Pda school in Surrey

[mamaraptor]

We have finally received EHCP draft for our Reception child. LA asking what school to put in. I have no idea. He is at a mainstream with access of small group interventions, doing ok with pda strategies but I wonder if the year1 will be too demanding for him to cope. Any suggestions, recommendations or experience please. Do I need to push for 1:1 or change the school?

Provision in EHCPs is taken from the reports, so what do they say? Do they state 1:1 is necessary?

If you read between the lines do they suggest MS or SS is needed? For example do they suggest therapeutic input embedded into curriculum lessons or class sizes of no more than 8.

If “small group interventions” is written in F that is too vague. Your definition will be different to the LAs.

Thanks for your reply. There is nothing about 1:1. Some strategies for the educational staff to use. "Education staff will provide choice, visual timetable, use strategies, create etc". The only good part is Elsa and OT sessions at school. No mention of special school or mainstream. We want him to stay in his school with the right support, not just to be babysat but actually fulfil his potential.

Sadly that quote is far too vague and woolly. What staff, what strategies, when, where, create what? etc. needs removing. A vague and woolly EHCP isn’t worth the paper it is written on and isn’t enforceable.

If 1:1 isn’t detailed, specified and quantified in the reports it won’t be in section F of the EHCP either. So if you think 1:1 is required you will have to push the LA to finalise, then appeal and seek independent assessments.

The draft shouldn’t name a type of placement but often if you read between the lines of the reports you can see what is deemed to be required.

We’re some way behind you on the EHCP front, but what I would say is that our son just about managed in reception class. But when he went into year 1, especially after October half-term, things got really difficult for him. As you know reception class is very free flow and fun. After half-term in our school there was a lot of sitting at desks and doing work “on their own” after input. This was just too overwhelming for him. He more or less stole the class TA for that year so had (unofficial) 1:1 and it really helped him. I’ve been researching Merrywood School, a specialist SEMH provision school. They have campuses at Tadworth and Beddington.

Thanks. I will look at Merrywoods. I don't understand why school is not seeking help from the LA or support me with the EHCP process. It's really exhausting and emotionally draining. We have private diagnosis and nhs too but served us nothing so far.No point going through all these assessments if they don't support him. I wish you all the best with your son, hope you find the best place for him.

Thank you @mamaraptor good luck too! Our school wouldn’t support an EHCNA so I did it on my own and just informed them when it had been approved. That was very satisfying! Is there an independent advisory board that could support you in your area? They usually work alongside, but independently of the LA?

Be careful with SENDIASS, some are good, but too many repeat the LA’s unlawful policies. They receive LA funding so aren’t truly independent and will ultimately toe the party line. IPSEA and SOSSEN are better IMO.