EHCP draft plan

[Mum1405]

Looking for advice.....we have today received an ehcp draft plan. We were hoping for full time 1:1 but no where in the plan does it say this. It shows a breakdown of what's needed but some of it says it can come from classroom staff and other parts by suitable trained staff. Does anyone know if it would actually say full time 1:1 if that's what they were potentially going to offer? Many thanks

Yes, section F would (should if that is what is needed) specify 1:1 and either full time or the number of hours.

Make sure it is detailed, specific and quantified. It shouldn't have words like 'access to' or 'equivalent to'. It sounds quite woolly at the minute - suitable trained staff, what training? what staff?

SOS SEN check drafts, and IPSEA is a useful resource.

10brokengreenbottles thank you. I'm going to call la on Monday to discuss it as letter says we only have 15 days to make changes

Ours refused to specify 1:1 support as they said it was for the school to determine how funds were spent. They also didn’t put any monetary value on until the final was issued. However, we knew the school had already allocated 1:1 staff for him and if the funds had not been enough to cover it we would have appealed.

Open, your LA are talking nonsense. If they say they don't 'do' 1:1's then that is an illegal blanket policy - though they may need reminding of that. Although, as you say it isn't so much of a problem in a supportive school that will provide 1:1 anyway.

Did any of your assessment reports specify 1:1 support?

10brokengreenbottles they didn’t say this, though it may have been the case. Our reports specified that he would need significant adult support and an individualised curriculum, not 1:1 per se but he already had 1:1 support in place at nursery from SENIF funding so the precedent was there.

He would not have even gone to school without 1:1 support, there’s no way I would have allowed it. I still wouldn’t.

It’s good to know though, I should probably research it to find the relevant code incase school policy (or the HT) changes or secondary school policy is different. Worst case we get a solicitor involved.

When school made the ehcp application they put a full time 1:1 would be needed. He also has some 1:1 in pre school as he gets senif funding. Same as you openupmyeagereyes they have not put any monetary value.

Open you may find this page helpful. Nothing should be left for the school to decide.

Though it sounds like the problem for you and Mum are your reports. "Significant adult support" isn't specific and quantified enough.

And Mum, what do the Ed Psych, SaLT report etc. detail? This is where provision will be taken from. If the reports aren't detailed, specific and quantified then neither will section F.

We do have detailed outcomes and provisions required to meet those outcomes both in the reports and the EHCP, it’s just that the reports did not categorically state that x will require 1:1 support. Even in a special school he would not be offered that as a matter of course I don’t think. I have a friend with 2 autistic dc at a SS and her eldest (who is quite severely affected) has only just been given 1:1 support and she is 7.

Anyway, I will stop derailing Mum’s thread.

The Ed Psych report details extra support will be needed in lots of areas but does not specify 1:1. We do not have upto date salt report as only saw them couple weeks ago since diagnosis. All other reports detail challenging behaviour, delay in development, short attention span etc. I will be calling salt tomorrow for report and la to arrange meeting as a 1:1 is a must.

Mum hopefully you will be able to get 1:1 specified. The reality is that all the additional support specified cannot be given with one teacher is a class of 30 children without a 1:1 in place, especially when you factor in behavioural issues, and any good school should know that.

Is ds starting reception in September?

openupmyeagereyes I really hope so. Yes he does start reception in September. He has no awareness of danger either and will think nothing to running off. School have been very supportive as pre school he currently attends is within the school so they very aware of his needs.

That sounds positive regarding the school.

He has no awareness of danger either and will think nothing to running off

This was, and still is, my primary concern too. That’s why I would not have let him go to school without 1:1 support.

Good luck

Ours refused to specify 1:1 support as they said it was for the school to determine how funds were spent.

total bollocks. by law they have to specify and quantity. Besides, what is the point of the whole EHC assessment and subsequent plan if it doesn't tell the school exactly what provision your child must get.

We do have detailed outcomes and provisions required to meet those outcomes both in the reports and the EHCP

you still need it in section F. The LA know this. Don't accept this EHCP.

dairyfairies the EHCP was accepted and is already in place. My ds is in Y1 now and has always had ft 1:1 support, the funding provided covers this. His school are also providing 1:1 support for dc without ehcp’s or who are currently going through the process.

open, you are very lucky then. I have lots of friends with similar EHCP who really got screwed over for loss of a better word.

I had lots of issues in the past (sorted since DC moved to SS) and from experience, I would never except a substandard EHCP as you don't have the legal protection if things weren't going the right way.

Has a SALT report (either one carried out in the needs assessment or a recent one you already had that is suitable) not informed the draft at all? If not it needs to.

If reports don't state full time 1:1 it is unlikely the LA will amend the EHCP to include it. If the reports aren't specific and quantified ask the LA to go back to the report writers to make them so. If the LA won't amend you will need to get your own reports done and appeal if you want/need full time 1:1 in section F.

Without 1:1 specified, often schools won't provide 1:1 &/or funding isn't enough for 1:1. Whilst a class teacher may not be able to provide all the provision in the EHCP, without 1:1 specified and quantified it may be left to a general class TA or a TA assigned to a small group. There would be nothing you could do to force 1:1, because it isn't specified. That's before you consider that even if the school do provide some 1:1 it may not be full time and could be pulled at any point.

Open, you are 'lucky.' A good, supportive school makes all the difference. We were with DS1, he had full time 1:1 before applying. You only have to read on here how it isn't the case for all, and what problems an EHCP that isn't detailed, specific and quantified can cause.

If your child is going to a special school the ehcp shouldn’t need 1:1 specified in it. If it’s mainstream you will need it specified or it won’t be delivered.

A child who needs 1:1 in MS may not need 1:1 in SS. But if they do need 1:1 in SS it should be specified.

Yes we are lucky, however we chose the school precisely because they are supportive and completely got it. We discussed his needs with the head, deputy head, SENco and reception teacher before we applied. It is not our catchment school and he did not attend preschool there. Our ehcp was in place for him starting in reception and they had allocated his 1:1’s before the end of the year before he started.

If things were to ever change we would call an emergency review and get legal representation if needed.

In fact, I believe I have an email from the caseworker stating that the funding allocated was to allow for 30 hours of support, with 2.5 hours supposedly in a group situation. That shows intent for the funding which would support any case we might need to bring. And, of course, his funding is ring fenced so they need to spend it on him.

Open, the school sounds amazing.

They are very good. It is a smallish village school with 180 pupils and a very caring ethos. All of the adults look out for him.

That said, we don’t always agree on everything of course but nothing major. I’m also aware that things could change if there was a new HT so I’ll definitely keep everyone’s comments in mind if our situation changes.

If you’ve got that in an email from SEN, ask them to write it into section F. The 30hrs of support will not automatically mean 30hrs of 1:1