Home Education or School

[violetsky19]

Did anyone HE because of the fear their child with SEN would end up with a school that cannot meet their needs or no school space at all and making everything worse for them?

My daughter who is currently 3 (4 in December) is due to start school September 2024, she is diagnosed ASD, GDD & has severe speech, language and communication skills (echolaila/pre verbal).
She has been presented at LIFT, has early intervention, has attended portage, attends private SALT & has a specialist teacher from a local SEN school go out to nursery for just her once a week.
NHS SALT, after being on waiting list for almost 2 years have advised they have closed her case stating she is not ready or motivated for their help & requires referring when she is!

Nursery has just done her EHCP application - at this point I don’t know if she will require a specialist setting or mainstream. If mainstream she will not cope without a 1-2-1.

Currently she attends an independent nursery 3 hours, 3 times a week - she has been there since January 2022.
They cannot increase her hours as they do not have the staff to accommodate her needs for any more sessions.
At the beginning of term she moved up into the next class and is really struggling. New teachers, new room, new routines etc… but has gone from being hesitant to go in to now having meltdowns when trying to get her through the door, banging her head & last week now crying/screaming.
They have an independent prep school attached but have already said that their setting would not be appropriate or the best place for her.

We have started to contact local mainstream schools to arrange viewings with their SENCO but the more I read on these schools/LA’s in regard to SEN placements/EHCP’s I just feel fear.
She struggles in large groups (nursery have 16 in each session and this is quite often too much for her), she obviously can’t communicate, is totally in her own bubble (but happy) but doesn't understand simple instructions.

How do I know if I can HE her… as in not fail her?
She doesn’t like anyone playing with her, not that she really plays. She is addicted to her iPad - this is like her lifeline.
She loves copying others, but mainly older children than her.
She is also quite difficult to take anywhere with frequent meltdowns and she is a flight risk.
I don’t know if any of the HE social side would work for her. Home is her safe place.

I have own company & WFH 4 hours a day so am always home.

If you’ve got this far, thank you for reading.
I may be over thinking things but I just can’t do the wrong thing by her.

I am homeschooling two DS's. 8 year old has autism and Tourettes syndrome, 5 year old ADHD.
Neither of them could cope with school at all. Because I was already home educating DS15 for different reasons, I off rolled and teach them myself.
If school doesn't work for your DD then yes, homeschooling would probably be the answer. Try a couple of terms in school and if it's just causing stress for you both then off role her.
Home education is a daunting prospect when you first start, but you will find a system that works well for you and your family. All the best with it.

Thank you @Rysimo.
It's whether I can actually teach DD anything as she has no real understanding or anything but I guess even small steps in right direction is learning & anything that she couldn't do that she now does all counts.
I know September 2024 is a long way off & she could change a lot between now & then, but the thought of sending her to school terrifies me because she cannot communicate.

You could have a look at a SEN schools curriculum for guidance. Most schools have a downloadable version of what they teach each year group on their websites.

I’d definitely have a look at special schools in your area. My boy is a bit similar to your DS. He loves specials school but never would have coped in mainstream. If you look at all the options then you’ll be able to make the best decision.

@SachiLars
Can I look round a SEN school even if there is a chance she wouldn't get a space? They seem to be very very difficult to get in this area (probably the same everywhere).
I know there are lots & lots of SEN children without school spaces this year, so wasn't sure if they'd let me look!

Personally, I wouldn’t EHE. By doing that, the LA would say you are making suitable alternative arrangements.

If the LA refuse to undertake an EHCNA, refuse to issue an EHCP &/or issue but don’t name your preferred placement you can appeal.

If it is inappropriate for DD to receive the provision in school, then I would look at EOTAS via an EHCP. The benefit of EOTAS over EHE is the LA remain responsible, and a comprehensive EOTAS package can provide more than most parents can fund privately. For example, SALT (which can be provided even if the NHS wouldn’t ordinarily provide it to DC) and OT.

Many SS won’t allow you to visit yet when you don’t even know whether the LA will assess or not let alone issue.

Some LAs have specialist early years assessments places available for those undergoing an EHCNA/needing to go through the process, check whether your LA does. Has the current nursery applied for early years inclusion funding?

Make sure the LA sticks to the EHCP timescales. Because you won’t have a finalised EHCP by the normal admissions deadline, you should apply for a school place via the normal admissions procedure just in case.

@violetsky19 TBH we went through a lot of the application during lockdown / covid times so there wasn’t much visiting if anything to be done.

We did engage with a mainstream provider as we were instructed by the LA. The clincher for us was the mainstream SENDCO visiting my DS at nursery. She knew that they wouldn’t be able to provide for him immediately.

We also paid for an advisor. Other posts often contradict me on this, but the one we had (by personal recommendation) was invaluable. She knew the systems inside out in a way we didn’t.

@YellowRosesWithRedTips thank you will look into everything.
The nursery have applied for everything they can as they're independent I think they told me they're not eligible for some funding.

@Rysimo one of the mainstream schools I have arranged a meeting with to look round is with the head & the senco. The head advised if we like the school, they will then go to visit DD at nursery to I assume decide if they can or can't meet her needs.
The issue I have is that the mainstream schools that have SRP's are very large (over 400 children) she wouldn't cope in an environment like that or other that have a very good reputation with ASD have 2 reception classes but only a curtain between & quite often open it up so that both classes are combined with the teachers & TA's. Even with a 1-2-1 she wouldn't cope with 60 odd kids!
The very small mainstream primaries are going to be the ones that suit her better in terms of size but unlikely to meet her needs.

