Stockport Information, Advice & Support Service (IASS)

Who we are Suzie FranklinAnne EagleSophie Holt

What we provide Accurate, impartial information and advice about special educational needs and disabilities from 0 – 25 years Support by telephone, information by , meetings, drop-ins, home visits, attending local events and in schools Support for young people and parents from first concerns What is SEN Support and what should it look like An explanation of what an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is and the processes to attain one/transfer from statement

What we provide Support throughout the EHCP assessment process to enable full participation in decisions and setting appropriate outcomes Support with transport, issues at school, exclusions, discrimination, mediation and appeals etc Help in preparing for and attending meetings with the local authority and schools Support writing letters and completing forms Signposting to local Offer/Services and how to access them

The Principles of Part 3 of the Children & Families Act 2014 The LA must have regard to the following matters. This is a strong legal must duty the views, wishes and feelings of the child and his or her parent, or the young person; the importance of the child and his or her parent, or the young person, participating as fully as possible in decisions Remember: Best endeavours Duty

The Principles of Part 3 of the Children & Families Act 2014 the importance of the child and his or her parent, or the young person, being provided with the information and support necessary to enable participation in those decisions the need to support the child and his or her parent, or the young person, in order to facilitate the development of the child or young person and to help him or her achieve the best possible educational and other outcomes

Legal Definitions: Special Educational Needs (SEN) Section 20 (1) of the C & F Act 2014: A child or young person has special educational needs if he or she has a learning difficulty or a disability which calls for special educational provision to be made for him or her Same as it was under the old law and potentially wider

Legal Definitions: Special Educational Provision (SEP) Section 21 of the C & F Act 2014 Educational or training provision that is additional to, or different from, that made generally for others of the same age in (a) mainstream schools in England, (b) maintained nursery schools in England, (c) mainstream post-16 institutions in England, or (d) places in England at which relevant early years education is provided.

What is SEN Support SEN Support replaced School Action and School Action Plus Still considered a graduated approach because of the four part cycle of action – Assess, Plan, Do, Review Focus on “outcomes” being the expected impact of the Special Education Provision SEN Support Plan/Provision Map

Starting off the process for an EHCP Needs Assessment Request for assessment can ONLY be made by: A child’s parent A young person or A person acting on behalf of a school/post-16 institution

EHCP timeline

Decision to assess....or not LA must decide within six weeks. THE LEGAL TEST IS: (a)the child or young person has or may have special educational needs, and (b)it may be necessary for special educational provision to be made for the child or young person in accordance with an EHC plan A policy applying a stricter test is not lawful

The assessment The LA must seek advice on needs/provision/outcomes from: (a)Child’s parents or the young person (b)Head teacher or principal of school/post-16 settings that they are attending (c)Medical advice and information from a health care professional (d)Educational psychologist (e)Advice and Information in relation to social care (f)Advice and Information from any other person LA thinks appropriate (g)Advice and information in relation to prep for adulthood and independent living (h)Any person child’s parent or young person reasonably requests

After the assessment The LA will either: Issue a draft EHC plan; or Decide not to issue an EHC plan Within 15 calendar days of receipt of draft plan young people and parents: Should request a school or other institution be named Can request a meeting to take place with an LA officer

EHCP sections A – views, wishes and aspirations B - Special educational needs C – Health care needs D – Social care needs E - Outcomes F - Special educational provision G – Health care provision H – Social Care provision I – Name and type of school J - Personal budget K – Appendices of advice/report from assessments Remember: DUTY TO SPECIFY

Annual review of an EHCP The Local Authority must: Consult about the EHC plan Conduct a meeting Produce an annual review report Makes a decision and notify parents within 4 weeks of the meeting to either: amend, maintain or cease the EHCP All be done within the 12 month period

Statements to EHCPs – All transfers completed by 1 st April 2018 Mainstream to special school and special school to mainstream Must be transitioned by 15th February in the calendar year the transfer takes place Transfer from school to a post-16 institution Must be transitioned by 31 st March in the calendar year the transfer takes place Those who come to be in year 9 Must be transitioned before the child begins year 10

Rights of appeal (SENDIST Tribunal) Refusal to assess Refusal to issue an EHC plan Refusal to re-assess Refusal to amend an EHC plan following a review or re-assessment To cease to maintain an EHC plan

Rights of appeal – Contents The child or young person’s SEN The SEP specified in the EHC plan The school or other institution named in the EHC plan or the type of school or institution If no school or other institution is named Disability Discrimination Consider mediation or dispute resolution

IASS Top Tips Keep a diary Collect evidence Keep EVERYTHING in writing! Follow up phone calls with /letter Contact IASS for information, advice and support If in doubt about a decision write to the Local Authority Legal Team as they will apply the letter of the law, not local policy!

Useful SEND organisations IPSEA (Independent Parental Special Education Advice) Council for Disabled Children (CDC) Tribunal Service (SENDIST) disability-tribunal/overview

Stockport IASS contact information Phone us on: us at: Write to us at: IASS Stockport, Together Trust Centre, Schools Hill, Cheadle, Stockport, SK8 1JE Visit our website: we-do/iass-send/iass-stockport-sendhttps:// we-do/iass-send/iass-stockport-send

Your thoughts and comments Please tell us: What you like about IASS Stockport and how it has helped you What could we do better or differently in the future?