home education, mainstream, special needs

[chompass2018]

Hello
i am after peoples personal experiences, views etc
I have a 9 year old girl currently in year 5 who has been diagnosed with ASD, she struggles with communicating her needs, feelings etc, behind at school and has issues with anxiety where it effects her bowels and will often have time of school, she dislikes school even on a good day. I have ask the school to see if we can work towards and apply for a EHCP, if they are unwilling i will apply myself, So as her primary school life is nearly ending i am now thinking for when she is at secondary school age, what do i do?
I live in east sussex so if she gets a EHCP then i could look and apply to northease or head start? if no EHCP do i risk a mainstream secondary school, very unsure how she would cope, her care would have to be very good for that to work...or do i home school? has anyone done this, how hard was it?

This is all new to me and i have been given no advice or guidance, hence why i thought other mums would know and help me shed some light

Don't wait for the school to apply for an EHCP. There's a good template letter on the IPSEA website - use this. Look at the Ipsea/SOS!SEN/Special Needs Jungle websites as these contain huge amounts of useful information. Go on an IPSEA/SOS!SEN training course if you can get to one.

The legal bar for an EHC Needs Assessment is very low. It is 1) That a child has or may have SEN and 2) That the child may need an EHCP. LAs often reject applications but you can easily appeal this and as your daughter meets the legal criteria the LA will be forced to assess her. If, after the assessments, the LA say refuse to issue an EHCP you can appeal.

If you can afford it get private assessments carried out. Reports need to be thorough and, legally, support needs to be quantified and specified eg X hours of X support will be delivered by X on X days/ mornings. LAs are unlikely to do this due so you may need your own reports to contest the LA's.

Forgot to say 9 out of 10 parents win at appeal so don't be put off if you need to appeal. LAs just try it on to save money (in all fairness to them they are equally fed up with the SEN situation as governments are hardly supportive and SEN is very underfunded). Be prepared to be told a load of rubbish and for some rather questionable tactics to be used. Question everything you are told.

Hi OP, my son on the spectrum was at a mainstream school until 11. He would not have coped with mainstream secondary, so is now at a specialist senior school. It's the best decision we could have made for him. In your shoes I would start the EHCP application process as soon as possible.

Thank you so much for replying.
I am just starting the EHCP route now, I have notified the school with my intentions so fingers crossed, they will be helpful

Best of luck!