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Advice on DLA Claim - child is 6.5 years old

10 replies

Sunandsparkles · 07/11/2024 09:28

Hi, my youngest has been under a paediatrician now for just over 3 years (just turned 3) all clinic letters note traits of ADHD, I completed Vanderbilt questionnaire as did school recently, however school supplied contradicting information despite them placing my child on their SEN register and having to put sensory/121 support in place (a whole other story/battle) pead has now said this makes ADHD difficult to diagnose and it could possibly be ASD, we have a home visit in a couple of weeks from the Autism/ADHD Specialist Nurse to complete more observations, my child hasn’t been back to school since September because of complete breakdowns trying to transition into the environment and a whole lot of masking which is exhausting them and making home life much more difficult
I have supplied as much medical evidence as I have in my possession to DLA, along with all my communication with the school about the extra support and non attendance, individual education plan (NOT EHCP) and support summary from the family support worker. Is it likely we will be rejected due to their young age? There is a hell of a lot more going on than just none attendance at school …. Trying to escape the home in the middle of the night, not sleeping amongst many other things. Any info appreciated thanks

OP posts:
flipdiddle81 · 07/11/2024 09:33

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BrightYellowTrain · 07/11/2024 10:09

DC can get DLA at 6.5. It is about care and supervision compared to typical peers the same age.

Separate to DLA, has an EHCNA been requested?

If DC can’t attend school full-time, is alternative provision in place?

Have you spoken to the school about the incorrect information sent to the paed? Have you provided the paed with information of what support the school is providing and why?

Sunandsparkles · 07/11/2024 12:49

BrightYellowTrain · 07/11/2024 10:09

DC can get DLA at 6.5. It is about care and supervision compared to typical peers the same age.

Separate to DLA, has an EHCNA been requested?

If DC can’t attend school full-time, is alternative provision in place?

Have you spoken to the school about the incorrect information sent to the paed? Have you provided the paed with information of what support the school is providing and why?

Yes from the research I’ve been doing I can see it’s how their level of care and supervision compared to those of a similar age differs. I was just concerned from reading quite a few stories across the net of how families had been rejected due to all children that age needing support/supervision etc. I think I may be second guessing myself.

There has been no request for an EHCNA - is this the assessment that would take place prior to an EHCP being put in place? (Our family support worker told me that school themselves can apply for an EHCP and she wasn’t actually certain of why this hadn’t been done - is this what you mean by EHCNA? Something that school would put forward or does it need to be me?) on one of my many meetings I was told by the school that they do have a budget to consider and that my child will never qualify for a place in a school that isn’t mainstream so they need to get used to this environment as it’s going to be where they have to come for the next few years ……..

School seem to be of the impression that as if by some miracle my child is going to wake up one morning and willingly get dressed and happily go in to school with no fears or struggle. I feel as if the possibility of being on the road to a diagnosis is completely overlooked.

I have lost track of the amount of conversations and meetings I have had with them and at this point can’t provide them with any more updates, yet still each morning I receive a call from one of the secretaries asking if my child will be going in that day. A friend had said to me that it’s not the place of office staff to be discussing what’s quite personal information and the SEN lead should correspond with me, but perhaps that’s just a matter of opinion.

Each clinic letter to date makes reference by the paed to struggles with attendance and sometimes refusal - September 2024 was the breaking point and now we are where we are, but I informed the school way before my child even started Reception of what our circumstances were (my eldest was already there)
Headteacher and other staff have watched/attempted to coax with me for up to 40 minutes on the car park just to get my child out of the car, sometimes barely able to breathe through crying

I have basically had to fight tooth and nail just to get a break in the sensory room prior to now and that wasn’t always followed through.
My child would tell me about different struggles and the responses from staff when they tried to mention them - I think my child has reached a point of complete shutdown as they don’t feel reassured by what’s promised and then what actually takes place during the school day.

A couple of years ago my child had worked themselves up over a Christmas production due to struggles with crowds and noise and despite repeated requests to the school to find an alternative for them that morning they were still forced to sit in in front of parents. My child was at the back of the crowd like a deer in the headlights with eyes that just told me they wanted me to get them out of there. It was heartbreaking.

Yes questioned school about contradictory information and they told me to my face that it’s because the questions were about the classroom environment … (my child masks and they are fully aware of this) they said if the paed wanted them to fill in repeat questionnaires they would be happy to do so. No response from Paed and this has been a few weeks.
Paed is aware of child being on the SEN register and the provisions they have said are in place.

School made a referral in September to put my child on the EBSNA pathway and I have been told several times that there can be a one off home visit arranged with their EP to kickstart this, due to my child not attending school, but this keeps falling by the wayside and then they repeat that they can’t begin the EBSNA pathway due to them not being there.
A lot of contradictory information, a lot of emails and me asking questions and not getting straight forward responses.

I have my children on a transfer list as I wonder and have for a long time if this school is actually the right fit? Again, a lot of second guessing myself. I have also found out within the last hour that the EWO is going to be at the next meeting scheduled for next week.

