Very basic Help with ECHP please?

[Treeli]

I’m trying to help a friend with an ECHP assessment form for her son.

He is 12, in secondary school. Diagnosis of ODD and ADHD since he was in primary school.

He is massively struggling with school, spends most of his time in the unit and the school cannot cope with him (and he can’t cope with school). The school appear to be useless, promised his mum two weeks ago he could have time out cards which still haven’t been given to him for example.

His mum is not up really aware of how this all works so I’ve said I will try to help. She has been sent the forms from the LA to fill in.

Do you have any basic tips to get the thing filled in properly? I realise this is probably a massive question!

Thanks

1.IPSEA! You can make an appointment to speak with an advisor by telephone, or ask generic advice online. Website takes you through it.

1. OR, [also] and this is my preferred pathway although I constantly checked back with IPSEA for template letters etc, she could make an appointment with your local Parent Partnership ( a neutral organisation which is funded by council - every LA has one for impartial SEN advice) which will help her fill in the forms. I did my EHCP entirely with their help. They took me through step by step and my son was the same age when I applied.

School had been useless in this respect, when I attempted it in primary.

But the school could also help, are they not advising her at all? At some point they will be asked for feedback which they cannot avoid.

I would be concerned that they haven't given the TIme Out cards, as this will be a reason why the EHCP might be refused ultimately on the basis that the school hasn't "tried everything". Unless they can prove they don't have the budget or supervision for Time Out to be facilitated (ie where does he go if he uses the Time Out card? Is there a nurture or space space for him?

Thank you so much for your reply. I’ve looked at the IPSEA website it was really helpful.

She’s asked for a meeting with the SENCO and HOY. The SENCO looked at his record and
said “oh yeah it does look quite bad but there are 4 other kids waiting on EHCPs before him”

He has over 350 behaviour points since September. In the internal exclusion unit everyday heavily medicated and the teacher yesterday told him to “just go back to sleep” 😡

There doesn’t appear to be any cycle of intervention beyond putting him in the unit. They’re just waiting for him to be expelled

Sorry I’ve namechanged since the first post!

They’re called IASS not parent partnership now - they will help you

Your friend can apply for an EHCP without waiting for the school to give the go ahead. She just has to send the template letter that IPSEA suggest using, with some documentary evidence, ie his diagnosis, his medication, 350 behaviour points to start off with.

Yes IASS, in our borough it is called something else acronymic now too!!

Poor lad; he sounds like he’s really going through the mill.

SENDIASS are a really useful support too and are represented nationally. They have a helpline but also local volunteers who will be able to help with the application.

The more thorough and specific she can be the better. Include any reports she has from previous professionals and their recommendations - any evidence that backs up what she’s saying. Describe behaviours at home, school, elsewhere etc. Describe his needs and the consequences to his life when they go unmet - such as in school with the inadequate help. Bring the point about wasted potential and how he currently isn’t accessing his educational entitlement. Document as much as she can to show that her son is struggling and needs an assessment to get to the bottom of it as current provision isn’t working.

I found getting an EHCP an absolute nightmare, to be candid. You have to just keep going with it. My application was rejected so I organised immediately to go to mediation with the LA with the view of a tribunal to follow that. The LA cancelled the mediation before it happened by agreeing to the assessment. So don’t be put off if the application is knocked back. The thinking seems to be that most are at the minute. But keep pursing it and the chances seem to be they agree when the pressure mounts.

I'm currently going through the EHCP assessment process with my DD. There are some really useful facebook groups, if she is on facebook. Most of the information and helpful hints I've got have been from facebook. Depending on where in the country you are, there may be local ones. Non area specific groups to try are "EHCP support group" and "EHCP experiences England"

She had a meeting with the school this week, SENCO and HOY. At the start they told her there was no way she would get an EHCP. At the end they were talking about possibly jumping her DS forward in the application queue for one!

They had no idea how much he is struggling. His paediatrician wants to start investigations for autism too.

He is negative 350 behaviour points already. Spends everyday in the exclusion room due to “disrespectful behaviour”. They just tell him to go to sleep or ignore him. He’s on the verge of school refusal now.

She has all the documentation from the school, diagnosis letters, prescriptions etc. Really hoping she is successful