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9 year old autistic daughter and school... next steps no idea!

maaya

Hi

I am wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation to us and found the way forward.  My 9 year old has struggled going to school for over a year, she has been having horrible violent meltdowns every night for a long time.  The atmosphere at home is so tense just waiting for the next explosion.  She is at mainstream school has ELSA when staff are available and the teacher helps her (when she asks) with her maths.  She says everyone at school hates her so it's not surprised she hates going but she will then talk about who she played with at lunch time so it's a bit confusing.  She also now has separation anxiety from me at night and more recently isn't sleeping. We got help from the primary mental health worker who said we had a case for an EHCP but when I look at the existing school paperwork, I don't think she has even made it onto the special needs register!  We get targets and what the teacher child and parent will do to help ensure the targets are met..... does that mean she is on the register!?

When i spoke with the mental health worker and Senco last, it was agreed that the teacher will start check ins daily with her too.  I don't think this is enough but equally don't know what else can be done apart from try for an EHCP but she is just about meeting academic targets except in maths.  Can you get an EHCP for mental health reasons (anxiety) and if so what would this look like in terms of support? She is in year 5 and we have to think about next schools too, where she is too able for a Unit or special provision but her anxiety is super high and I can't imagine her coping at secondary school.  Has anyone managed to get their child into a small independent mainstream school through an EHCP?.....   I would be really grateful for any advice as we can't continue as we are at home. 

Thanks you so much for any advice

Parents

  • the definition used for EHCPs is as follows


    When a child or young person has special educational needs

    (1)A child or young person has special educational needs if he or she has a learning difficulty or disability which calls for special educational provision to be made for him or her.

    (2)A child of compulsory school age or a young person has a learning difficulty or disability if he or she—

    (a)has a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age, or

    (b)has a disability which prevents or hinders him or her from making use of facilities of a kind generally provided for others of the same age in mainstream schools or mainstream post-16 institutions.

    so the question would probably be what counts as a facility. If anxiety stops her doing certain things at school you could make a case there. With autism is more usually ‘bad’ behaviour that kicks off this process. The autistic child suffers mental health issue because of the school environment which leads to exclusions etc which of course stops them using the schools facilities.

    sadly the way the act is written makes me think you may have difficulty getting an EHCP before your child’s behaviour starts manifesting in her school day.

  • in reply to Peter

    If a child masks in school the behavior out of school can be as a result of not coping in school but you would need to give examples of where this is linked.

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