Is it true a child could be assessed quicker by CAMHS by applying for an EHC needs assessment, rather than joining the CAMHS general waiting list?

We hear of parents, who believe their child is SEND, waiting many months to get their child's mental health assessed by CAMHs. Because the EHCNA (EHC needs assessment) has a legal time limit, if an LA agreed to a needs assessment, then is it possible/likely the child could be seen sooner than on the general waiting list.

Can a school exclude a child with Autism and/or ADHD?

This is a question we hear often from parents. Parents can feel that their child is being unfairly treated or who 'act up' because their needs aren't being met.

Can I download the Disability Law in Education No-nonsense Guide as a pdf?

We have been asked... Can a Local Authority name a school on an EHCP without the agreement of the child’s parents, and ignore the parent’s ...

... requested school completely? The LA is claiming the family will have to go to appeal to secure their preferred school.

To provide some additional context, the parent has provided the LA with a list of schools they wish for the LA to consult with. It is not clear what type/s of school the parent has listed.

The LA have responded to say they will be listing their own schools for consultation. It is not clear if this is in addition to or instead of the schools the parent listed. The LA re relying on paragraph 9.84 of the SEND COP, which concerns non-maintained / independent education providers.

The parent has been told by the LA:
1. You have the right to list the schools that you want for the consultation process
2. During this consultation process of 15 days, we are going to consult our schools in the borough which are not the ones you have listed because of paragraph 9.84
3. If our schools say yes to accepting your child or there are no spaces, we can go over the limit from 15 to 17, or even if it’s not the best school for your child as long as the setting can meet your child’s needs we will consult them, your permission is not required at this stage
4. We will take this to panel and present our schools, you can appeal after we have listed a school for your child

Is the LA correct? Can you explain the law around the right to name a parental preference and the consultation process, as found in sections 33 and 39 CFA 2014, and from section 9.78 – 9.84 SEND COP?

Did you navigate the Needs Assessment/EHCP process without having to appeal? If so, what helped with your success?

Parent X has safeguarding concerns about their child’s school. They have provided an AngelSense tracker to their child (primary age). Does the ...

... school have a right to object and if so can they exclude the child if X insists the child wears it?

Is there somewhere I can go for a quick overview of the EHCP process?

Can I contribute my EHCP to this site? If yes, how do I do it?

Should parents get ALL reports before an annual review meeting? (We have been told about parents attending annual reviews and only seeing reports for ...

... the first time, during the meeting.)

Can anyone explain how parents start the EHCP process for children below school age? There are many parents with children, who have conditions ...

... identified at birth or in their early years, that would find mainstream education challenging or impossible.