EHCP for secondary?

[Nodancingshoes]

Long story short, ds (10) not diagnosed but strongly suspect asd. Reads well but struggles massively with handwriting, maths, organisational skills etc... He uses a laptop at school and has a scribe for tests (all new in yr 6). Should he have a EHCP for starting secondary school in Sept? Does he meet the criteria? I have emailed the SENCO woth this questions but want to be armed with some info for when he rings me back!

Without further detail it is difficult to say whether DS would get an EHCP. The criteria for an EHCNA is has or may have SEN and may need SEN provision to be made via an EHCP. Have a read of IPSEA and SOSSEN's websites.

If you did apply for an EHCP and need to appeal at any point, as many do, you would be pushing it for September, so if that is your intention apply ASAP.

Using a laptop and exam access arrangements don't require an EHCP. Usually if using a laptop is the normal way of working then that would be the access arrangement given.

Thank you - I will take a look. He has been getting help all the way through school - for example, going out for extra help with holding his pencil and fine motor skills but none of it has made any difference hence extra measures being brought in by his year 6 teacher. Since Sept he has been faking illness to get sent home, crying at school and at home about going to school, keeps saying he is stupid and everyone thinks he is stupid...I'm worried sick about him starting secondary. He cant even tie his shoelaces. I dont want to fail him anymore than I obviously already have. He has seem SLT and OT - been discharged from both. Under the SENCO but very little contact. He has always masked all of this at school until Sept when it started to spill out.

Your second post gives a much stronger reason to apply for an EHCNA. DS' needs aren't being met otherwise he wouldn't be school refusing - which is likely to get worse in secondary if DS isn't appropriately supported. An EHCNA would give up to date OT and SALT assessments and I bet an EP assessment would highlight unknown needs.

Whether you apply for an EHCNA or not, and from your second post I think you should, although you may have to appeal, speak to the secondary SENCO. In 'normal' years they could set up additional transition visits. May not be possible in the same way this year, but the secondary could do individual virtual visits.