Hrm

[Mummytodo]

Hi my DD has just been diagnosed with ASD, she receives her and lrm I do believe she would meet criteria for both smi and vuw but I'm unsure how to evidence this.

Daughter has significant social and communication skills, the private salt report picked up she is a glp stage 1. She has an inability to make choices and communication is indicating she is at the age group 12 -18 months.

The risk assessment received from school advise she is unable to attend school trips as the risk is too high. Also states to remove non food items with as little force as possible, if DD has a meltdown the class room should be evacuated. She has a later start time and finish time to prevent dysregulation.
Also she is met at the door at drop off and pick and guided to the classroom

Echna advice from school shows she is far below her peers academically and due to her high sensory needs she is unable to take part In pe as she will not leave the classroom and this causes meltdowns. She is not allowed on the playground at break time as they cannot keep her safe due to her eloping and climbing high and eating non food items. Also when she becomes dysregulated she strips of clothing and refuses to put it back on.

Ot report advises she requires 1:1 to prevent eating non edibles food.

Every report advises she has no sense of danger and high sensory needs

Would this be sufficient evidence?

Renewal is not due until may

You don’t say how old she is? I’m sorry I don’t know the benefits you are asking about but I’m sure someone will.

You would need to evidence every step of the flowcharts for SMI &/or VUW in this document. This can be done using medical letters (e.g. SALT, OT, CAMHS, paed, GP, A&E visits), EHCP, evidence from nursery/school, social care, police reports... It depends on the individual case.

Also look at Contact’s leaflet.

Thank you I think I can evidence it

Child has:
ASD diagnosis I have a copy of the assessmebr
Assessed by salt to have significant social communication difficulties (assessments show age of 12-18mths but child is 6) salt also advised unable to make decisions and difficulties engaging and understanding instructions
Resits adult guidance due to rigidity of thought and self led
Significant sensory issues evidenced In reports causing refusals/dysregulation and meltdowns
School attainment significantly lower then peers there has been no improvement in attainment
Very erratic and unpredictable behaviour issues such as stripping off clothing and refusing to put them back on (cannot dress herself) ,eloping and climbing high with no sense of danger
OT report advises child requires 1:1 support due to eating non edibles items
Child is met at the door at school and guided to classroom by TA
Risk assessment advises if significant meltdown the classroom should be evacuated
Risk assessment advises to remove inedible items with as little force as possible

Child also on pathway for GDD, ass and sleep issues

You may have them covered, but if you are going down the SMI route, the gaps I can see that reduce the chance of a successful claim are:
“School attainment significantly lower then peers there has been no improvement in attainment” doesn’t automatically mean there is a ‘severe impairment of intelligence’.
Evidence physical restraint is regularly required - you don’t specifically mention it.

And if you are going down the VUW route, you would need evidence of DD being virtually unable to walk. Do you have evidence DD is virtually unable to walk/how far she can walk?

The school haven't written specific restraint only hand holding (for safety as she elopes) although they restrain but I only have photographs of this as they have to hold to prevent unpredictable behaviour. For example when I'm the classroom she is literally held or sits on the tas lap to prevent her doing things. She is very unpredictable

Would impairment of intelligence be covered under the salt report -- IE salt report states unable to make choices- and also language of 12-18 months. She also has advised auditory processing disorder and inability to retain information ?? I was really unsure of this.

Most reports I have ASD assessment, ECHNA and some school reports advice refusals and meltdowns, salt report advises on assessment day DD ran around the car park in distress. On the ECHNA advice school sent to the la they have written they had to cancel a school trip whilst on route as DD became so dysregulated and dropped (quite frankly it was horrible) to the floor despite planning and me being

I'm really not sure on the above

DD can walk but literally as soon as you let go of her hand she bolts, it is like she has tunnel vision and she just runs and runs

Hand holding can be classed as restraint. It would be best if you could get further evidence physical restraint is regularly required.

It depends on how the SALT report is written and exactly what is written as to whether it would prove severe impairment of intelligence. Someone may have ADP but not have a severe impairment of intelligence. Similarly someone may have a language delay or disorder but not have a severe impairment of intelligence. It depends why someone can’t make choices. Has DD had an EP assessment as part of the EHCNA?

For many the 2 points I have highlighted are the areas they are rejected on.

VUW is usually considered 50m. For example, a child who cannot walk 50m without dropping to the floor. It sounds more like it is the SMI flowchart you need to target?.

Thank you.

DD has hand held everyday as she starts school later. The ta meets her in reception and she walks to the classroom with DD. I think I could ask school for more specifics but apparently they have a no restraint policy so they may be reluctant to do this.

I thought possibly vuw just because it looks at manner of walking as well. It does state DD cannot tolerate transition so she is unable to go to the hall without a meltdown so she does pe in class on her own with a ta

I do have an EP report but it's terrible they did a remote assessment and doesn't say anything age related things on there. All I have for ages related is her attainment. I have a copy of the attainment from Nov 2023 and most recent June. No progress I don't know what it actually means but every area says birth -3 wts head teacher says she significantly below.

We are having to appeal the EHCP because it is so poor dd needs a Sen school but the tribunal is not until June 2025 so I'm reluctant to send the EHCP because it downplays her needs.

VUW looks at distance, speed, time and manner. Many with autism who qualify under the VUW do so because of what are called ‘interruptions’, but you need show the interruptions are frequent enough and limited enough for DD to be classed as virtually unable to walk which is usually taken to mean 50m. Many are refused under VUW without professional evidence showing how limited walking outdoors is and how frequent/sustained interruptions are. The contact leaflet explains this more if you read that.

Not having a restraint policy doesn’t matter. It is whether physical restraint is needed.

Thank you for this information really helpful