Government docs on how to implement SEN reforms

[AgnesDiPesto]

here
Include some example EHC plans.
Refer to potential of 'efficency savings'
SLT put down as health need (and health funded)

I've spent a good hour looking at these. Before today, I was was mildly worried. Now I'm fucking terrified. This is a massive, massive step backwards.

Are these 'draft' EHCPs actually supposed to be suggested best practice? They make the first draft statements that my old LA send out look like a model of specific, quantified detail. In fact, I've seen Neolithic cave paintings with a clearer focus on outcomes.

I despair, really. Would it have killed them to involve, say, a few education lawyers to tell them precisely why they would have torn those documents apart in tribunal?

I think the agenda is becoming clear to offload costs that used to be education onto health and social care where they are unenforceable.

I am sure there will also be lots of arguments parents are 'double claiming' for example social skills at school (currently education) and social activities out of school (currently social care / short breaks) and parents being told you can't have both provisions for the same outcome. This is what I predicted right at the start would happen.

The point of one assessment process is to line up all the 'stuff' parents get and then deduct one provision from another, not add to it.

And its only a matter of time before DLA gets factored in to the assessment on the lie 'parents only want to give information once' (I don't care how many forms or meetings I have if they lead to something productive). And then you won't get anything for short breaks, medical needs etc as you will be told to use your DLA first and only if needs exceed DLA will you even get anything.

Always been easy to prove needs exceed DLA in this house . I expect most people will find the same.

Will be even easier for most if they have to offset Tribunal expert reports against DLA every year as these proposals seem to indicate. Re the SALT has existing case law all been thrown out with the bath water? Are we to believe we are truly at ground zero?

I am pretty sure the proposed SENCOP out for consultation says SLT should still be considered education - which is why it is so worrying the sample EHC plan put out shows it as a health need! Why publish a plan that contradicts your COP?

No problem proving needs exceed DLA here either, but I wouldn't want to have to use it to pay for health, education or social care we currently get for free or have it top sliced off any 'personal budget'.

salt was still down as education and my understanding was that previous case law stood. the other big issue is that each LA can write the EHCP how they like. a friend is on one of the steering committees and how the LA are planning on writing them is woolly lots of should - she made it clear it would be will. im very worried and I guess so are a lot of parents who have fought hard to get the right provision for our kids via tribunal to now have to at some point transfer over to these ridiculous plans. my parent carer group is holding an information evening about it all but its parents who are presenting it - have no issue with that per se but the parents doing it have no clue of the current system and are sat hand in hand with the LA having big love in meeting with them

Agnes - dla is currently just covering education (home ed) but not health (needed urgently) or social care (wot's that then?).