Are school really meeting need?

[Mumma2024]

DD is 9, year 4. Autism, ADHD and significant anxiety. Full EHCP and full time 1-1 provision in mainstream.

This is all complicated by the fact she loves school. She is hugely anxious about missing school, because she misses content and then she won't know what to do. I sometimes wonder if she loves the idea of school but the reality of school is overwhelming her. In class around 2/3rds of the time.

Her anxiety has been horrendous this academic year. She's much more socially aware and very aware of things she finds difficult.

Had her AR last week and school said they can confidently meet her needs. We had specialist agreed in year 1 but there was nowhere really suitable for her and I opted to keep her in mainstream. She was causing school a problem then but since has become much more internal and generally doesn't cause them a problem. She might get shouty/cross/upset once or twice a day but this doesn't display as behaviours just vocally.

I'm not so convinced they are meeting her needs, but they were very clear they are.

Would I even be able to suggest that they are not meeting her needs?

The school and EHCP isn’t currently meeting DD’s needs. Other than 1:1 what other support is in F? Any therapies? Have you recently had a review or requested an early review?

It isn’t uncommon for schools to claim to be able to meet DC’s needs when they can’t and aren’t. You can push for an alternative placement. You may have to appeal though.

Do you think the school could meet DD’s needs with an improved EHCP or do you think they will never be able to? Is there another setting you have in mind now?

We had her annual review last week so I know now is the time to request a move. It was at her AR that school confidently said they can meet needs.

Did chat with school earlier as they aren't providing all of her provisions. They are struggling with the fact she needs pulling out of lessons to provide them. This makes me think she needs specialist even more.

I think we've reached a point that it doesn't matter how well the plan is written she can't cope with the school setting

Sadly, too many schools say they can meet DC’s needs when they aren’t doing so. You may have to appeal, but it is possible to secure another placement even if the school state they are meeting DD’s needs.

Do you have it in writing the school isn’t providing all the provision? Is the provision the school isn’t providing detailed, specified and quantified in F of DD’s EHCP? With no woolly and vague wording? If so, remind the school the EHCP is a legal document. Email the LA too because they are the ones who are ultimately responsible for ensuring the provision is provided. Then, if it continues, email again threatening judicial review. If that fails, contact SOSSEN for help with a pre-action letter. I say to push the school to provide the provision already in the EHCP because even if DD moves placement it is going to take time, especially if you have to appeal, and the school needs to better support DD now.