draft echp- not got the provision i asked for

[kojackscat]

Finally got DS draft. Some bits are quantified, others are not.
But the most important part, about him needing small small class sizes, is not in there. At all. The main report that it was suggested in hasn't been listed as evidence.
Can they choose not to include a report if they don't like its recommendations?

Small group sizes was also mentioned in other reports, but just as comments, not actual recommendations.
I have asked for a meeting, do you think I have any chance of being listened to?

No. I wouldn't bother with a meeting. Write to them pointing out their mistake, supply a copy of the missing report, return the EHCP with it added in and underlined, and use a tone that implies it was unintentional and will be rectified,

While you are waiting for a response to that, get to know the IPSEA website, download the appeal forms and begin filling it in. Even if you never have to appeal this is a useful exercise to clarify your thinking and to structure your knowledge in 'official' language,

Oh, I have already returned the form asking for a meeting. Parent partnership will come with me. But ill look at the ipsea form to get an idea of how it should work. Why so you think an appeal will work better than a meeting? I want this to be sorrted as soon as possible to get the placement I want. The panel for that school is in 3 weeks, so an appeal will slow things down and we will miss the panel, and all the places will be allocated to other children.

You can't appeal yet as it's a draft and you can only appeal a final version. Go to your meeting but be prepared that you might need to appeal the final version if the LA don't budge. A school being full doesn't mean that you can't have a place so you can appeal that as well.

You can start to fill in the appeal forms at any time, ready for postage the day the final arrives.

A meeting (under the old system so you'd need to check for the new though I would expect it is the same) stalls the timelines and resets the clock.

An appeal doesn't prevent any panels from meeting, deciding on placement or prevent the LA from giving you what your child needs at any point. It won't delay things, but in fact speed things up as they know you mean it. Why give a place to a child whose parents are unlikely to appeal when they know you are going to likely force them to find a place additionally or fund an independent placement instead?

It doesn't reset the clock under the new system afaik starlight. OP still only has 15 to comment on the draft, including arranging a meeting etc.

www.ipsea.org.uk/what-you-need-to-know/ehc-plans/draft-ehc-plans

I know about the 15 days, they have to have a meeting with me if i request one. Which I have done. My OT says she will come with me, but i dont know if that is allowed

Starlight, thanks for directing me to the ipsea website. I found a checklist, and a description of the differences between education and health.
It is clear tha tOT must be provided in the education section, and the LA have to pay for it privately, if its not available on nhs.
That is so useful to know, cos it has been omitted entirely from the plan, and I was verbally told that the nhs do not provide it so it can't be included.

Also, my lovely OT re wrote the whole section, with what she thinks ds needs. She did this on a Sunday, and she knows no one is paying her for those hours, so she is a star.

Ds's EHCP went to four (might even have been five) drafts before it was finalised. Each time I went through it with a fine tooth comb and wrote back with edits, until both I and the LA were satisfied that it accurately described ds and his needs. It's not worth the paper it's written on if it doesn't and if you're not happy with it, you need to say so and correct it.

I will say so, streakybacon, I will.

I am waiting for the LA to offer me some dates to meet, as they couldn't do the ones I suggested.

If I don't hear from them today, I'll be back on the phone tomorrow morning at 9!

I just want this to be sorted, we have been looking for help for DS since nursery, now he is in year 1 and we still don't have a plan. I keep reminding the LA that this is a real child we are talking about, who struggles every day in the wrong setting without the help he needs. They seem to forget that real people are involved.

I'd avoid the phone - no record of conversation having taken place. Write your reponses, suggested edits, referencing the section and page number of the EHCP so you have a record of your changes. Email and get a receipt. If you do want to phone, do it just to say that you're emailing your response.

You're right - they do forget they are dealing with people and not just words on paper .

Ok, I have mt draft plan, my list of what amendments I want, a checklist from ipsea, and a supporter from parent partnership.
All ready for tomorrow
I could do with some courage, though!

Here's some

Go you! Good luck .

You'll be grand. And always remember, it is never your one and only chance.

thanks everyone.

hope it went ok today and they agreed to the amendments :)

thanks ari11.
It went ok, they agreed to some, but not to others.

But i feel I did ok, didn't let them bulldoze me into things i didn't want.

have to wait to see what schools think about it.

Hang in ther Kojak

Don't let them get away without specific reference to the small groups including how often and for how long and/or for what activities.

And I like the wording "dc will have [insert to provision]"

The LA may prefer "dc would benefit from", "dc will have access to", or "dc will be given opprtunities to...".

Needless to say the LA-type wording is illegal and allows them to send nothing.

Good Luck

I e mailed the sen coordinator yesterday, with my summary of the meeting, detailing exactly what amendments she agreed to make, and what actions she said she will take.

I hope that helps, because last time we met she agreed to lots of things that somehow didn't find their way onto the draft.

Attagirl (attacat?)

Yay kojack Well done you. became an expert very quickly!

Not that quickly, senvet, we have been asking for a statement since he was two, he is now 6.5!