Statement of SEN/EHC Plan

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Last post: 04/06/2014 at 10:51 am

Hi, my little boy is 4 years old and starts primary school in September. He has been diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and Speech Delay (although he's getting alot better now). He currently attends a nursery where they're around 16-20 children and 4-5 staff members.

I've applied for an EHC Plan (previously a statement of SEN) as I feel that he is really going to struggle when starting primary school in September as he needs alot of 1:1 teaching support and there will be 30 children with 1 teacher and a teaching assistant in the new school, opposed to around 16-20 with the 4-5 teaching staff at his current nursery. He doesn't do any kind of group work as this can upset him, he doesn't play with other children or initiate conversations etc but rather play alongside them. He has to have visual aids to start/stop activities etc such as sand timers.The activities that he does have to be self chosen and he rarely will do activities that the teacher wants him to do and if he does, it has to be made into a really fun game and on a 1:1 ratio. He struggles to follow instructions such as sitting on the carpet etc and the nursery can't even get him to sit and eat a snack alot of the time with the other children so he's really going to struggle at lunchtime in school (it can sometimes take him up to 1 and a half - 2 hours to eat a meal at home and we constantly have to keep telling him to have another bite etc). He also gets very tired in the afternoon and his behavior can change drastically and it's like he goes super hyper, climbing everything, shouting etc and he hasn't really got a fear of danger when he gets like this.

Anyway I've applied for the EHC plan and we have a meeting this week with all of the involved professionals and the EHC team etc and are really hoping they'll decide to go ahead with the plan as I think it'll really benefit him getting the extra teaching support etc. Just wondering what kind of things I should ask for in the plan - I'll put the obvious things like the extra 1:1 support if possible, but I don't know what kind of things I would be able to ask to be included in the plan and what would be classed as reasonable support for him.

If anyone could help with any suggestions that would be great, as we really really need this to help him progress and we've got one chance at this meeting to get them to want to help us and make a decision to go ahead with the plan.

Thank you :)
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Tracey H(502)

EHC plans will look like old statements really so I'm guessing that there are sections for NEEDS and a section for PROVISION. You need to ensure what ever goes in as a need has a corresponding bit in the provision. It's no good for example stating that your son needs speech therapy (if that is the case) without a provision saying how often his speech and language sessions will be (e.g weekly) and with whom (e.g. Speech and language therapist, teaching assistant etc...)

So think what are
1. Your sons speech and communication needs?
2. Your sons physical and sensory needs?
3. Your sons emotional, social and behavioural needs
4. Your sons Learning needs?

Does he need a speech and language therapist to make correct speech sounds?
Does he need help with his vocabulary?
Does he need support in initiating and maintaining a conversation?
Does he need to be taught in a quiet space or is it ok to be taught within the mainstream class?
Does he need help recognising emotions?
Does he need help knowing how to respond correctly in certain situations (e.g not standing too close to people, not laughing when people fall over)?
Does he need help learning to play with other children?
Does he have any co-ordination issues, which means he could need extra support when it comes to hand writing?
Does he need a visual timetable to reduce anxiety related to not knowing what happens next?
Does he need a space in which to 'calm down' when it all gets too much?

Tracey x
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Hi. I have a 9yr old that has just got a SEN, and a 2.5yr old non verbal son.
I would recommend speaking to the nursery. Can someone from there go with you and bring evidence to support you requesting these hours? I would also take video footage with you at nursery whilst he is struggling or having a meltdown. I know it's hard, but when people see a child suffering, it is harder for them to say no!
Hope this helps and take as much evidence as possible with you. Good luck. Also contact Patrentlink, they're a great source of advice for you.
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They will be looking to both you & LO for ideas of what LO finds difficult & what sort of help they may like.

My 4.5yr old has recently received her completed statement.

She has little speech so the statement provides for regular speech therapy sessions & staff trained to communicate via her current means 'objects for reference'.
She is able to undress herself but can not redress so statement provides help when toileting/doing sports.
She is unable to use cutlery so statement provides for help with meals.
She has provision for visual clues/aids.
She has provision for teaching social skills.
She has provision for 1:1 teaching.

Think through everything you think may prove challenging to LO & how you think it could be simplified for LO to better manage. It could include help with reading & writing, help with organisation, help with managing loud noises (school bells/fire drills), help with crowds (would LO struggle with crowded corridors, assemblies...).....
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