OP posts:
BrightYellowTrain · 07/11/2024 14:38

All young children need care and supervision. Not all children need care and supervision in excess of what typically developing peers need.

The EHCNA is the needs assessment that is first requested as part of the process of getting an EHCP. You request an EHCNA rather than apply for an EHCP. You can make the request yourself. On their website, IPSEA has a model letter you can use.

my child will never qualify for a place in a school that isn’t mainstream

Lots of schools incorrectly say this. Also, some DC manage well in MS, especially in primary, when supported via a good EHCP.

It is normal for admin to do attendance admin. Although if DS can’t attend at all, I would be contacting the school to say daily calls are not necessary or required.

IPSEA also has a model letter you can use to request alternative provision. This should have begun before now.

Are the absences being coded as I? You need to check the school is not recording them as unauthorised.

Sunandsparkles · 07/11/2024 19:43

BrightYellowTrain · 07/11/2024 14:38

All young children need care and supervision. Not all children need care and supervision in excess of what typically developing peers need.

The EHCNA is the needs assessment that is first requested as part of the process of getting an EHCP. You request an EHCNA rather than apply for an EHCP. You can make the request yourself. On their website, IPSEA has a model letter you can use.

my child will never qualify for a place in a school that isn’t mainstream

Lots of schools incorrectly say this. Also, some DC manage well in MS, especially in primary, when supported via a good EHCP.

It is normal for admin to do attendance admin. Although if DS can’t attend at all, I would be contacting the school to say daily calls are not necessary or required.

IPSEA also has a model letter you can use to request alternative provision. This should have begun before now.

Are the absences being coded as I? You need to check the school is not recording them as unauthorised.

So grateful for this information and links to the site. Thank you. Will look into this.

I am not sure what they’re being authorised as, perhaps unauthorised if EWO now involved?

OP posts:
Sunandsparkles · 07/11/2024 21:50

Sunandsparkles · 07/11/2024 19:43

So grateful for this information and links to the site. Thank you. Will look into this.

I am not sure what they’re being authorised as, perhaps unauthorised if EWO now involved?

Sorry meant to say recorded as not authorised as

OP posts:
BrightYellowTrain · 07/11/2024 22:23

Definitely check, in writing, what the absences are being coded as. Post back on MN if they are being recorded as unauthorised and you want advice on how to challenge that.

Ohthatsabitshit · 12/11/2024 14:31

I would and have asked the EWO to be involved myself. They are great allies in a meeting. Your child is struggling to attend school, school seem to be doing very little, I think their educational welfare needs highlighting and if it is as you say (and why would you lie) then someone needs to remind the school what next steps could be.

Do work at home, and keep to school hours in the morning even if you go somewhere else, as it helps the move back.

Sunandsparkles · 12/11/2024 16:46

Ohthatsabitshit · 12/11/2024 14:31

I would and have asked the EWO to be involved myself. They are great allies in a meeting. Your child is struggling to attend school, school seem to be doing very little, I think their educational welfare needs highlighting and if it is as you say (and why would you lie) then someone needs to remind the school what next steps could be.

Do work at home, and keep to school hours in the morning even if you go somewhere else, as it helps the move back.

Thanks for your reply

We have a family support worker and she has more or less tried to put it across like I should almost be afraid and she emphasised how the legalities will be highlighted ….. I’m fully aware of the requirement to send my child to school and I’m not just a mom sitting back because her child is “playing up” and won’t go
I feel that’s how she views me, she barely mentions what is being investigated in terms of ND. You are now the 2nd person to say to me that the EWO is a positive

I spoke to the school last Friday as I asked for updates on a couple of things, the family support worker had no idea what an EHCNA was, and when I questioned school about applying for one they said it’s all down to budgets and them showing proof of exhausting their £6,000 to support which I know hasn’t been done but they would discuss with SEN lead and get back to me ….. there is a report outstanding from the Outreach support who had noticed SEN traits when he did an observation and an action plan pending which he will devise to guide the school into better supporting my child but certain things I already know they can’t provide because of staffing issues, ie smaller group sessions to complete work etc
I don’t see my child and this school ever being compatible to be honest

Do I wait for tomorrows visit with the EWO and see if she encourages the school to go for the EHCNA or do I just go with my head and do it myself? I feel like unless I make my own steps we’ll be in the same boat much longer than is fair

OP posts:
BrightYellowTrain · 12/11/2024 18:20

We have a family support worker and she has more or less tried to put it across like I should almost be afraid and she emphasised how the legalities will be highlighted

This is why it is important the absences are recorded correctly. If they are authorised as they should be, absences will not lead to legal action.

You do not need the school to have spent £6k to get an EHCP. That is a myth perpetuated by some LAs and schools. Just make the request yourself. Even if the school agree to make the request, it may not be for weeks, months or terms.

Whether families find the EWO supportive or not depends on area and to some extent varies even within the area.

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