Who's DC has attended an annual EHCP review?

[Tainbri]

It's never even happened at dc's school (actively discouraged, unheard of) is this the norm? Dc wants to come. I've told him he can if he wants..... is this wise???

How old is your dc? Our ds(11) always attends for part of the meeting and gets to give his own input. It's encouraged by the school. However he doesn't stay for all of it. There are some things we want to discuss without him hearing.

He's 12 and our school actively discourages it! I have the LA attending and I feel I really want them to meet the "child behind the spreadsheet". It's good to hear that it's not unusual for Christmas Loren to attend.

Children!! Not sure what Christmas Loren is about, predictive text gone mad!!

It is good practice for the child to attend all or part of the annual review, depending on their age and ability to understand the meeting.
In many schools the (younger/more anxious) pupil is invited to attend part of the meeting, either the beginning or the end. It gives them a voice in the meeting.
If they start being involved when they are young and get an understanding about what the meeting involves, by the time they are 15/16 and older, they are better prepared to take their place and contribute to a meeting, which after all, is about their future.

In secondary schools I've worked in the students attend part of the meeting. I thought it was the norm. It benefits everyone - I can't see what a school could gain from not allowing it.
You should insist that your son attends - it's his EHCP after all,not the school or the LA's.

Thank you so much, I am definitely going to put in a request for him to attend. My son actually wants to attend and to be honest I would like him to. The LA has said that a caseworker will come which hasn't happened before and I would like them to know my sons views. At them moment it feels like he is just a set of levels or a figure on a spreadsheet and I want people to understand there's a little boy at the centre of it..... In the past someone from school has questioned him with a form which is very rigid but I also think the school is inclined to put words in his mouth or leaves out bits that might not reflect well on them!