Yay - LA ordered to carry out EHCP assessment. What's next?!

[youarenotkiddingme]

What it says ^^ really!

Got email with order today.

What are timescales the LA must stick too?

What information should I request assessment wise - and how?

Should LA now contact me and ask me for my input?

This is going to be a long journey through the next but I know but I'm hoping to fight them before another tribunal!
(As ds is actually happy in current school!)

Thanks - luckily I'm in a great position where this school are supportive to its win win whatever they decide (or when they refuse to issue!!)

YAY! Good news, another hoop jumped through!

Well done for not giving up

Can't help with the timescale but I would 'helpfully' keep them on track by enquiring when you need to make ds available for assessment, ask which professionals will be assessing him so you can offer them further evidence, suggest appropriate time for meetings, innocently wonder how they are getting on in light of the deadline next week, etc.... make them want to get the job done just to get you off there back.

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IPSEA has all the timescales and legalities, sorry I am hopeless at linking, but that is wonderful news Youare.

Some of our evidence was used in the assessment (ie a recent OT report was just reused, in a different format, and he wasn't seen again by the OT as it had been so recent) Ds2 saw a LA Ed Pysch although we had private report up to date.

The LA failed miserably to sort out SALT assessment, in the end they had to use our private SALT report. So watch out for repeated assurances that something is being organised when it isn't. (in our case bureaucratic mixup he had been discharged from SALT list without ever being seen, which is why the assessment never came through)

The Case officer can be misleadingly glib when she has no idea what is going on. Although our second one who replaced first was much better.

The most difficult bit was filling in the long sections in ALL ABOUT ME etc. [They should send you a long letter and forms to fill in] I asked for help with this from the Parent Partnership, they were very helpful to giving me the right way to phrase things and what to include. I used lots of very simple examples, like I want him to be able to go the park by himself, arrange a cinema visit with friends by himself, travel on public transport by himself safely]

Essentially they should send you a letter telling you they are going to assess, with a named case officer.

Ipsea say on their pdf 10 weeks from agreeing to assess until they decide on EHCP or not. We received a very badly drafted plan by week 8, although that still did not mean they had decided to issue EHCP, just a PLAN.

So IPSEA has the info!

Expect to do lots of amendments on any EHCP that comes through in draft, and to be able to support each amendment with corresponding fact in report from LA professional. But anyway this is later on, don't worry about that now.

Congratulations!

I replied but it's not here

Thanks all.

DS has a lot of very recent reports that the judge referred to in the write up. Including an EP report that he highlighted suggests further support above what he is getting. (Did I mention he was a star?!)

So EP, SALT, sensory OT, Camhs report are all recent.

His OT assessment was last Jan and report dated March so im going to ask for OT assessment.
Also ask for communication and language team (they do autism outreach here) and physio to assess. (Well physio just needs to do a report!)

I'm going to do a really detailed bit for the parental input pulling together all the history and what has worked as well as the fall out of when it's not followed.
I'll also be putting outcomes on there. For example, as highlighted above, travelling on public transport, being able to manage money, going to a shop alone. And for this he needs communication support as currently despite excellent language skills actual communication is a chore!
I'll also be making it very clear that Ds still leaves lessons, has a lot of peer conflict in lessons and often misses important deadlines through disorganisation. I'll be putting the outcome to manage these things and highlight where it clearly states in reports he won't just learn these skills through osmosis they need teaching.

I want to make sure they get a plan and will hang onto the judges comments about maybe needing a specialist placement. If they can see that Ms can work with the right support they may see it's a cheaper version!

I think they have to tell you whether they're going to do an EHC Plan within 10 weeks, and if they do, they must finalise it within 14 weeks.

It's worth thinking about outcomes for section E, and make sure that they comply with the rules about covering a range of timescales and being SMART. LAs seem to go in for only one timescale, e.g. "By the end of KS2 X will ...." for every single outcome, and that's obviously wrong. Also watch out for all those waffly bits they love putting in section F, e.g. "X would benefit from access to ..." If possible, go to one of SOS SEN's workshops on EHCPs, I found it really valuable.

I'm sure I heard somewhere or read that la have to start assessment 4 weeks from order.

Does anyone know if that time is included in the 16 weeks? Or if the 16 weeks starts from after the 4 week period ends?

I'm wondering if I need to send a pre emptive text to la? And what to write if I should?

I think the 16 weeks starts when they send the letter out to start the assessment process.

Thank you.

Do you know how long they have after being ordered to assess by tribunal they have to and the letter out?

Interestingly since tribunal and everyone arguing that academically he's making progress - even if below targets I've had his end of term report.
Ds is below age expectations in subjects they said he was in line with. (He nev was in line the school lied) but it's obviously extra evidence for me!