnet about the use of EOTIS rather than EOTAS. It’s not like there are more important things to focus on! Since you are appealing, I would use EOTIS in your communication with them. If you have one of those judges, you do not want to annoy them needlessly for the sake of a vowel.) I have two DC with EOTAS/EOTIS packages and their packages cost far, far more than that. I know others, including some other MN’ers, who have packages that are a lot more than £80k, too.

It just felt a bit like I was going down the conspiracy theory rabbit hole, but a few others in my LA have experienced the same while having eotas.

But I can’t explain all the weird behaviour!

I can explain it. It is about punishing parents for challenging decisions, disliking EOTAS/EOTIS/C and stretching parental resources. Slightly different, but look at some of Cerebra’s work with Luke Clements about the link between parents complaining and accusations of FII/PP. The same principles apply with parents going to Tribunal.

So I’m putting together a little campaign about it, regarding children out of school, and when parents escalate for support, social care investigate. SNJ have been in touch interested in running the story.

if you have a story similar to mine, I’ve set up an email [email protected]

i won’t be sharing email addresses, it’s just to gather stories and prove a theme. Feel free to get in touch