EHCP for transition to secondary?

[AnonymousMum37]

Hi, my DD9 is autistic. She has a SEN plan for sensory needs and emotional regulation but is working at or above age related expectations academically. School make allowances for her, are flexible with uniform, she has a wobble cushion, chewellery, fidget toys, an exit card and a resistance band imon her chair. She has ear plugs for wet play and anything else she finds overwhelming. She has the same desk (that she chose) for every lesson to reduce transitions. She goes to breakfast club to avoid the crowds and pressure of going in at the normal time. She needs reminding to drink throughout the day because of medication she takes for bladder. She can use the toilet during lessons for the same reason. She has emotional literacy support a d has had social interventions and is currently having private play therapy.

All in all she is doing really well. She has good friendships with people she has known since nursery. But she doesn't talk to new people or make new friends outside of school. She has no filter and says things that can upset people e.g. if she doesn't like the way someone smells. She has rigid routines she follows e.g. only using a certain toilet or sink, walking a certain way, circling a plant pot on the way out of school, climbing onto walls and fences in a specific order without regard for safety.

I am getting increasingly concerned about secondary school. Her SENCO feels she wouldn't meet criteria for an EHCP. I'm also not sure what would go in one, if any additional funding is necessary really. She doesn't need 1:1 or specialist provision. She just needs some flexibility and understand really.

Unfortunately as we live on a border it is unlikely any friends will go up to secondary with her but I believe our catchment school is way better for SEN anyway, the uniform is more sensory friendly and her brother already goes there.

Every professional seems to think an EHCP is unnecessary as anything she needs is likely to be available under ordinarily available provision. But every parent I speak to seems to think an EHCP is needed for schools to take neurodivergent seriously.

Has anyone got any advice?

I would request an EHCNA. On their website, IPSEA has a model letter you can use. Unfortunately, some schools incorrectly tell parents their DC doesn’t need or won’t get an EHCP. You don’t need to precisely know what DD requires before requesting an EHCNA.

Schools must make reasonable adjustments and they must make their best endeavours to meet DD’s SEN, but it sounds like DD needs more. She needs more support, not just for secondary but now, with communication and interaction, sensory needs, therapies (SALT and OT. Play therapy can also be included). At secondary, the types of interventions DD is receiving now can be more limited.

To be honest, the support level you’re describing there doesn’t sound doable in a mainstream secondary. She would have to transition from classroom to classroom, it will be crowded, she would need to carry all that sensory equipment around with her. My DD is autistic and has just transitioned from mainstream primary to specialist high school, academically able (apart from writing) but the level of support she needed was not able to be replicated in a mainstream high school plus the bits that couldn’t be changed (the general environment, moving around classrooms, social interactions, pace of work etc) would all pose huge barriers for her. I suggest you speak to some local mainstream high schools, specifically their SEND departments, and describe her needs and the support necessary as above. They will give you a better idea of what is feasible for adaptations and you can think about whether it would actually work well for your DD. For example, they might offer that your DD could leave class early and/or arrive late to avoid crowded corridors. But this would not have worked for my DD who needs extra processing time so wouldn’t be able to catch up in lessons if arriving late, and being late for things or anyone looking at her is a huge anxiety trigger for her.

Def do a parental application for an EHCP. The legal threshold is low:

• does the child have sen?
• does the child require extra support?

This is why over 97% of EHCNA that are rejected originally are overturned at appeal which is quite straightforward: https://www.ipsea.org.uk/ehc-needs-assessments

https://sossen.org.uk/sen-journey/needs-assessment/

SOS!Sen has a free helpline too that you can call:
https://sossen.org.uk/services/helpline/

Your child’s needs and academic abilities sound similar to my son’s and we have an EHCP.

Do your own reading, do not be fobbed off, trust your instincts and take advice from IPSEA, SOS!Sen and your local IASS/SENDIASS service.

Finally, if private reports are inaccessible to you, contact: https://www.parentsinneed.org

Also make sure your child is on the sen register.

Good luck, you’ve got this!

The threshold for an EHCNA is a) has or may have SEN, and b) may need special educational provision to be made via an EHCP.

Be careful with SENDIASS. Some are good but too many repeat the LA’s unlawful policies.

Update: so I met with the assistant Senco at the secondary school who handles all the transitions from year 6 to year 7, and she strongly recommended we push for an EHCP. So I've let the primary Senco know and I've requested a meeting.

Request the ECHNA yourself (IPSEA have a template letter on their site). Don't wait for the SENCO to do it.