EOTAS - any experience of this

[onedayatatime73]

Hi. Can anyone give any experience on what this is like (DD year 9). And any suggestions of the options in Sw London / area?
tried 3 secondary schools now and think we need to explore an alternative setting / settings.
she has ASD, dyslexia, ADHD. Bright and vivacious, but struggling to fit in. Frequently bullied.

The legal test for EOTAS/EOTIS, is that it is inappropriate for provision to be made in a school (or college or early years provider). You will need evidence of this. Previous placements not working doesn’t on its own prove this. Not all who have had multiple placement breakdowns will meet the test.

EOTAS/EOTIS packages are bespoke to the individual. The possibilities are endless. Some examples include tuition (doesn’t have to be formal tuition and doesn’t have to be academically focused. Can be 1:1 or group. Can be online or F2F.), therapies (e.g. SALT, OT, physio, animal-assisted, art therapies, rebound, CBT, EMDR…), APs (there are lots of these but can be e.g. care farms, forest schools, outward bounds AP, gaming AP…) exercise/sport, mentoring, cookery, accessing the community, music/drama lessons, equipment, technology and assistive tech, resources, memberships and subscriptions, professional time (for things like preparing for and attending review meetings, leading and co-ordinating the package, planning, training, etc.).

What provision packages contain depends on what provision is in F of the EHCP to meet the needs in B of the EHCP. In turn, these are rooted in evidence. There are lots of options in SW London (and the surrounding areas because many travel for the right provision. And online.) but it will depend on what provision is in F because not most providers offer specific types of provision.

Many have to appeal for a proper EOTAS/EOTIS package, I’m afraid.

I have 2 DSs with EOTAS/EOTIS/C; it isn’t the easy option.

We’re in our 5th year of EOTAS with a primary aged child with complex needs who has never been able to attend any school. I would echo all that the previous poster said. I don’t know if there’s a lot of other information you haven’t mentioned but not fitting in and being bullied (as awful as they are) aren’t going to met the threshold for EOTAS.

Were these all mainstream schools? Presumably the young person has an EHCP,
which is the very first step towards an EOTAS package? Is there a reason that a specialist setting wouldn’t work? Is something other than mainstream currently indicated by the EHCP? You will need strong evidence that your child cannot receive their provision in a school.

I can’t help with what’s in your area, but I imagine London has loads of options, but each EOTAS package is different and totally depends on the EHCP and the child’s interests and aspirations.

It may be worth exploring a smaller or more specialist setting where her strengths are recognised and her neurodiverse needs are consistently supported.