Hi, I'm elvie! My son has dyslexia + has been refused an EHCP. What can I do?

elvie

I’m desperate for some advice!! 

I have a son who’s 11 he will be making the huge transition into secondary school in September. 

I have had such a long hard battle with my sons primary school for over four years to notice how difficult learning is for him. 

Finally in year four they agreed and he was assessed by speech and language who Agreed my son had difficulty’s. 

Basically they have done an Dyslexic assessment and not an ECP. 

After speaking with sen teacher last week she said he does not need an EHP, they are for children not like Harry, children that can’t communicate.
I was so shocked and at her statement and put the phone down because this is definitely not true. 

My son leaves school today smiling and playing table tennis with his friends in the park, we vist my mum who’s not well he laughs and jokes and cuddles her and tells her what a great day he’s had in school, and then at 8.30 I walk into he’s bedroom and he’s crying not just crying sobbing?
he told me last week he was mad to stand up in front of the hole class to read he’s English work which was all wrong and didn’t make no sense, today they done a maths test and he got 2-50 right. 

He said he feels humiliated, embarrassed and frustrated because he feels unbelievable pressure. 

I no he needs more support then working with a dyslexic teacher for one hour a week and no additional support in class. 

What can I do to help him? I feel heartbroken sending him in everyday watching his confidence and self-esteem being chipped away, is it possible for me to pay for a private EHP? Where do I start?
Any advice would be truly welcome 

elvie

I’m going to call today!! 

I have had enough of seeing him like this! No provisions or support in class at all ?

janer1967

Hi and welcome from me too 

I am really sorry about what you and your son are going through 

I don't really have any advice apart from maybe speak to social services or the school governors 

Hope you get something sorted 

chiarieds

Hi @elvie - & welcome to the community. Scope has some info which may be helpful to you & your son. Please see: https://www.scope.org.uk/advice-and-support/special-educational-needs-support-at-school-sen-ehcp/#SEN-support-and-EHCPs-click      Please let us know how you get on.

Cher_Alumni

Hi @elvie and welcome to our community, I'm sorry to hear about your son being upset  I can understand your frustration. Did you speak with the head teacher? Am I right in thinking your son has confirmed dyslexia?

Children must be identified as having Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) to be eligible for an EHCP.  According the the Children and Families Act 2014, SEND is defined as:

A child...

(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.

While points 9.11-9.19 of the SEND Code of Practice lists the criteria local authority consider when assessing if an EHCP is necessary.  I appreciate that's a lot of reading but it will give you a better idea of what EHCP decisions are based on.   

The British Dyslexia Association have a great list of resources to help with getting support in education for children with dyslexia.  While in addition to this, there are some other specialist organisations who could help with your situation, namely:

• IPSEA 
• SOS!SEN
• SENDIASS

I hope this helps and please keep us posted with how you get on.  I've also tweaked the title of your thread and moved it to our Education and Learning category to help others find it easier.  If I've got anything wrong in the title, please do let me know so I can amend

Take care and hope to speak again soon.

elvie

thank you all so much for the much appreciated info ?
I have spent most of the day on the phone. I have spoken  to my sons current head teacher who was shocked that no provision have ever been put into place within the class room or whilst taking any type of test. 

I have also said I do not want him doing any more test unless all provisions are in place. Am I right I’m thinking these test are not compulsory? 

And my anxiety and fears of secondary school were put at ease after speaking with the head of SEN at the secondary school he will start in September?

I feel really blessed today I have spoken on the phone to some fantastic humans and gained lots of knowledge and information from you guys!! my faith is slightly restored?
just makes my heart sad that these institutions can be so neglectful to our little humans  emotions and needs.

After an awful evening and tears from my son this morning   I’m looking forward to seeing his kind Beautful face after school today? tonight I shall read thoroughly all the information given above. 
thank you all so much 
elvie 

janer1967

Glad your feeling better and getting somewhere 

chiarieds

Great to have a really good update @elvie - thank you for letting us know.

Ross_Alumni

Super to hear from you @elvie and I'm glad it's good news  

Luna51

Hi @elvie

I too had a battle with my daughter's primary school to get an EHCP.. (Mainly due to their lack of organisation to provide evidence and general ignorance! - which was confirmed by her secondary school, they confirmed it was not just me being 'That parent')

But this all began to move forward when we had a Speech and Language Therapist's assessment.
We also had a Educational Psychologist come in after I insisted that my daughter needed their specialist input.

My daughter has Autism so a little different to your son, but do keep going with this, although it's exhausting and at times, extremely frustrating, you know your child best and this has to be considered. 

Also, do you have a local parent carer council?
Mine were brilliant at signposting me other agencies to support us through the process. 

Best of luck ?

musgravs

@Luna51
thanks for your sharing your experience. I wonder if you might have some advice for me.

My 9 yo has been diagnosed as ADHD and potentially ASP with pretty severe dyslexia, I know I will need him to go a school with a strong SEN program, but we are in a very tricky postal code so I am starting the EHCP process in the autumn.

He sees a dyslexia coach twice a week in the evenings after dinner online, she is abroad (3.5 hours difference) where we lived for a year when he was first disgnosed and there has been progress with her, and I am worried that Lewisham is going to turn us down for an assessment because he might not be far enough behind, but that is simply because we have been in overdrive to get him support on our own.

Did you have someone to guide you through the process? I have constantly hit walls with the LA on everything from getting into local schools, to appealing secondary placements (older sister) am anticipating this will be no different and was thinking of seeking out someone to guide from the start rather than waiting to hit walls this time. 

L_Volunteer

Hello @musgravs. I can hear your concerns but also all your effort that has gone into supporting your 9 yo.

EHCPs are typically provided if your child has support needs which cannot be met by the school’s usual provision. How are things in school at the moment for your 9 yo?

We are here for you throughout the process but as @Biblioklept says, IPSEA is also wonderful! The most important thing is for you to know that you don’t have to face this alone