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Post by sooz on Feb 2, 2024 10:09:14 GMT
Hi all
weve chosen a supported college (work experience/internship/life skills) which is a 3 year course starting September this year.
then, the fly in the ointment this week from ehc team…. It’s not the nearest suitable place etc.
we need transport provided. Buses not an option to preferred college, aside from vulnerability it’d be 2 hours each way and would still need me to get her to a bus stop to start with and change buses (country living is great but not for public transport)
nearest “suitable” place only runs a 1 year course, it’s also in the town where birth family live and as snooz is 18 this year then she’s likely going to want contact which will need to be well managed. The freedom to wander from post 18 placements this close to bf could be an issue. They would provide transport to this placement.
then there’s a potential issue of peers from current school also going to “suitable” place and some tricky relationships.
I’ve detailed all this in an email but can anyone else think of anything that might help our case.
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Post by serrakunda on Feb 3, 2024 15:45:59 GMT
so flipping shortsighted
can you focus more on why the one year course is not suitable, what comes after it, why the 3 year one is better and more cost effective in the longer term
I assume the one year course doesnt offer work experience, the three year has a strong chance of leading to employment
I”d ask for a breakdown in the cost of transport to both placements. I wonder if it will turn out to be fairly marginal
could you offer at a push to pay a contibution?
Good luck !!
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Post by leo on Feb 4, 2024 20:32:28 GMT
Oh I have come across this kind of ridiculous decision so many times!
Firstly, are you sure your LA will provide Post 16 (or 18 in your case) transport? It is not guaranteed even with an EHCP and my Local Authority has only been part funding it Post 16 since budget cuts.
Secondly, get any professionals you can on your side and writing letters to the decison making people saying that, in their professional opinion, (and having known Snooz for ... years in ... context), they believe that only your preferred option is suitable because... and the other placement would be detrimental to Snooz's mental health/safety/long term outcomes/ability to form and maintain relationships....
Get as many professionals onside as you can. For some reason they tend to be listened to far more than us mere Mums. If current school will help then that is very useful - but they may say they cannot go against their own LA decision.
I would also go through the current EHCP with a fine tooth comb and find every reference you can to attachment issues/need for stability/struggles with change/needs to build relationships/needs to feel safe... all those kind of comments - even better if they are in sections B or F (may be wrong letters - but the parts that are legally enforcable about needs and provision). Use those as direct quotes in any letter you send to appeal this.
If all that fails, threaten an EHCP tribunal to seek your preferred placement - some LAs will realise you are serious at this point and give in. (Sadly mine didn't- but I do think many will.)
Good luck.
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Post by sooz on Feb 7, 2024 8:41:01 GMT
Thank you
yes they’ll supply transport. This is the issue though, they want nearest suitable place or they won’t. We need transport as we have no bus service.
i have to go back to work, I haven’t worked for 17.5 years now due to snoozs needs. I’m 60 this month so that’ll be fun! I can’t ferry her to and from.
they’ve asked me to go to visit the other place to see if they can meet needs. I’ll do that next week. Snooz needs to be mostly work based, she’s so had enough of classrooms and they are flashpoints. This is why the placement I want for her is more suitable, it’s 2 years 50/50 split between work and class with a 3rd year of internship. The placement nearer offers 1 year of study group which is 80% classroom based and an optional 2nd year of internship.
i mean, snooz could find her niche through work placements in the first year, who knows.
I think snooz will be capable of driving and she gets higher rate of PIP so could potentially get herself there at some point. I’ve put off lessons as I’m concerned about the level of “freedom” having a car will give her, she’s very vulnerable, but I’m also excited to think about her driving and the possibilities and independence that could bring. Arrgghhh! lol.
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Post by serrakunda on Feb 8, 2024 17:41:06 GMT
so have the ‘officials’ said its suitable or the college itself.
if the college havent I think I might just try and influence then when you visit………..
just saying ……..
60 ! its scary isnt it. I’m 59 this year. Do you have any thoughts about what you will do, can you back to what you did before?
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Post by sooz on Feb 9, 2024 8:33:33 GMT
Yes to officially suitable, both offer work experience and internships. They are not comparable in the way they offer those things though, with our preference being more suitable to snoozs needs. I fully intend to make our case, as such, when I visit. I already know their first year study course would not work for snooz which only leaves a one year internship which, imo, is not enough for snooz to be ready for work. Tbh the reply I got from ehc team indicates that they accept our preference but we need the nearest site to say they cannot meet her needs.
so, for going back to work. I’ve been thinking how I can use the skills I’ve learned over the years, dealing with neurodiversity and mental health issues and the wealth of techniques and stategies we have all had to use. I don’t want to work directly with children or teens, bit of a busman’s holiday. I’m going to apply to be a call handler for police emergency services. I’ll have to practice my typing speeds a bit. It’s shifts, which could work in our favour in terms of being available to snooz. I’ve checked the criteria and that’s all good it’s just if I’ll get accepted! Scary but exciting.
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