Private nurseries can apply for early years inclusion funding (and disability access funding). You should directly request they apply. If they already have, question why DD cannot attend more than 9hrs pw.

to I assume decide if they can or can't meet her needs.

It doesn’t work like this. Without an EHCP (which even if you don’t have to appeal won’t be finalised before the deadline for the normal admissions process), DD will be allocated a place based on the normal admission criteria. DD’s SEN won’t come into it (unless the school has an exceptional medical and social criteria and you apply under that), the school cannot refuse a place based on her SEN.

If you do get an EHCP, wholly independent schools excepted, the LA can only refuse to name your preferred placement if the LA can prove:
-The setting is unsuitable for the age, ability, aptitude or special educational needs (“SEN”) of the child or young person; or
-The attendance of the child or young person would be incompatible with the provision of efficient education for others; or
-The attendance of the child or young person would be incompatible with the efficient use of resources.
The bar to do this is high, and school can be named even if they object.

@YellowRosesWithRedTips
They've accepted to access her! I know that doesn't mean that she will get an EHCP tho & still lots of hoops to jump through & boxes to tick.
If she hasn't got an EHCP in place or a school place at a school that can't meet her needs then she will not be going come next September. She will not cope & I think it will be detrimental to her.
EOTAS is this where they provide say a tutor 1-2 hours a day or a few times a week?

If the nursery has only just submitted the EHCNA request, that was quick of the LA to say they will assess.

Obviously it is your prerogative to EHE or defer until January 2025, but a lot can change and it is recommended you apply via the normal admission procedure unless you have a finalised EHCP just in case.

EOTAS is this where they provide say a tutor 1-2 hours a day or a few times a week?

No, an EOTAS package via an EHCP is a full-time education, completely bespoke to the child’s needs. Tuition, therapies, APs, sports/art/drama/music, equipment/resources/memberships/a budget to access the community…

@YellowRosesWithRedTips
I was told they had agreed to assess her but maybe I'm misunderstanding.

I know we have to apply for a school she will get a space at ie our closest.
I was also told you can only appeal a place at school that you originally applied for also, but I am not sure if that changes once a setting is named on a EHCP?
The whole thing makes me so anxious.

An EOTAS sounds like it is very hard to get. Do you have any experience in it?

The LA doesn’t have to assess. Following an EHCNA request being submitted, the LA has 6 weeks to inform you whether they are going assess or not.

Admissions via EHCPs are completely separate from the normal admissions process. If the LA agrees to issue, you will get to name your preferred placement. The LA may or may not name it, but you will be able to appeal if not.

For admissions via the normal admissions process, you can only appeal once you have been formally refused a place, but after national offers day you can apply for/going on the waiting list of other schools and then subsequently appeal.

DS1 has EOTAS, and I have supported many others to get it too. You have to demonstrate it is inappropriate for the provision to be made in a school. Many have to appeal, but many have to appeal to get a good EHCP anyway, whether they attend school or not.

Thank you for all your advice @YellowRosesWithRedTips
It's very helpful & I can do some research now 😀

@YellowRosesWithRedTips
Apologies, you send me a message after my last reply? I thought I saw an email saying you had but cannot see anything on here nor find the email.
Alternatively it could just be me seeing things!

No, I haven’t PM’ed you.

I don't have experience of the school system as we went straight for home ed. It's worth knowing that many kids with SEN go in and out of school over the years, as their needs change and as appropriate placements become available or stop working for the child. Changes of staff and other children at the school can make all the difference. People will tell you that home education is a long-term commitment, but that really isn't true. It doesn't have to be. You can put your child into school whenever a suitable placement is available and home ed whenever it isn't.

Maybe you will feel that your daughter isn't ready for any sort of school setting at four, but she is at six. Maybe she'll have an excellent primary placement but there won't be anything that works for her at secondary. Maybe she'll be in a fantastic school but her Y4 teacher just doesn't get her and you'll decide to take her out for the rest of that year before sending her back in Y5.

Keep an open mind. It's good to know that you have home ed as a fallback if school isn't working out for your daughter. Likewise, if you think home ed would suit her best at first, you don't have to worry that you'll let her down and it will be a disaster: school will always be there, and you can change to school.

Because you think it's likely your daughter would require an EHCP and (unlike me) you are not dead seta against the possibility of sending her to school, you'll definitely want to go ahead with getting the EHCP. If you start off home educating, the EHCP remains in place and just needs updating if and when you want her to go to school - but updating an existing EHCP is far faster than getting one from scratch.

Maybe she'll be in a fantastic school but her Y4 teacher just doesn't get her and you'll decide to take her out for the rest of that year before sending her back in Y5.

If OP wants SS, it is unlikely to be as simple as this. Many people have to appeal for a SS place, particularly following a period of EHE. Added to this, often the likelihood of the LA being able to successfully prove the school is so full admitting DC is incompatible increases at non-standard entry points. While being full is not enough of a reason to refuse admission on its own, being so full it is incompatible is (the bar is high, but there is a point LAs can).