Your Autistic child or young person or those with social anxiety may be entitled to more support to enable them to access education. If you feel your child is struggling in school and would benefit from further special educational provision, then you can apply for an Educational Health Care Plan (EHCP) by writing a request to the head of children’s services.
Template letter to request an EHCP- https://www.ipsea.org.uk/making-a-request-for-an-ehc-
needs-assessment
The requirement in law to assess is quite low in that the Local Authority only need to consider:
- whether the child or young person has or may have special educational needs (“SEN”); and
- whether they may need special educational provision to be made through an EHC plan.
If the answer to both of these questions is yes, they must carry out an EHC needs assessment. You can send a copy of diagnosis or acceptance of being on the Autistic diagnosis pathway with your request letter. Unfair as it is, be prepared to have to fight to get your child the educational provision they need and deserve- please see the following resources below that may help;
https://www.ipsea.org.uk/
https://www.sossen.org.uk/
https://www.dorsetsendiass.co.uk/
https://www.autism.org.uk/education-advice-line
https://www.autism.org.uk/tribunal-support-line
https://www.autism.org.uk/school-exclusion-service
http://www.ace-ed.org.uk/advice-about-education-for-parents
Facebook groups search Friends and Parents of SEND children Dorset, BCP EHCP Support, Dorset LA EHCP support group, educational equality.
Remember a child or young person with SEND can have an EHCP up to the age of 25
Please see the following for post 16 provision:
https://contact.org.uk/help-for-families/information-advice-services/preparing-for-adult-life/
https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/transitions/england
For children and young people aged 3-25, you can book a 30 minute consultation with a Local Authority educational psychologist.
Alternative Educational Provision (AP)
If your child has been excluded from school or is too ill to attend school (including anxiety and other mental health issues) then the Local Authority have a legal duty to provide full time education via an alternative provision under Section 19(1) of the Education Act 1996, as amended by section 3 of the Children, Schools and Families Act 2010.
If it becomes clear that your child is too ill to attend school they need to be medically signed off by your GP or CAHMS when its clear they will not be able to attend school for 15 days (days do not need to be consecutive).
https://www.ipsea.org.uk/getting-temporary-education-put-in-place
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/alternative-provision
https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/exclusions-and-alternative-provision
Education Other Than At School (EOTAS)
If your child is struggling in any school setting (mainstream or specialist) then you could apply to the Local Authority for EOTAS through the EHCP process. This means the LA are required to provide educational provision at home. This can include either online tuition or through tutors visiting your home, as well as therapy such as Speech & Language, Occupational Therapy, art or equine therapy. It is not the same as elected home education, because the provision is funded by the LA rather than parents. It can be difficult to get but lots of parents achieve it. For more information see;
https://www.ipsea.org.uk/home-schooling-and-education-otherwise
https://notfineinschool.co.uk/education-alternatives
Facebook groups search EOTAS/Personal Budgets via EHCP & educational equality.
Home education
Some families elect to home educate their Autistic or socially anxious children without local authority support. Local groups can be found here:
