ASD / Hospital School / EHCP

[pyewatchet]

I’m hoping for some advice from those with more experience and understanding of the situation we find ourselves in.

DD is 14 and year 9 of a large mainstream state school. It has become clear over the last 12 months that she is autistic and has been masking like a champ all through primary school and the start of secondary school when we were still in semi-lockdown. Year 8 brought it all crashing down and her mental health has suffered as a result, she’s depressed, very anxious and has fairly detailed suicide ideation. She saw a child psychiatrist over half-term and we hope to start her on SSRI medication soon.

She’s been working exclusively out of the SEN dept at school since February and any attempts at reintegration since then have had little or no effect and she often refuses to go. As a result, DD has had virtually no formal education in 9 months.

Clearly, she can’t continue in her current setting but without an EHCP our choices seem limited. Her psychologist and particularly her psychiatrist have suggested outreach teaching through hospital school, which I understand must be requested through her current school. Does anyone have any experience of getting access to a hospital school setting?

The other issue I’m facing is regarding an EHCP. Up until recently, we’ve appeared to have a good relationship with the SEN dept. but I get the sense they are withdrawing and they’ve given me some very mixed messages regarding an EHCP:

1. In July we had a meeting with the SENCO and HOY and we were told, quite unambiguously, that DD would be one of the pupils they would be getting assessed for an EHCP in the new school year by the educational psychologist they work with. It was expected that this would happen before Xmas.
2. DD’s return to school in September was a disaster. School arranged for her to be assessed by someone from SENSS C&I and I was asked to make sure she was in school for these sessions. I agreed and also asked them to confirm, when they could, when the EHCP assessments were so I could make sure DD was in for those too. SENCO replied that an EHCP had never been discussed and the SENSS assessments had nothing to do with an EHCP.

1. When I queried this and reminded her of (1), she told me she had talked to the EP who wouldn’t assess DD has she had no cognitive issues but that the SENSS assessment could be used towards an EHCna, together with other reports and assessments, but it all sounded rather vague.

I appreciate that there’s not much school can do if DD isn’t actually in school but without an EHCP our options seem limited and I feel rather stuck. I had a brief phone call with SENDIASS who pointed out I could request an EHCna from the LA myself but as I’m about to ask school to transfer DD to hospital school I’m concerned this will be seen as inflammatory and I’m wary of kicking the hornet’s nest right now.

Apologies for the info dump but TL;DL - has anyone any advice regarding requesting hospital school provision and suggestions on how to approach the EHCP situation.

which I understand must be requested through her current school.

This isn’t correct, although your LA might tell you it is. The statutory duty to provide a suitable full time education for those unable to attend school full time lies with the LA. They can’t insist the school refer to it. Provision should have started once it became clear DD would miss 15 days, the days didn’t have to have already been missed or consecutive.

Email the Director of Children’s Services requesting provision. If that doesn’t work email again reminding them of their statutory duties under s.19 of the Education Act 1996 and informing them if they fail to provide provision you will be forced to begin judicial review proceedings. Then if that fails contact SOSSEN for help with a pre-action letter.

Was the psychiatrist via CAMHS or private? If CAMHS they should be able to alert the LA to the need for medical needs tuition (which doesn’t actually have to be hospital school it depends on individual needs but could be tuition at a small centre, hospital school, online, home tuition).

This process won’t have a negative effect an EHCNA application or vice versa. The school don’t sound supportive and are fobbing you off. They might not like it, but it is what is in DD’s best interest.

You should apply for an EHCNA yourself ASAP.

One thing to note, be careful with SENDIASS. Some are good but too many repeat the LA’s unlawful policies. IPSEA and SOSSEN are better.

@Thatsnotmycar thanks for taking the time to reply. DD has certainly missed more than 15 days, just since the start of yr9 alone! I'll email the director of children's services as you suggest.

We saw the psychiatrist privately but the GP has agreed to prescribe with the psychiatrist monitoring. CAHMS have been copied in where appropriate but we've had no direct contact.