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Do we have discretion in choosing secondary place for child with EHCP?
We are about to give a list of schools for local authority to consult for our ASD/ADHD daughter with EHCP. A number of specialist Austistic schools have told us she wouldn't be suitable as she has a PDA profile. We feel mainstream ARP provision would be overwhelming and current trend towards school refusal would continue/deteriorate; there are in any case hardly any places available locally. LA have said if we get no offers from anywhere then she will just be placed in mainstream. What are the options when/if this process hits a dead end?
Patrick Clifton
10 Oct 2023
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Further support
My child started secondary school, he has a link teacher to help in his individual classes however he repeats they are often not there all the time in his lessons. If he is at lessons with no link support teacher he often has to sit at the back doesn't really understand what is happening. I'm new to secondary school system should a support teacher he there at all lessons because when they aren't he is isolated at the back not knowing what he is doing?
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What is the best evidence to support a residential placement for further education (19-25?)
My daughter is 18 and would like to go to university, but this is out of reach as her learning disabilities prevent her from achieving GCSEs let alone A-levels. She is very frustrated and unhappy about being left behind by her peers/ siblings and this causes daily friction at home as she feels - in her own words - 'isolated'. She is very independent in some ways, e.g. having received intensive travel training she navigates London transport easily. However, she is emotionally extremely vulnerable, quite lonely and easily manipulated by anyone who offers friendship. We have already had to step in on two occasions with interventions from CAMHS and her school to prevent this, and can see the seriousness of these incidents escalating as she matures. We are concerned about her safety, her mental health and her ability to progress in education and independence.
We would like her to attend a residential college so that:
- she can make friends who are on her level, whilst learning to distinguish between genuine friendship and exploitation in a safe environment
- she is expected to work full time on practical, vocational skills with the appropriate level of support, repetition and consistency to become truly employable
- she can learn to manage her own finances, laundry, shopping, cooking through a waking day curriculum
We see this as an important stepping stone towards independent living, as she can master new skills but only with intensive training and support.
The local offer would be a part time course within a large mainstream college and she would not be safe there, especially when so much of her week would be unaccounted for while the family is at work and school. There are specialist colleges nearby which would be safer, but only for the 3 days a week that they offer, leaving her at a loose end the rest of the time. In addition, the curriculum at these colleges is very similar to her post-16 'employability' course at her current school, so she wouldn't be progressing much or learning how to work full-time in a practical job, unlike the residential colleges which have indicated that they could meet her needs.
I have asked CAMHS if they can write a letter to support our argument that a residential placement is necessary but they are reluctant to do so, despite having documented one intervention earlier this year which specifically references her 'friend' persuading her to steal on her behalf. Here is what they said: "I have been advised that we have to leave the Local Authority to make the decision without any input from CAMHS. They have explained that they are responsible for the plans, and we only confuse things by getting involved"
Surely we need input from experts close to her, and CAMHS are our only port of call here? My only other entry point is a social care referral and I have made a request but it seems to have gone into a black hole with the local authority.
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Taking children out of school during term time
I will be taking my children out of school next month for our family holiday. 2 of my children have additional needs, one is diagnosed combined adhd and one awaiting assessment for adhd/asd. Neither of them cope well in overcrowded situations with one having social anxiety and the other being liable to wonder off etc. this is the main reason for going out of term time so it will not be as busy. Is there anything I can do in order to not receive an fine from my local authorities for doing this.
Mark Walker
16 Sep 2023
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Can the LA impose their own policy on consulting schools?
We have a "transition review" coming up (child in year 6) and also a contents tribunal a few weeks after that. Perhaps because of the latter, the LA are being particularly hostile and obstructive towards us.
We want them to consult with a non-section 41 school which we belive meets our child's needs. The school has indicated they'd be happy to receive evidence from us e.g. Tribunal Working Document, reports from experts (e.g. OT and EdPsych) which give a fuller picture than the current EHCP, but they want the LA to consult.
We have good reason to think they will object and try to obstruct on various grounds (which they've used recently with others)
- Refusing to consult one school before consulting others (Catch 22 for us as it's non Section 41 and we need to know whether they'll offer a place before we can name it)
- They have an internal policy that they insist on naming at least two or three schools and that one of these must be mainstream. This to me sounds like a blanket policy they've imposed locally and not law. Can I challenge it?
- Can they refuse to disclose accurate information to any other schools they consult (e.g. their own schools), if we disclose that they share it - e.g. working document, expert reports etc.?
thank you
OJ -
Does anyone have any advice about 'school refusal'? My child, aged 14 hasn't been in school since Dec 2020. How can we help breakdown the barriers and ...
... help them return to school?
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What happens if the LA don't comply with an order from the court. I don't know who is representing the L.A, communication has ceased. The court bundle was supposed to be submitted this afternoon and our court date is next week?
I've named a school place. The L.A were supposed to name their preference ahead of the appeal date next week.
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What happens if your appeal date is imminent and the leagl team reperesenting the Local Authority withdraws.
Today was the final date to submit evidence on our choice of school for our child. I was also awaiting evidence from the legal team acting on behalf of the LA. They informed me they have not been instructed and ceased to act on their behalf.
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Still waiting for EHCP, son not coping in state school
We started the EHCP process in Feb 23, and we still haven't seen a draft plan. There's been huge breaks between specialist appointments but we've finally spoken to the educational psychologist. We're nearly at 30 weeks since this process started.
My contact at the council isn't responding to me.
Can anyone advise who I should be contacting within a council to get an update.
My son has just started a mainstream school and has become violent and isn't receiving much support as we don't have this plan.Helen Murdoch
20 Sep 2023
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As the parent of a child with an EOTIS package, where the provider is not meeting need, and it has broken down, do I have the right to source other tutoring services?
My LA are refusing to consult with another tutoring service, which I have found, and incidentally are on their tenured list of providers. My daughter has no education right now, is nearly 16 and has not even started her GCSEs. They are ignoring my urgent request for an annual review too.