EHCPs again, Expansions, Good News & Bonfire Night 4th November 2017 Dear All Over the next five months, the remaining 900 (or so) Statements of SEND must be transferred to Education, Health & Care Plans (EHCPs). The deadline is March 31st 2018. 900… that’s a lot of families! Forgive us if major on this topic for a while…
EHCP Transfers (from Statements) – next workshops The first of three workshops for parents (run by Penny from SEND Family Voices, and Alex from Independent Support) was on Friday morning… and was very, very well attended. There is no doubt that this is a confusing process and families are pleased to have some guidance. Next dates are: Thursday 9th November - 7pm to 9pm at DoubleTree Hilton,1 Skerne Road, Kingston, KT2 5FJ Friday 17th November - 10:00am to 12:00noon * at MeToo&Co, The CrossWay Centre, Twickenham, TW1 2PD * creche available. Contact Fiona: info@metooandco.org.uk It was surprising how many different experiences families had had. Perhaps this is to be expected given the variety of needs and different schools.
The Trigger Letter The whole process of a Transfer from a Statement to an EHCP starts with a Trigger Letter to arrange the Transfer Review Meeting. The statutory transfer process allows 18 weeks to finalise the EHCP from the date of the Transfer Review Meeting – locally, this is a meeting between the SEN Team EHCP coordinator and the family. This meeting will be organised as a phone call but if you prefer a meeting, you can ask for a face to face meeting – this is your right. If the times offered for phone calls and meetings don’t suit – you can ask to change them.
Reports and information As a basis, the content of the Statement must be carried over, unless there is new advice that contradicts or supersedes it. So, if you already have an up to date statement - you may not feel there is a need for a great deal of new professional advice. There is a clearly defined list of advice that must be requested by the EHCP coordinator, which is defined in the Code of Practice and listed in the Golden Binder (pages 8-9 in the chapter or transfer reviews). Professionals must submit their reports within 6 weeks of receiving the request (usually sent at the time of the trigger letter or transfer review meeting).
Parents have at least 6 weeks from the date of the transfer review meeting to provide their reports (which might include additional reports from e.g. health professionals or private therapists).
Sections B, F, E and A The most important sections of the EHCP to check are B (Needs), F (Provision) and E (Outcomes). There is guidance on this in the Golden Binder chapter 5. Section A is written by the child / young person and / or their parents; it puts the voice of the child or young person at the centre. Its purpose is to ensure that their aspirations and wishes are reflected in their EHCP plan. Section A can be in any format you find appropriate – you should not feel constrained to use the form unless you find it helpful. Section A matters. It’s the first section because it’s important. So, whilst Section A cannot be challenged in law – failure to reflect Section A throughout an EHCP can be challenged.
From Draft to Final The EHCP coordinator will take the existing statement and all written advice and draft an EHCP. This draft (sometimes referred to as an Assessment Summary) will be sent to you and you will be asked to provide comments and confirm a school or college placement within 15 days of receipt of the letter. Do respond within the 15 days or Achieving for Children may finalise the plan without your input. At this stage you should be offered the opportunity to have a face to face review meeting – and we strongly advise you to push for this unless you are very happy with the draft. If you ask for a meeting you will be granted an extension on the 15-day deadline.
Extra Bits You can ask for a Social Care assessment as part of the EHCP Transfer – this is a separate department to the SEN Team (Social Care Assessments are run by a different department) – and the best bet is to go through the SPA and ask to speak to the Education and Early Help Consultant. Remember, we are the experts in advocating for our children and young people. We have a lifetime duty of care. And, often, the young people are even more expert than parents are. The link to the Golden Binder is here: https://www.afcinfo.org.uk/pages/local-offer/information-and-advice/assessment-andeducation-health-and-care-planning/golden-binder-needs-assessment-education-healthand-care-plans-ehcp-processes-guidance-forms-and-templates At the workshop many other questions came up and each individual case is different – so if you are in any way worried about the transfer review process we recommend that you come along to one of the two remaining meetings. We hope to see you there.
Authentic Voice and EHCPs An excellent Blog from Starlight Mckenzie… reflecting on Section A “Yesterday I attended the conference ‘Two Years of Education Health and Care Plans: Are we there Yet?’ at the University of Roehampton where the results of a research project on the quality of Education Health and Care plans (EHCP) were presented, and implications for children, families, professionals and policy was discussed.” https://starlightmckenzie.wordpress.com/
IPSEA - SEND Law Training day for parent and carers IPSEA = Independent Parental Special Educational Advice “Due to a high demand for places, IPSEA wil be running another Foundation SEND law training session for parents and carers in London on Friday 8 December 2017. You do not need any previous knowledge of SEND Law, but must be the parent, carer or family member of a child with SEND. The cost of the day is £65 and will run between 9.30am and 2.30pm. For more information or to book please click here.” https://ipsea-training.myshopify.com/products/ipsea-send-law-training-day-for-parentslondon-08-12-2017?dm_i=PWP,59GSY,50OBO5,KA5GX,1
Expansion #1 St.Phillips special school – public consultation The “proposal is for St Philip’s to grow downwards to educate children in Years 5 and 6 as well as from Years 7 through to 14. The proposed expansion in age-range and overall numbers would provide 16 Year 5 and Year 6 places in 2018, with another eight across those yeargroups in 2019 and a further eight in 2020.” The consultation runs from 1 November 2017 to 29 November 2017; and a public meeting will be held at 5pm on Tuesday 21 November at St Philip’s School. To take part in the online consultation follow the link below and note the button at the top of the page: http://stphilips-chessington.co.uk/st-philips-expansion-consultation-1-november-2017
Expansion #2 We’re expanding our coffee group! Teddington parents of children with EHCPs A group of parents from a Teddington school have been meeting up for coffee about once a term for the last couple of years. We have enjoyed building a bit of a local community, sharing knowledge and just having a relaxed time; we thought it would be good to invite more parents of children and young people with an EHCP or Statement in Teddington to join us - the more the merrier! Our next coffee will be 9-11am at Carluccio’s, Teddington High St on Friday 17th November and we’d love to see you there. Please also forward on to any other Teddington parents you think might be interested. Also, if you’d like to join but are unable to make that time please drop Rachel (rachelkd@gmail.com) an email as we will also arrange an evening drink at some point.
Expansion #3 The Numbers and Words Club This is a new service from Express CIC: an after-school Maths and English group for children on the autistic spectrum. “The weekly sessions will support the development of problem solving and communication skills and the ability to cope with challenges as we search for answers and learn together. The Numbers and Words Club for 7–10 year olds will take place at the Express offices in Tolworth on Mondays after school. If you are interested in this service, please email info@expresscic.org.uk “
And whilst we’re talking about Express CIC…
“This month we really do need your help - express is in the Aviva Community Fund and we need your votes! Vote for Express & help us receive essential funding of up to £10,000 We were so close last year so we know that with your help we can make it this year. Please make sure you use all 10 votes. Every vote is needed and appreciated. Thank you.” https://community-fund.aviva.co.uk/voting/project/view/17-2580
Supporting your young person with autism to find work This workshop is organised by Ruils, and being run by AS Mentoring who provide specialist coaching and mentoring for adults with Autism Spectrum Conditions and other neuro diverse conditions. This course is designed for parents/carers of young adults with an ASC, to help them understand what they can - and can't - do to help their young person to prepare for the world of work, and how best to support them to find employment as they leave education. Saturday 18th November - 10.00am to 4pm This subsidised workshop will cost £22.0 plus booking fee; however, there may be a possibility for further reductions. For more information and booking, please follow this link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/family-matters-workshop-for-parents-supporting-your-youngperson-with-an-asc-to-find-work-tickets-38800094126
@SENDFamilyVoice A week of new followers, lots of likes and many retweets - some twitter highlights below: Capturing an authentic CYP voice in SEND paperwork & EHCPs - one of the best blogs out there (so good we’re including this twice) https://starlightmckenzie.wordpress.com/2017/11/02/authentic-voice-and-ehcps/amp/ SEND parenting and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder http://www.redbookmag.com/life/mom-kids/a13149944/parents-of-disabled-children-candevelop-ptsd/?src=socialflowTW SEND friendly bonfire night tips https://www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk/understanding-autism/out-and-about/bonfirenight-top-tips ASD: when your child's obsessions consume the whole family https://faithmummy.wordpress.com/2017/11/03/autism-when-your-childs-obsessionconsumes-the-whole-family/amp/ Huge emphasis on ASD in new special free schools: what about other diagnoses? https://schoolsweek.co.uk/65-of-special-free-schools-are-for-autism/amp/ Adult services are unprepared for CYP with life-limiting & complex health conditions transition should be a pathway, not a stark jump http://m.ehospice.com/Articles/Details/22861
New on the Local Offer… Places are available now on the Harlequins Hitz Programme. This is a fully funded study programme.
https://www.afcinfo.org.uk/community_information/blog_articles/1624-hitz-programme-withharlequin-rugby-club-places-available-now Local Safeguarding Children's Board (LSCB) - October 2017 newsletter https://www.afcinfo.org.uk/community_information/blog_articles/1614-local-safeguardingchildren-s-board-lscb-october-2017-newsletter Kingston Learning Disabilities & Asperger’s Syndrome: Maximising Independence Market Facilitation Event https://www.afcinfo.org.uk/local_offer/blog_articles/1610-kingston-learning-disabilitiesasperger-s-syndrome-maximising-independence-market-facilitation-event New guidance on Exclusions https://www.afcinfo.org.uk/pages/local-offer/information-and-advice/education/schoolexclusion
Teach Local This is a recruitment fair for Learning Support staff and teachers. As parents, we already have first-hand experience, if you are interested and looking for term time work, details are: Saturday 11th November – 10am to 2pm Kingston Charles Centre, Hollyfield Road, Surbiton, KT5 9AL
…on behalf of The Friends of Croft Cottage “Does your child have severe or profound special Needs? Please let us know about your respite care needs. The Friends of Croft Cottage are a group of parents of children with disabilities who came together to keep Croft Cottage open. Following our successful negotiation with Achieving for Children to keep this respite centre in Richmond open for an information-gathering period of time, we have been working on another survey aimed at potential users of Croft Cottage, namely those families of children with severe to profound needs. We hope to demonstrate to the Local Authority, from the results of this survey that there is a huge need to keep Croft Cottage from closing, because of our children's individual need for a smaller setting, choice and of course, future demand. Please take the time to complete our short survey: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/LX7TLX3 “
Good News #1 - Hope? From The Independent…. “The Government admits some disabled people have been receiving too little financial support to meet their needs. The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) announced new guidelines on Thursday which will see certain claimants of Personal Independent Payment (PIP) receiving higher benefit rates, after a court found some disabled people were not being offered enough.” http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/dwp-benefits-pip-government-admitstoo-little-money-support-a8034011.html
Good News #2 - The Big Life Fix - Wednesday 8th November at 9pm
As a part of this year’s Children In Need, Simon Reeve follows some of the UK's leading designers and engineers as they attempt to help three children with disabilities. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09f495y
A lesson in Bonfire Night “These lesson plans are ideal for explaining the history of Bonfire Night and its connection to Parliament. They focus on the key facts of the story of the Gunpowder Plot and enable discussion around the events and the people involved.” There is also a link to an accessible powerpoint on the Guy Fawkes story – we don’t know how accessible this is for most – but it suited each of us and now we’re better informed! http://www.parliament.uk/education/teaching-resources-lesson-plans/guy-fawkes-and-thegunpowder-plot As ever, if you have any queries at all, please ask and we'll always do our best to find an answer. With best wishes, Caroline North (for Kingston) and Romany (for Richmond) Phone: 07469 746 145 www.sendfamilyvoices.org