Is it true that LAs use parenting courses to stall diagnosis these days??

[MyopicBunny]

This is what I've been hearing. I'm about to ask my GP for dd4 to get referred. I don't think they can reasonably refuse, since I'm autistic and she has two autistic siblings(!)

The LA does not have any role in diagnosis. The assessment pathway is set out in NICE guidelines.

Yes I know the LA doesn't have any role in diagnosis, I wasn't very clear about the point I'm making. Which is that I have heard from other parents who are trying to get an EHCP for their child that the LA will try to stall the process with parenting courses.

The NICE guidelines are all very well, and thank you for posting them. But LAs often make up their own illegal rules and don't actually follow the law or even best practice.

So what I actually mean is diagnosis of the child's needs rather than the child's diagnosis like autism etc. sorry for the confusion!!

LAs like to say a lot of things, but the only lawful threshold for an EHCNA is a) has or may have SEN, and b) may need SEN provision to be made via an EHCP. Anything else, including a requirement to have a diagnosis or attend a parenting course, is unlawful.

You don’t need to go to the GP for a referral for an EHCNA, you can make an EHCNA request yourself. On their website, IPSEA has a model letter you can use.

Thank you @BlueBrick

Yes they are. I am currently being tortured by one. It’s part of the pathway where I am and it’s disgusting.

Where in the country are you? (Vaguely)

I really don't see how they can get away with this. Autism is genetic. I'm now looking at my third child out of four who I believe is on the spectrum.

@HalLOUWeen OP clarified she means the EHCP process rather than the diagnostic process. If you also mean the EHCP process, your LA is acting unlawfully, just request an EHCNA, then appeal if they refuse to assess.

It feels that way to me, even after the diagnosis and when we should be getting speech and language therapy it's being delayed. Why? Because first I have to do group zoom parenting courses that tell us all we should just try talking to our kids. Great! Not like I've tried that! My non verbal kid will just start in no time with a group zoom sing song!

@Noorandapples does DC have an EHCP (which are based on needs, not diagnosis)?

If so, SALT should be in there (and can be more frequently and for longer than DC would otherwise receive on the NHS). If you don’t have SALT detailed, specified and quantified in F, you should request an early review of the EHCP - on their website, IPSEA has a model letter you can use.

If DC doesn’t have an EHCP, you need to request an EHCNA. IPSEA also has a model letter for this.

No if you are referring to social services help then that’s more to do with the fact that they are yet to train there social workers in special educational needs and palm them off as parenting problems. We had this same problem the last time the Labour Party took over our local authority was plagued by “parenting problems” by social services standards they delayed so many children’s diagnosis as it was always looked at by professionals as a parenting problem from then on

I've not experienced them doing this personally but I've seen a few threads where this has happened.

I'd love to know the LEA's justification for this. Since an EHCP is something for education settings, whereas skills learnt on a parenting course logically can only be applied outside of school. It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever to say that attending a mandatory parenting course is necessary to get an EHCP...

Well it's a delaying tactic isn't it - it drags out the time they don't have to pay for provision.