Juliet’s story

Juliet’s parents contacted SENDIASS following a recommendation from a friend. Juliet had been experiencing a challenging time at her school recently and both mum and dad were increasingly concerned for her welfare and her low mood.

Reluctant to give an EHC plan

Juliet’s mum talked to a worker at SENDIASS regarding Juliet’s recent diagnosis of Autism and informed the worker that a meeting had been arranged at school for all services to attend to discuss how best to support Juliet. The meeting came and went and was on the whole a positive discussion where ideas and strategies were shared between school, the various services present and parents. An action from the meeting was for all staff to be made aware of the plan and to engage with the strategies in place.

The possibility of further support for Juliet in the form of an Education Health and Care Plan (EHC plan) was also discussed but the school were reluctant as they felt Juliet was academically making progress.

Taking Juliet out of school

Mum contacted SENDIASS again and detailed her growing concerns regarding schools lack of empathy, understanding and consistency to the actions agreed previously. SENDIASS suggested a meeting in school to discuss parents’ concerns but unfortunately an escalation in self- harming behaviours and increase in anxiety led to parents removing Juliet from school with immediate effect and an emergency referral to the CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) was made.

SENDIASS provided Juliet and her parents with information regarding an EHC plan needs assessment and the EHC plan process, this included the right to make a parental request as Juliet was currently out of school and had been removed from the school role. With support from SENDIASS a request for an EHC plan needs assessment was made. The request was at first refused due to lack of educational evidence to support the request. SENDIASS supported the parents in challenging this refusal to assess and a needs assessment was completed.

The SEND Tribunal

At this stage the Local Authority advised the family to start to look around other schools. Juliet’s parents informed the Local Authority that they had found a school Juliet liked and it seemed as suitable as it could be.

Juliet’s parents wanted the school to be named in section I in the Final plan. But the Local Authority refused and SENDIASS advised parents of their right to appeal. The appeal was submitted to the Tribunal. Two days before the Tribunal hearing the Local Authority agreed a place at the school for Juliet.

The family was very grateful to SENDIASS for their support, guidance and information sharing.