Moving from USA to UK with an American IEP

[Brainfreeze1]

Originally from the UK we have been living in the USA for the last few years. Whilst in the USA my daughter was assessed by the school psychologist and OT aged 9. She was diagnosed with a working memory processing disorder which mainly impacts her ability to write, including very poor spelling and grammar. Otherwise known as Dysgraphia.

She was issued with an IEP (Individual Education Plan)and has accommodations in place which help her greatly.

My question is, with her now aged 12, we are moving back to the UK and I have no idea how to handle the transition to a senior school. I have a bunch of USA paperwork which states her diagnosis and the accommodations she needs to be successful. What do I need to do to get these in place for her at the new UK school she will attend?

Where do I start? Does my paperwork have any relevance in the UK? It would be great if you have had any experience with this type of move with a ND kid. I really am nervous of a delay in getting her the help she needs to make this transition as easy as possible for her.

if it makes any difference we will be moving to Sussex.

Thank you for reading!

When you arrive in England the LA have a duty to provide education. That usually takes the form of allocating a school place. If you don’t get a school you want you can appeal. Once you know what school DD will be attending you can speak to the school’s SENCO.

In England, most pupils with SEN are supported via the school at SEN Support level (as you used to live here, what used to be called school action and school action+). They will have an IEP (individual education plan) (or a similar thing but called something different) but they aren’t the same as USA’s IEPs. The vast, vast majority of this support is funded by the school as part of their Notional SEN budget. Although in a small number of cases the school can apply for high needs top up funding if they require more.

A smaller number of pupils who have more complex SEN have an EHCP (what used to be called a statement of SEN). These are applied for via the LA. Not every pupil who has an IEP in the US would qualify for an EHCP in England.

The diagnosis itself should be valid, but at 3 years old the recommendations made are likely to be considered out of date. This will be more problematic if you are apply for an EHCP.

If you post more about DD’s needs and what accommodations she requires posters might be to suggest whether an EHCP is likely to be issued.

IPSEA and SOSSEN are charities that have lots of helpful information on their websites and have advice lines. The SEN Code of Practice is worth reading too.

Thank you @LargeLegoHaul this is a really helpful response. The accommodations include Grammerly and Read to Write packages on her laptop. Option to type all assessments. Extra times on tests, notes printed out and shared so note taking isn’t needed in class. Adapted and accommodated test papers to allow fewer questions and more spacing if writing required.

She also has a 30 minute pull out a week with an OT.

Noted on the 3 year old diagnosis, do you think it would be worthwhile seeking a Uk independent diagnosis?

Exam access arrangements, use of a laptop and assistive technology and printed notes shouldn’t be an issue at a school level. How much you have to push for them will vary school to school as some as more understanding than others. It’s worth asking around locally if you can for local knowledge.

For internal school exams schools often follow the same exam access arrangements that are available for formal external exams so the school can build evidence of a pupil’s normal way of working. You can find them here. For GCSEs etc. papers can be modified in some ways e.g large print/coloured paper etc. but content isn’t modified for individual students. However, some subjects e.g. maths/science/MFL are tiered. If a pupil is working below the level of the exam they can be entered into entry level &/or functional skills instead. If needed, extra space is routinely given on a separate sheet. Some schools will use slightly different papers for internal exams for different sets (although not all schools set or don’t set for everything).

DD is unlikely to receive ongoing direct OT in school without an EHCP. You would have nothing to lose by applying for an EHCNA but I feel, from the limited information in your posts, you would struggle to secure an EHCP. DD may however receive a block of OT sessions via the NHS, but there will be a waiting list.

It’s not so much the diagnosis being 3 years old that is the potential problem, it is the assessment recommendations being 3 years old. So, if you do which to seek another assessment rather than a new diagnostic assessment you ‘just’ need new general assessments iyswim. In England at the moment independent Ed Psychs and OTs have waiting lists too, especially those who are Tribunal standard which you would need if you will potentially apply for an EHCP.

Hi Brainfreeze1,

I know this is an old post but I’m just wondering how you got on with this. I am in a similar situation now moving from USA to UK. My child has just received an IEP in the USA and I’m wondering how hard it will be to get it implemented in the U.K. and if they will just be able to use all the paperwork I have from the US. My son also has delayed processing, dysgraphia, dyslexia, anxiety, adhd and is going into grade 4. I realise it will vary school to school but would love to hear your experience.

Hi Bjac, we’ve been back in the UK for a year now and I would say my daughter is not receiving the support she had in the USA but she is very settled and doing well. I’m finding dysgraphia in particular a hard one to communicate. An English teacher did tell me that she just needed to work harder on her spellings which was frustrating. However there are work arounds in GCSE’s that have been offered and as long as you have them in place and documented way before they undertake the exams they can be implemented.

Everything @LargeLegoHaul said was excellent advice (so thank you again!). I met with the SEN and produced my paperwork. My daughter was given an SOS, which details her difficulties and this is given to each teacher. She has extra spelling tuition and access to student services. She was offered access to an ipad to take photos of notes in the classroom and offered a quieter area to do her exams in. No OT support but we have not gone down the EHCP route and Im not sure it is needed in this case.

I meet yearly with the SEN, a quick 15 minute meeting and yes they are under-resourced and over subscribed but they do offer help where they can. I will probably seek extra help for my daughter outside of school when the exams approach.

Fundamentally though my daughter is finding the curriculum very varied and interesting and the pressure on her is somewhat lifted (we were based in the Silicon Valley).

Good luck to you and your family on your move.

Very pleased to hear DD has settled well, @Brainfreeze1.

If you think more support is needed/going to be needed, I would request an EHCNA sooner rather than later because of the time it will take, especially if you have to appeal.

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