Ed Psych assessment help

[Worriedandanxiousmama]

We are in the process of assessment for EHCP. Dates not met (obviously). LA said they could not issue a plan without Ed Psych input. Finally had Ed Psych assessment earlier this week.
For the first time in this whole process I’m now terrified they will come back and refuse to issue an EHCP on the grounds that current provision is ‘enough’. And that my son is making progress in his current setting.
Everyone keeps talking about only issuing the plan if the existing school provision is not enough. The is excellent and the best place for our son for now, but he will need specialist placement in secondary. He will not manage in mainstream.
DS is bright, and academically able but can’t engage with the whole lesson time, even with 1-1 support. He’s not behind academically in relation to his peers, but behind where he should be, according to the school. His emotional and social development is significantly behind that of his peers. He has ASD, ADHD, Dyspraxia, PDA and SPD.
I’m not sleeping with worry, and terrified my son will not be awarded an EHCP and forced to enter secondary mainstream.
The school has changed headteachers recently. Previously they have been very pro-EHCP and maintaining support but since the new head has started they seem to be saying our son will be ok without it.
I’m worrying myself senseless about it all. The EHCP process has been so draining, the thought of having to appeal makes me feel on the verge of breakdown.
Our son is violent (particularly at home) and I have nothing more to give. It’s taken a huge effort to get this far and the day to day of dealing with the reality of it is breaking me.
I would be grateful for any advice and guidance please. Thank you.

(Sorry, that should say will not manage in mainstream secondary. He is is only able to cope in primary by 1-1 support, tailored curriculum, lots of interventions and support aids, etc.

Hello

I'm sorry you're finding it all so stressful. Firstly do look after yourself; if you are struggling to sleep due to worry it might be worth visiting your GP (I have been there - it was the EHCP process that tipped me over the edge. Anxiety medication has helped me an awful lot).

The fact they are assessing him is a good sign I would say, but obviously it's still not a given they will issue a plan.

Did you have a chance to meet with the EP yourself / submit any written evidence to them to aid in their report?

My DS sounds similar to yours - he was issued a plan and then had a year in mainstream with lots of extra support as well as 1:1. He's just started SS now in year 5 which is a far better setting for him.

The waiting is horrible because you shoulder all of the worry with none of the power.
Try and distract yourself as much as you can, make sure the LA tell you when you will have a decision and keep them to that.

If you do have to appeal it will be ok - you will still have time to sort out provision before secondary school. But hopefully it won't come to that.

Thank you @Marshmallow09er - I’ve felt so crushed by the whole thing. To get this far and then a plan not be issued would be devastating. My son’s has a very spiky profile - streaks ahead in some areas, still as if in year R in others. There is no ss at primary suitable for him. To move him now would be awful. But it’s a different story at secondary. There are two local schools with provision suitable for him, but they only take with an EHCP.
I did meet with the EP, but my stress and anxiety made me fudge it. I ended up crying. And then I found out that the SENCO thinks they may not issue a plan either. BEcause he’s too clever and the school is very good at supporting him. (Even with the new head saying they can’t afford to maintain his 1-1. Good luck with that -disrupted the whole class’s learning for a term the last time they tried that).
Good idea on the GP. I have ASD and other conditions too and don’t manage difficulty well.

I don't think you crying will have fudged it at all - if anything it will highlight the strain supporting your DS is putting on you.

The 'too bright / academic' for an EHCP is not true - if that was the case my DS wouldn't have got a plan.
It can absolutely be based on social / emotional.

My DS is very demand avoidant and explosive - at least he was, in mainstream. Now he's in SS in a small class, with teacher input (rather than just TA) he's far less explosive because he's more calm in general.

I'm sure an experienced EP will have gauged how much support your DS needs / will need going forward.

And if they do think a plan is not required you can appeal. I know the thought probably fills you with dread (I had to appeal a no assessment decision, even tho DS had been on a part time schedule at school for a whole year at that point!).
But it was ok and people on these boards can help guide you.
If money allows you can get proper mediation / solicitors too if the stress is threatening to overwhelm you.

