What to expect / do at the annual review in year 13?

[cakesandtea]

DS has ASD and is in second year of 6-form. The last annual review is coming up. I am not sure what to aim for, how to handle it. There is some uncertainty whether DS will succeed in his A-levels and if not, what to do next. In what circumstances will he need his EHCP after six form and what should be done at the annual review to protect this?

Ds has long period of depression and anxiety since in 6 form and full time 1:1 was reduced to 2 hours. DS panicques in exams but can answer questions when calm at home or even in the taxi home. Initially I attributed poor mock results to DS not working, but now realise it is anxiety and he does work hard lately, I can see that clearly.

The history is complex but the current situation is that the EHCP is due to review in year 13 and they want to stop to maintain.

The only outcome is that DS should get A levels this academic year. He may pass them, but if grades are not good for uni, what next? Does the EHCP cover apprenticeships or other further education?

Could anyone please advise what can I do to improve exam arrangements at this late stage, procedure wise?

Could you advise how to handle the annual review?
I received papers totally empty, no reports, nobody is even attending except me and DS and they intent to terminate it.

Can I ask to cancel given nobody is attending and no reports? Would it be valid if it goes ahead?

What and how can I do not to terminate it (in case DS would go to apprenticeship or something else, it does not look like he is going to get good A levels) and what to aim for?

IPSEA?

I just attended ds2' s AR for year 12 ( he is doing A levels). They said that in the event of him attending a Foundation year or any further training the EHCP would cover it, so obviously no need to terminate it, until he has received his A level results, and even then if he doesn't intend to go to university immediately, you still have the right to maintain it, so if for example he was to do a training course, the college would be able to get up to date information about his needs. It doesn't matter if he is academic, they should still be specifying his needs, and exam provision is one of those needs.

For example ds2 gets a scribe because his writing is slow (under 19 words per minute) his typing is not good enough to have typing as his accustomed way of taking exams, he has extra time. If he was writing his exams, then possibly he might get rest breaks, and work in a small room, with a prompt to reduce anxiety. Atm he is not anxious in exams, anxiety is not the case because his needs have been met exam wise. He did very well in his Gsces, using this provision. State school. Senco had to do a proper assessment, it is not in the EHCP that these exam concessions are gained, but through an upto date assessment under exam regulations. Google your exam board for futher info if the school aren't helping with this, it needs to be done asap, the assessment.

Wow, the Foundation year is covered by EHCP?

What is the exact criteria to cease to maintain if DC continue some education post 19?
Can they maintain if DS has 3 full A-levels even at lo grades like E and D?
What do I need to do, write to the revie to keep EHCP open for an apprenticeship for example.

I am panicking a bit.

I was told the EHCP wouldn't cover retaking A levels. but it would cover a foundation year in something like art or drama, or perhaps something like horticulture or landscaping or another technical qualification. All education up till the year in which you are 19 (so even if you are 19 on the first Sept that year is covered) are free anyway. What you need the EHCP for is to give additional help. But that is not to guarantee that the funding will necessarily follow the EHCP, however the LA is probably trying to make sure there is no provision listed to avoid any chance of being asked for extra money by a further education college.

The SENCO at your son's school must be able to assess his needs, surely? I've never heard of no advice at all. Have you spoken to Parent Partnership (don't what it is called now) which mediates on behalf of children with SNs when schools aren't particularily helpful or knowledgeable?

I'm not really sure of all the details, not best person to ask, but I am surprised that you have been given no advice by the school SENCO.

I don't think the Foundation year at a University would be covered though, maybe I'm confusing two situations.

Once you are at University, DSA should take the place of the EHCP but it is funded by the government not by the LA I think.

There is no reason to cease the EHCP just because he has A levels, of whatever grade. Not all students go to university just because they have A levels.

If you go to one of the training centres that your ds might possibly attend (other than university) surely they can give you an idea of the sort of detailed provision on an EHCP that would help them help your son, which in turn would allow you to fight to continue to maintain, or use as evidence.

It seems to me the main issue now is to get him the provision in his forthcoming exams, and that should be in his existing EHCP, that he needs special arrangements.

There is a big section on IPSEA "if the LA takes away the EHCP" which you could quote at the AR. All the relevant part of the Code. Even if the current outcomes have been met (ieA Levels) there is nothing to say that new outcomes are not required. That is all there.

I will be you next year..