moving to London from US

[krobhix20]

Hi,
We are moving this summer to London, likely Wandsworth with our two DS ages 5 and 3. My husband's job is transferring us over. His company is smaller so we won't be getting the full expat experience of paid for housing, schools, etc. However they are sponsoring our visas and giving us a stipend for school b/c my 5 year old is SN. He has been diagnosed with sensory processing disorder and we have just done his first diagnosis for ASD and ADHD and are awaiting the results. We are hoping that we can use these diagnosis and reports to get started on an ECHP once we get a residential address. The entire process has been daunting and frustrating. I've been reading the boards here for a while and it definitely sounds like it's incredibly frustrating and a long long long waiting time for every child in the UK.

I really don't understand this process and why it's so slow moving. Is the only way to fast track it by doing private assessments? That seems so unfair. So much of helping our DC is early intervention. But it seems that's impossible. I also don't understand if I already have diagnosis and reports for my child, and I know what he needs why would I be forced to send him to a mainstream school just for him to fail again to then begin the seemingly years long process to get assistance.

My son is already in a SN independent school here in the US. There are 5 kids in his class, there are 2 full time therapists on staff, a sensory room, etc. He is doing much better, but still struggling there. Why on earth should I put him back in a classroom of 30 kids? It would be awful for everyone involved, the other students, teachers and administrators. No one would be happy. Is there a way around this at all? This is my biggest stressor and fear about the move.

Any help anyone can offer is greatly appreciated.

Unfortunately, DC with parents who know the system and how to enforce rights get better support. It shouldn’t be that way, but I can’t see it changing any time soon. That’s not a criticism of you btw but of the system and sadly many don’t realise until afterwards. You don’t know what you don’t know which is one of frustrating parts of navigating it all.

It doesn’t surprise me you didn’t get a response to your emails. In my experience they rarely do unless parents are pointing out they are in breach of their duties and they see parents will take enforcement action.


surrey agreed that there is NO salt or No OT that are suitable but they have contacted 15 people.

They are fobbing you off. For comparison I helped 2 parents in 2 different adjacent LAs to you whose appeals were upheld after yours. Both included SALT and OT and both have provision in place, so there is professionals available, the LA just might have to pay more than they would like.

@Thatsnotmycar I've emailed the LA and included everyone there I can think of with your suggestions. I've included the wording that they will be in breach of their legal obligation. I've also noted that I've asked repeatedly for months now to have my child seen by a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist.

The caseworker has responded saying she's asking managers for advice. Our meeting to determine how we move forward is next Monday. So more than likely he will not be seen by CAMHS before then. While I know "diagnosis" isn't required for and EHCP I wanted as much evidence and documentation as possible.

Is there anything left I can do?

Thanks again for all your help throughout this process. You've been the one bright spot in this mess.

When is the 20 weeks up?

Email the Director of Children’s Services one more time informing them if they do not comply with their statutory duties with regard to assessments you will be forced to begin judicial review proceedings. Often the mere threat works, but if it doesn’t work very quickly contact SOSSEN for help with a pre-action letter.

And/or

Push for the LA to finalise, appeal and seek an independent assessment. This might be the better option if you think you are going to have to appeal anyway.

Monday is end of 20 weeks.

I will wait and appeal as I know we will likely have to, to get him to stay at his current school.

If the 20 weeks finishes on Monday you should already have the draft. If you haven’t you have a bigger problem than assessments and you need to email the Director of Children’s Services this model letter and inform them you will be forced to begin judicial review proceedings due to the LA frustrating your right of appeal. Then contact SOSSEN for help with a pre-action letter if it doesn’t work.

draft literally just showed up in my inbox 2 min ago. off to read it now.

The biggest thing to make sure is section F of the draft is detailed, specified and quantified. No woolly or vague wording such as “as required” “access to” “would benefit from” “e.g.” “high level” “opportunities for”… A vague and woolly section F is unenforceable and not worth the paper it is written on.

All needs should be in B and every need should have corresponding provision and outcome.

Anything that educates or trains e.g. SALT, OT should be in F. Many LAs try to put it in G, but you need it to be in F to be enforceable.

If it is something that you are interested in SOSSEN have a draft checking service.

The draft looks pretty explicit and has clear language for the most part about who will be administering the services, for how long, etc. The only thing I'm not seeing that I know the EP included in her report was high teacher to student ratio. He's currently in a 1:1 setting, which the school is forcing (but I think its a bit overboard.) That said there is nothing in Section F about what the classroom will/should look like in terms of number of students.

Is this something that can be specified in Section F

Yes it is.

The reports should be in K, so you can check what wording the EP used. Although a “high teacher to student ratio” is woolly. Your definition of that will be different to the LA’s and it’s unenforceable.

That said there is nothing in Section F about what the classroom will/should look like in terms of number of students.

