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1:1 support for primary school wraparound care, who funds it? (Lambeth)

mumtoone

Hi all, hoping someone has been through this and can share how it went.

Our son is autistic with complex needs, has an EHCP, and starts school in Lambeth in September. The school has told us he'll need his 1:1 to safely access breakfast and after-school club, which we need five days a week as we both work full time with no family nearby. The catch is they've said the cost of that 1:1 is down to us, roughly £20 to £50 an hour, on top of the club fees which we cant afford. 

His EHCP coordinator says it can't be funded under Section F because it's outside school hours, and has pointed us to social care to be looked at under Section H. We've put in for a social care assessment but it won't be done before he starts, and im not sure if thats the solve?

A few things I'd love to hear from others on:

- Has anyone actually got the 1:1 for wraparound care funded, and which route worked, Section H/social care, the school as club provider under reasonable adjustments, direct payments, or something else?
- If the LA won't fund it and the school won't either, how did you break the deadlock?
- Did anyone get interim support in place while a social care assessment was still running?
- For context, we know another child at the same school already gets this support, so we know it's possible, we just can't work out who's meant to pay.

Any experiences, good or bad, would be really appreciated. Trying to get this sorted before September so he can actually start on the same footing as everyone else. Thank you.

Parents

  • Are you able to speak with the parents of the child you believe receives this to see how they navigated the process?

    As I understand it the school is not liable to fund, and (given their Sendco will be on holiday now) I would advise you speak directly with Lambeth Council to see how they will meet the requirements on page 40 of the document they link on their website around wraparound care here: 

    https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/childminders/information-guidance/wraparound-childcare-programme 

    assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/.../national-wraparound-childcare-programme-handbook.pdf

    Be clear that you want this to be in place for September and that the school and ehcp coordinator have said this is not in their remit (which I believe to be correct). The government document linked clearly states providers must pay, not parents, and, as the local authority that is their job (as opposed to the school). 

    I suspect they will try to put it back onto the school, but since they will hold the send allocation funding it is their responsibility.

    I suspect it won't be easy but stand firm and keep going back to the 'in place for September thing', while being aware that if they do agree to fund the school would still need to appoint which is unlikely for the start of term.

    If you can agree funding with the council though it might be that school can pull something together as an interim, so keep pushing the in place for September thing with the council... and remember you've already had the info from the school and ehcp coordinator so keep pushing that it's their job. Good luck!

Reply

  • Are you able to speak with the parents of the child you believe receives this to see how they navigated the process?

    As I understand it the school is not liable to fund, and (given their Sendco will be on holiday now) I would advise you speak directly with Lambeth Council to see how they will meet the requirements on page 40 of the document they link on their website around wraparound care here: 

    https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/childminders/information-guidance/wraparound-childcare-programme 

    assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/.../national-wraparound-childcare-programme-handbook.pdf

    Be clear that you want this to be in place for September and that the school and ehcp coordinator have said this is not in their remit (which I believe to be correct). The government document linked clearly states providers must pay, not parents, and, as the local authority that is their job (as opposed to the school). 

    I suspect they will try to put it back onto the school, but since they will hold the send allocation funding it is their responsibility.

    I suspect it won't be easy but stand firm and keep going back to the 'in place for September thing', while being aware that if they do agree to fund the school would still need to appoint which is unlikely for the start of term.

    If you can agree funding with the council though it might be that school can pull something together as an interim, so keep pushing the in place for September thing with the council... and remember you've already had the info from the school and ehcp coordinator so keep pushing that it's their job. Good luck!

Children
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