EHCP request meeting

[pandyandy1]

Hi

Together, school (very supportive) and I have requested an EHCP for my DD.
I personally thought the request was very comprehensive.

But today I received a call, requesting a meeting with myself, husband and school (with an LA, SEN caseworker) before she decides whether to assess or not.

Is this the norm? Further questioning (after already writing down every reason for an EHCP/interventions that haven't seen progress?)

I was prepared for a 'no, we won't assess' letter (based on lack of funding,) to which I was ready to just go to tribuneral, but this 'meeting to find out more' has surprised me.

I know why they should assess... My daughter has SEN and needs extra support in school (beyond (the well meaning) interventions that haven't resulted in any progress) and I will 100 percent say that. But again, the request for this 'meeting' has just caught me by surprise.

Yes, it is about being seen to have checked that everyone is on board and in agreement and everyone feels included and equal contributers.

Some see it as just another delay, but others would feel excluded if it didn't happen.

The threshold is very low for the LA to carry out an EHC needs assessment. Take a look at resources on Special Needs Jungle, IPSEA and SEN SOS to arm yourself with the facts just in case the LA try to delay things.

A lot of LAs have policies and procedures that are unnecessary and some downright unlawful. The law says if a local authority (“LA”) is requested to carry out an EHC needs assessment by a parent, young person, school or college, they must consider:

• whether the child or young person has or may have special educational needs (“SEN”); and
• whether they may need special educational provision to be made through an EHC plan.

If the answer to both of these questions is yes, they must carry out an EHC needs assessment.

This test is set out in Section 36(8) of the Children and Families Act 2014. This means these are the only questions the LA should be asking when considering whether or not to carry out an EHC needs assessment.

www.ipsea.org.uk/asking-for-an-ehc-needs-assessment

From what you say, clearly the answer to both questions is yes and any other criteria the LA apply (favourites are being at least 2 years behind/school having spent £6000 etc etc)are unlawful.

Personally I think this meeting is a delaying tactic, but then several years of dealing with our useless ill informed LA, who had delaying tactics and raging incompetence off to a fine art has left me a bit cynical.

Thank you very much for your replies!

Ellie56, my worry is that my DD(ASD)'s area of need falls under SEMH (debilitating anxiety.)

The nutshell version is that after 3.5 years and many forms of help (Healthy Child Team, private therapist, CompassREACH etc.) her anxiety is worse than ever, and before Xmas she wasn't attending school. She is academically on track (bar writing, as we are pretty sure she is dyslexic) but it is her mental health where we see no progress in, more so regression.

My DD is due to start Secondary in September and I just cannot see how if she is struggling to attend her small, supportive village primary, she is going to cope with high school. She is highly anxious going in the car at the moment (anywhere,) will only walk with me very locally (no shops etc) and she won't walk anywhere by herself - not even to the end of the street to the post box.

I have just given up my job to stay at home and care for her.

Sorry, I should add that trying to identify why my DD is so anxious is really hard because she doesn't necessarily understand her own feelings/struggles to verbalise.

She masked in school for a long time before things became too much.

Seperately to the EHCNA process, if DD is too unwell to attend school, including because of her MH, the LA have a duty to provide education. That could be home tutoring, hospital school, online etc.

DD's anxiety would probably lessen if her ASD needs were met. DD needs some emotional literacy support.

Despite clearly having SEMH needs DD's primary need should be ASD. This may become relevant if, for example, you wish to apply to an ASD specialist school. Some will only admit those whose ASD is their primary need.

10broken. Yes, I understand. We are trying really hard to meet need at home (lots in place.) School were also trying hard; but my DD is such a sensitive girl, who just wants to please, that she wasn't particularly using the tools and strategies that school were putting in place - so essentially still masking as it's all she's obviously known.

And this links with emotional literacy support. You are right. She needs help understanding how she feels, needs help to understand it is ok to say/express how she feels, but above all - needs support/encouragement to use strategies/tools/resources offered.

I will be clear at the meeting that primary need is ASD/communication and interaction, with SEMH secondary.

Thanks for replies. 👍

Apologies, I didn't mean to make it come across as though you weren't meeting DD's needs. I meant once EHCP provision was in place needs should be better met and therefore reduce anxiety. At the moment it's probably a case of no matter how hard you try at home there is still the problem of school.

No apologies necessary, I totally understand what you meant (: and chat like this is good, because actually I have re-read my copy of the application and I think the SENCO does inadvertently suggest SEMH as primary need. A point to correct at the meeting.

@pandyandy1 Hi, your dd sounds a little like my son who on the surface appears anxious plus dysregulated (he does not mask). But underneath the anxiety is a diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorder and significant sensory processing and social communication needs amongst other things.
Your daughter may find a big busy secondary school too overwhelming. Is it worth investigating some smaller specialist provisions in your area. As a previous poster advised, do not allow the LA to delay a EHNA.
Also take a look at the website Not Fine in School. There are resources on there that you may well find useful.

Niffler, that's my thought about our local Secondary too - overwhelming.

If the LA agree to assess (and I will use all of the above suggestions to fight for that to happen,) it is definitely my intention to look at other provisions.

Is your DS in Secondary?

@pandyandy1 He is nearly 10 and slowly transitioning into a fab specialist provision where he can still access the national curriculum and stay till he is 16.
Another of kids just can't cope with big bustling schools.