Amended EHCP - was finalised now draft again.

[Punxsutawney]

I received an encrypted email today titled amended draft EHCP 1. Ds's plan was finalised back in January.

This was sent because the LA agreed to pay for a sensory assessment for Ds but it happened after the EHCP had been finalised. I had asked for it to be updated with the new information.

The amended document has pretty much added the report and recommendations on word for word.

The OT also works for the NHS and he has now been added to her caseload. This I guess is now covered by health rather than education?

There are many aspects of school life Ds is still struggling with and we are concerned. Now that it's back at draft stage, does it mean that the whole timescale has re-started again or is likely this draft is purely to add on the OT report? It gives the date of the first draft as this week but no date of final draft and Ds's school is not named in it. I'm confused!

If the sensory needs are in section B and the OT provision is in F (as it should be, if it isn't you should appeal) then it is an educational need and the LA are responsible for ensuring provision is provided. The NHS may provide it, but if they don't the LA must commission independent provision.

School shouldn't be named as it's a draft.

See the information under "where the LA decides to amend the EHC plan" on this checklist. Although not follow my an AR for the purpose of the process it is the same.

Thanks 10green. The email arrived without a covering letter and I didn't realise that amending it with the sensory assessment information would mean it would revert back to draft form.

The sensory needs are in B and the recommendations for school are in F. Although Ds is not using any of the recommendations to help regulate himself as he can't tell anyone he needs to. There is no mention of the sensory integration therapy that he is now receiving via the NHS.

We may well use an EHCP checking service or similar, as although we improved it from the first awful draft they produced, it's still too woolly and and there are words like 'regular' and 'opportunities for'. But he's not really very well at the moment, so that's making things feel even more concerning regarding school.

Whenever the LA amend the EHCP they must send you a draft and give you 15 days to make representations.

SOSSEN offer a draft checking service for a reasonable fee. You are right to try to tighten the wording up, a vague, woolly EHCP is worthless.