Def go and see your GP too if you think that will help.

You are in the worst part now - the limbo stage.
Whatever the decision you will at least have something concrete to go on.

Btw has he only been seen by an EP? Not OT / SLT (yes I know it's very rare a LA will just commission these assessments)
But if you have requested them, and they haven't done them and refuse to issue a plan it will give you more ammunition if you have to appeal as you can argue they haven't done a FULL assessment of his needs.

If he's anything like my DS he has big regulation (OT) needs and big SLT deficits too (mainly social stuff).

Thank you again @Marshmallow09er
We haven’t had a separate OT report requested at this stage, but we had NHS OT reports (hypermobility, etc) and a hugely detailed private OT assessment/report we had done, including the SPD diagnosis. If they haven’t commissioned their own/separate report and the decision doesn’t reference the one we provided, can we include that in the appeal?
SALT isn’t necessarily directly relevant for our son - he his very articulate - but he has pronounced echolalia, elements of verbal dyspraxia, etc. We spoke to a SLT when we were putting together the application for assessment. She said she didn’t think it was necessary for the application, but to go back to her if we needed to appeal.

Yes absolutely you can appeal the contents if they don't include the OT recommendations from your private report.

I'm sorry it's all such hard going; it really should be such a slog to get support for our children. Hang on in there 

Thank you! That’s really good to know. I think we’ve provided more than enough evidence throughout the process, but the EP assessment and latest discussion with the SENCO has sent me over. I thought the SENCO would be more supportive following the EP assessment - and this isn’t at all in keeping with our experience of ‘working’ with her previously.

I’m so sorry you’re going through this. We got our draft plan on the 31/10 this year after a mammoth year of trying to sort it. The school didn’t believe that there was something wrong with her and was refusing to do anything. She was in year 5 when I kicked up a fuss and took her abroad to get tested. School kept saying she was talking funny because she’s bilingual. She could not speak any other language. Anyway she has severe developmental language disorder and has been given weekly salt sessions for the first year and than blocks. They haven’t specified her getting a 1:1 lsa so we will be contesting that with them and if they say no I’ll take it to appeal. We started this process in March and it was the most draining thing I’ve ever done, appeals at every step etc.
Please hang in there. My dd had levels 5b, 5w and 5w for English maths and science at the end of year 5 so it really doesn’t matter what the levels are. Some people will say if the child isn’t 2 years below their age they won’t get it but that’s nonsense. The ep observed my dd in class and could see she doesn’t understand much so even she questioned the credibility of these levels. I also cried loads at both our salt and ep assessments and they were super kind.
You’re nearly at the end, it much easier to appeal once they’ve had the assessment done and they’ve acknowledged that your child has Sen. It’s just a case of proving that he needs more money.

Try to not stress until you have to, you’re on the right track go getting the support.

I can only echo what above posters have said, it does seem to be a running theme with some SENCo thinking EHCPs won’t be given. From my limited experience I do know that in some cases the SENCo/schools seem to think LA criteria trumps Send CoP and Children’s & Families Act. I have read it may be due to a lack of understanding of SEN law. As hard as it is just remember the progress you have made and how far you have come. You more than likely have come across all of times but just incase you can always call any of the following for further guidance: IPSEA/ SOSSEN/ NAS Education rights officer or look at Child Law website:

childlawadvice.org.uk/information-pages/special-educational-needs/

Special Needs Jungle is another site full of support and information. Have you been able to access local SENDIASS? SOSSEN have booklets they sell which are helpful IF you need to appeal. Don’t be disheartened by what you hear from the school as their perspectives will always be different. You just focus on the facts, if he has unmet needs there’s room for appeal or hopefully it goes through. I remember speaking to a member of the SEN team from the LA and something he said to me stuck in my head ‘nothings ever set in stone, things can be changed’, I interpret that as if something doesn’t go your way, find the evidence to make it. Just know your not alone and it is a awful and stressful process but you have fought half the battle. Good Luck!