As part of the assessment process for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) you will be sent some forms to complete which will enable you to submit you parental views. Remember you know you child best and this is your opportunity to have your say. You will be asked to complete a ‘Parent / Carer & Information’ form and a ‘Section A’.
This can seem like a daunting task and where do you start?
Some ideas of things to think about for the Parent/Carer Advice & Information form
Playing and learning
- What was your child like when they were born?
- When did you start to feel concerned about your child’s development?
- Who was involved with your child, for example, Speech Therapist, Paediatrician etc?
- Did your child receive any additional help? If so, what was it?
- What does your child like to do?
- How do they get on with other children or their siblings?
- Do they have any friends?
- What is their concentration like?
- Do they attend any out of school clubs?
- What are your concerns?
School Life
- How do you feel they are doing at school?
- Are they making progress at school?
- What support do they receive in school and is it helping?
- What do you see them doing in the future? Think short term and long term when setting goals for your child to achieve.
- Do you think your child is in the right school? If not, why not and what needs to change?
- Have you looked at any other schools? If so, what was it about that school that you thought would be better for your child?
Communication
- How does your child communicate?
- Can they be relied upon to take a simple message from one person to another?
- Could they answer the telephone?
- Can they hold a simple conversation?
Behaviour
- How does your child’s disability affect their behaviour?
- What strategies do you use at home?
- Would you consider your child/young person to be vulnerable?
- Has your child/young person experienced any bullying?
Physical skills
- What was your child’s development like as a baby?
- Did they achieve their milestones on time?
- Do they have fine motor skills difficulties, for example, is it difficult for them to cut up food?
- Do they have gross motor skills difficulties, for example, are they clumsy?
Health
- Does your child have any health needs in relation to their Special Educational Needs (SEN)?
- Do they miss lots of their education because of their health needs? If so, what could be done to help this? Has your child been in hospital?
- Remember to include things like co-ordination difficulties eg handwriting difficulties
Self-help skills
- How independent is your child?
- What kind of support do they need with going out, getting washed and dressed, coping with routine, money management etc?
For Section A
- What is important to your child including: family members, pets, toys, routines, people, activities?
- What are your hopes, fears and wishes for the future in 5 years, 10 years and 15 years time?
- What was your child like when they were born? What is their story? What schools, nurseries have they attended?
- When did you start to feel concerned about your child’s development?
- Who was involved with your child, for example, Speech Therapist, Paediatrician etc?
- Did your child receive any additional help? If so, what was it?
- What is your story? Who lives in your house, who provides support?
- What helps your child at home and school? What works well for them in terms of support? What is not going so well? Where would your child need more help?