Was that in any of the reports? This part is actually quite important if you want SS as obviously a class size of e.g. 6 can’t be provided in any MS.

In EP report it stated "high adult to child ratio". The EP will be on the review call so I can ask for this to be more specific then.

Should I contact the EP ahead of time and let her know i will be requesting this?

Yes, you should email them now and the LA (as it is them who need to ensure reports are detailed, specified and quantified). You also want the class size included.

Sorry to ask - but I got told if you get told if you quote x amount of children within a class which is stated on the EHCP - if there is a potential school in the future (not the current one) which is over what they specified of children on the EHCP they won't accept the Placement. - is that incorrect information I received?

Omg - your so good! Your on fire 🔥

I wish I was so knowledgeable as you! Thank you x

That can sometimes be true. But it will only be written in a report, and therefore in F, if it is actually needed, so the majority of DC with it in section F wouldn’t cope with a larger class. Normally there is a range e.g. maximum class size of 6-8 pupils, so it isn’t overly prescriptive.

If it became an issue at a later date you could ask for the EHCP to be amended at that point. I really would focus on getting the EHCP right for now, especially as OP wants a wholly independent school. Anything can change in the future.

Even if it remains in F if you want a cheaper placement the LA are likely to agree.

@Ilovechoc12, it’s a steep learning curve. When the complexity of DS1’s needs first became apparent I didn’t know much about EHCPs.

I've gotten a very long reply from the LA.

Included in their reply "To date, we have not had a response from CAMHS, and I have written to them again today to remind them of their statutory duty and their duties under the SEN Regulations. I have asked that they provide information in regards to needs, provision and outcomes as a matter of urgency."
^
So now I guess I will ask for independent assessment yes? Our meeting is Monday and I'll keep you posted.

Spoke with the EP about class size and she said she can't recommend a specific setting in the report. She's clarified to the LA that he requires a small class size. I've reiterated to her that what she or I consider small may not be what the LA considers small. I may think 6, the LA may think 15.

So we'll see what happens with that also.^

Yes, request an independent assessment.

Reiterate you are not asking the EP to name or recommend a placement, you asking her to comply with the law and make her reported detailed, specific and quantified.

Or if you suspect you are going to have to appeal anyway push the LA to finalise ASAP, then appeal and seek an independent assessment.

had our draft meeting yesterday without the LA. our coordinator was sick but told us we could move forward with the meeting. i thought it might be great to take advantage of her absence and try and get everything in the plan.

we added some additional outcomes and were able to clearly specify class size and teaching ratio.

hopefully there isn't much pushback from LA.

i'll update here again once we get to next step.

We've gotten the finalised EHCP and got mostly what we wanted. They were still unwilling to specify class size or student/teacher ratio. The LA has asked to look at alternatives to DS's current school, but just heard back yesterday that there are no places available at any alternatives. So hopefully this means he can stay at his current school.

Praying this is all settled soon as we've spent a fortune on his school this year.

Brilliant news you have the finalised EHCP. But if you have the finalised EHCP you should know whether the LA have named the current school and therefore whether DS can stay at his current school.

If there is something not in F that you think is necessary or that is woolly and vague you should appeal.

It is irrelevant if you want the current school, but just so you know unless a school is wholly independent no places isn’t enough on its own to refuse to name a placement if that’s your preference.

They have given us the final plan but didn't name a school yet. I asked the coordinator about it and she said that the LA asked her to look for an alternative to his current wholly independent special school. She's come back saying no alternatives have space so she's going back to recommend he stay put. Fingers crossed they agree.

If the final EHCP has been issued without naming a school you must appeal.

@krobhix20 Hello, I was wondering if your child is still at Chelsea Hall and do you mind if I pm you with a couple of questions? Thanks!

@nothappytobeheretoday Sure please do!

Back to ask advise again. We've been given the finalised EHCP 3 week ago now, but they haven't named a school. First our coordinator said the LA wanted to look at alternatives to my DS current school, which I believe is wholly independent. Then she informed us that none of the suitable alternatives had space available. But two weeks later they still won't name a school. Not his current school or an alternative. They keep having various excuses. We are beginning to think they are stalling on purpose to avoid paying for this term. They are now outside the 20week statutory timeline. When I emailed to notify them of this their response was "There are still discussions on-going with SEND managers, as soon as I have any decision I will, of course, let you know."

What recourse do we have now?

They are now outside the 20week statutory timeline.

They aren’t, you say the LA has issued a finalised EHCP which is what the 20 week timescale applies to.

If the EHCP doesn’t name your preferred school you can and should appeal. In the meantime the LA is still responsible for ensuring anything specified and quantified in F is provided.

Unless wholly independent being full isn’t enough of reason on its own to not name a placement. However, if you don’t want one of those placements don’t focus on that.