Hi Everyone
I have been a bit quiet on the blog front. For a few reasons but one being EHCPS. Last year I applied for 3 EHCP. What a difference we have had with applications. I wanted to give you a bit about my journey and some tips.
I didn’t have the school apply for them. But opted to apply for them myself. I know this sound scary task. But there are loads of templates out there to help. I used one from our local councils website. When I sent the documents in an email, I also attached all the documentation I had to support the application. OT Reports, Community Paeds Reports, SEN Plans, anything I felt would be helpful. You should recieve a reply to say they receive it. This is when the clock starts. Put it in your calendar. They have 6 weeks to come back to you and school to ask for more information and then tell you if they are going to allow your child have EHCP.
6 Weeks
At 6 weeks, they should come back to you. For two of our applications I heard nothing and I had to write emails to Children Services to get it looked into. The other got rejected. As the need were being met at school, so although I could have appealed it. I have decided to reapply when the move to secondary school has happened.
Now legally they have to tell you at 6 weeks if they are going to access or reject.
7-16 Weeks
In this time your EHC Co, will be gathering all the information they need for your child EHCP. This could mean, your child is seen by Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language, and normally Educational Psychologist. There is a national shortage of EPs. But they can’t legally use that as excuse. They do, but they shouldn’t.
17-18 Weeks
This is the last time they can reject application. This is when you should receive a draft for EHCP and you to review and make request to changes.
19-20
It should all be done and dusted and you have the final report you can all be happy with and all the funding your child needs to thrive. Ha! Well thats a fairy tale.
What actually happens
For us, one of mine had a private EP assessment, which after hearing nothing about our application and having to keep chasing. I was told they were waiting for EP at council to review if the Private EP assessment would be accepted. Which it was. And we were then able to get a draft and make amends etc. I had the final EHCP at week 27. I am still arguing about Personal Budgets. Now for the other application we are in week 38, ( I literally could have had a baby in this time) what is holding it up, EP assessment. We were told we were on waiting list in the multiple hundreds and by my maths was likely to be seen a year later. I did write a PAP (Pre Action Protocol ) letter to the council, stating the legal deadline and threat of legal action, which I was basically told, but we are busy. I know I could have gone through the lengthly process of legal action and win. But I am tired. It is tough enough fighting the SEN battle 24/7 without adding more. So I put my hand in pocket and have paid for another Private EP assessment.
Our journey is not over yet. But I will tell you, it is worth the fight. It isn’t as scary as it seems. Just get organised. Write the important dates in a calendar and keep notes of the weeks.
EHCP Time line document – https://buckinghamshire-gov-uk.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/ehc-needs-assessment-timeline-may-2020_1.pdf
PAP Letters – https://www.senlegal.co.uk/post/force-your-local-authority-to-comply-with-a-simple-pre-action-protocol-letter
EHCP request forms – https://schoolsweb.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/send-and-inclusion/ehc-plans/ehc-needs-assessments-and-template-letters/
