Autumn 2024 Newsletter

Like and follow our Facebook page to get up to date information on activities and services.
Find us at https://www.facebook.com/WakefieldWESAILandLocalOffer 

On Facebook, we will be sharing information about the following awareness days:

3rd December
International Day of Persons with Disabilities

10th December
Human Rights Day

4th January
World Braille Day

27th January
Parent Mental Health Day

For families applying for a Reception school place for September 2025, the deadline for applications
is Wednesday 15th January. You can find out more about the process, and search for schools by visiting
https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/schools-andeducation/schools/school-admissions 

Some children will be starting at Nursery in January. Ambitious About Autism has lots of helping
information in their parent toolkit. Find out more by visiting https://www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk/understanding-autism/early-years/parenttoolkit 

You can also look at the transitions information on the Local Offer website. Visit https://wakefield.mylocaloffer.org/common-worries/transitions 

Thanks to Wakefield Parent Carer Forum, Irwin Mitchell and Build Our Futures for contributing to this
newsletter.

We love getting your ideas and feedback to use for our newsletters, so please do have your say by
completing the survey for this newsletter. You can do this by visiting https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7C7KPGG

Happy reading,
Wakefield Early Support Advice Information Liaison (WESAIL) Service

An Education, Health, and Care Plan (“EHCP”) is a legal document that outlines the education, health, and social care needs of a child or young person with special educational needs and disabilities (“SEND”).


It also specifies the support required to meet those needs.


This first step is requesting an Education, Health, and Care Needs Assessment (“EHCNA”) from the Local Authority.


Who can request an EHCNA

This can be done by:
• Parents or Carers: You can write to your Local Authority requesting an assessment.
• Young People: If you are over 16, you can request an assessment yourself.
• Schools or Nurseries: They can also request an assessment on behalf of the child.
You should include any relevant evidence, including but not limited to: school reports / behaviour logs, attendance / exclusion data, reports by therapist, and
medical reports.


Common myths about requesting an EHCNA:
- The child or young person needs a formal diagnosis.
- Only those with a diagnosis of autism can get an EHCP.
- A child needs to have been held back a year already.


When should a LA undertake an EHCNA?
The law under the Children and Families Act 2014 states a Local Authority must undertake an EHCNA if the following applies:
- They consider the child/young person may have SEND; and
- They consider the child/young person may require special educational provision to meet those needs.


This legal test is a very low bar; however, Local Authority’s still often refuse to conduct an assessment.


Local Authority’s routinely incorrectly apply the legal test for when to undertake an EHCNA.


If a Local Authority refuses to conduct an assessment, then this creates a right of appeal to challenge this decision in the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability).


What happens after a request for an assessment is made

Once the request is made, the Local Authority has 6 weeks to decide whether to conduct an assessment.


If they agree, the assessment will involve:
• Gathering Information: The Local Authority will collect information from various sources, including schools, health professionals, and social care services. Parents/Carers or the student themselves can request specific assessments to be completed, such as Occupational Therapy (OT), Speech and Language Therapy (SALT).
• Meeting with Professionals: You may be asked to meet with professionals to discuss the child’s needs.
• Parental and Child Input: Their views and the views of the child or young person will be considered.


Decision to provide an EHCP after an assessment

After the assessment, the Local Authority will decide whether to issue an EHCP.
If they decide not to issue an EHCP, they must provide reasons and inform you of your right to appeal within 10 weeks (16 weeks from the initial request).


You can challenge a Local Authority’s decision not to issue an EHCP after assessment through the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability).


Drafting of the EHCP
If the Local Authority decides to issue an EHCP, they must provide a draft EHCP within 14 weeks of the initial request.

This draft will include:
• The Child’s Needs: Detailed information about the child’s educational, health, and social care needs.
• Outcomes: The desired outcomes for the child.
• Support Required: The specific support and services that will be provided to meet the child’s needs.
• Placement: It will name the specific educational placement that the child or young person will attend. The parents/guardian will be asked to name their preference for placement.


A ‘draft EHCP’ will be provided. You will have 15 days to review the draft plan and request any changes.
After reviewing your response, the Local Authority will make any necessary amendments and issue the final EHCP. A formal decision letter will also accompany the final EHCP. A final EHCP must be issued within
20 weeks of the initial request for an EHCNA. This final plan will be reviewed annually to ensure it continues to meet the child’s needs.


Implementing an EHCP
Once the EHCP is finalised, it is the responsibility of the Local Authority to ensure that the support outlined in the plan is provided. Schools and other services must work together to implement the plan effectively.


If the provisions of an EHCP are not being implemented, then you may be able to enforce this through Judicial Review.


What to do if not happy with final EHCP
If you are unhappy with the final EHCP, then you will have a right of appeal to challenge the contents of the EHCP through the First-tier Tribunal (Special
Educational Needs and Disability).


You have two months from the date of the formal decision letter to bring an appeal to the First-tier Tribunal, or one month from the date of a mediation
certificate – whichever is later.


Conclusion
Obtaining an EHCP can be a complex process, but it is a crucial step in ensuring that children and young people with SEND receive the support they need. By understanding the process and knowing your rights, you can advocate effectively for your child’s needs.


With many thanks to Irwin Mitchell for providing this information.


For free and independent legal advice and support, please visit https://www.ipsea.org.uk/Pages/Category/what-we-do for further information.

clipboard with a list of ticks and crosses

1.      Work with your child or young person’s educational setting to support reasonable adjustments.

 

 

 

a child changing the time on a clock

2.      Find out about what changes to routine will be happening at nursery, school or college.

 

 

 

a now and next board

3.      Keep to known routines at home as much as possible. You could use a visual timetable to help.

 

 

 

a parent reading to his daughter

4.      Use social stories to support with different activities or events during the holidays.

 

 

 

a child choosing between two options on a board

5.      Give children and young people choices about what is going to happen. For example, helping to choose decorations if you put them up.

 

 

 

a child eating food looking happy

6.      Keep to safe foods. Avoid pressure to try new or seasonal foods.

 

 

 

a mum and daughter looking at a iPad

7.      Plan to have rest days and days that are less busy.

 

 

 

a child wearing noise cancelling headphones

8.      Ensure your child’s regulation tools are available, e.g., noise cancelling headphones, fidgets, sensory and chew toys etc.

 

 

 

a child playing with LEGO

9.      Allow time away from social situations. Let your child or young person lead this.

 

 

 

a mum giving her daughter a present in a quiet place, no decorations

10.  Think about ways to do presents. For example, you could allow your child or young person to receive these at a time that suits them, agree beforehand what they will receive and or not use wrapping paper.

 

 

 

a dad holding his two children and walking in the snow

11.  Find things to do that you enjoy.

 

What is Build Our Futures


Build Our Futures is Wakefield’s main voice and participation group. It
supports children and young people to have their say in the services and support they receive.


Who can get involved
Any child or young person growing up in the Wakefield district can get involved.


What do Build Our Futures do
• Hold meetings
• Interview
• Provide training
• Record podcasts
• Review services by mystery shopping
• Host summits
• Advise professionals
• Present our ideas
• Plan for the future


OUR GROUPS


Build Our Futures Forum (BOF)
This group is made up of members from across Wakefield. We meet to talk about district-wide issues.
We work with Wakefield Council and partner agencies to help improve the futures of Wakefield’s children and young people.


Age range: 11 – 19 (up to 25 with Special Educational Needs and or Disabilities).


Wakefield Youth Council / United Kingdom Youth Parliament (UKYP)
Members of the UK Youth Parliament are elected. They use their voice to bring about social change. They work on local, regional, and national priorities,
representing Wakefield.


Age range: 11 – 19 (up to 25 with Special Educational Needs and or Disabilities)


Children in Care Council and 16+ Care Leavers Forum
These groups are for children in care and care leavers. This includes young people with a special guardianship order (SGO) and in kinship care.


Age range: 11 – 25


Shout Out for Change
This is a group for young people with Special Educational Needs and or
Disabilities (SEND). The group work to ensure their voices are heard on issues that affect them. They also influence local and national decision making.


Age range: 14 – 25


BUILD OUR FUTURES SUMMITS
Build Our Futures host summits each year. These are opportunities for children and young people to:
• Celebrate achievements
• Take part in activities
• Meet professionals to work on priorities together


Build Our Futures Summits take place in May and November.


Contact Us
For more information, please get in touch.
Email us at buildourfutures@wakefield.gov.uk
Call us on 01924 302116
Text us on 07920 751202

Wakefield SEND Local Offer homepage

1. Go to https://wakefield.mylocaloffer.org/

 

 

 

right click mouse menu

2. Right click on your mouse button. This will bring up a menu.

 

 

picture of someone clicking on translate to English option on menu

3. Scroll down the menu. Click on Translate to English.

 

 

Pop up detected language box

4. A pop up box will appear at the top right of the screen. Click on the three dots.

 

 

pop up menu for choosing language

5. A menu will appear. Click on Choose another language.

 

 

  language to translate scroll down menu

6. This will bring up a list of languages to choose from. Click on the little triangle and scroll down to find the language you want.

 

 

picture showing click on blue translate button

7. Click on the blue translate button.

 

 

Wakefield SEND Local Offer website homepage shown in different language

8. The page will now be in your chosen language.

 

 

 

9. To change back to English, or to choose another language, repeat the above steps.

 

You can also view the How To Use Accessibility Features Videos on this website. 

For help or an alternative way of changing the language, please email wakefieldlocaloffer@family-action.org.uk or leave a message on 01924 965588.

Have you got a Max Card?


It can help you go on days out for free or with a discount. A discount is when you get money off the usual price.


A Max Card lasts for 2 years.

A Max Card is free if you join the Information Network. This is also called the IN. You can join the IN by visiting https://wakefield.mylocaloffer.org/informationnetwork/how-can-i-join 


For places you can visit, go to https://mymaxcard.co.uk


If you have lost your card, or it has expired (this means the date has run out) then contact the IN. They will help you get a new one. You can email them at informationnetwork@wakefield.gov.uk


You can also ring them on 01924 302 471

Last updated: 27/11/2024