SENDIASS supported a young person to get back into post-16 education after being out of provision due to a breakdown in the EHC review process.

The Young person’s aunt, contacted the SENDIASS helpline at the end of xxx for advice about her nephew Josh. Josh is 19 years old, has an Education Health Care plan and had been attending a specialist post-16 college course for the last three years. The aunt made the call on behalf of the family as Josh’s parent do not speak English and Josh is unable to advocate for himself due to learning needs.

The 3^rd year of the course was a supported internship consisting of three work placements which ended in xxx. There had been an issue during the supported internship, when Josh had looked at inappropriate pictures online using the work computer. A social work safeguarding referral was made at this point. There had been no other identified issues and he was moved to another work placement without computer access. He completed the supported internship.

The aunt stated the family attended a college meeting in xxx where it was identified that due to the issues during the work placements, Josh should attend a relationship course before applying for his next college placement. It was not clear whether this college meeting was an EHC review or an exit interview following supported internship as no paperwork or reports were given to the family.

Josh attended a two-day relationship course which took place in xxx. After this the family, as advised, tried to apply for Josh’s next college course, but they were informed they were too late to apply for any courses.

The aunt stated that the family had no information about Josh’s EHC and the last EHC plan they had for him was dated xxx. The aunt stated that they asked the social worker to help them get Josh back in education, but she told them it was not her role.

At the time of calling the helpline Zara asked SENDIASS to help with the following:

• Support Josh back into the right college provision as soon as possible, with a view to eventually achieving his aspiration of paid work.

The aunt stated the family, (who did not speak English), did not know the next steps, their rights or who to contact. They were not given any information or signposting by social care. The family were concerned with Josh, who was now at home all the time and not accessing any meaningful activity apart from 9 hours per week of community access with his PA. The family felt Josh had fallen through the cracks and that the Local authority and education had forgotten about him. They wanted SENDIASS to help them get Josh back on track.

Before taking this as a case, SENDIASS ensured consent was given by Josh (as a young person over 16) and his family for Josh’s aunt to be the main point of contact. This was done and recorded in a follow up call.

EHC:

Josh’s EHC plan needed to be correct, up to date and reviewed according to the statutory regulations, including next provision being named in the plan.

College:

Contact with the college Josh wants to access must be made to find out what options there are in getting him enrolled, to ensure the right course is identified and what provision can be offered and within what timescales.

Other services/support:

Services in both education and health, to be identified and referrals made to ensure Josh receives the correct support and advice to progress in education and to take positive steps towards his future aspirations of working.

SENDIASS highlighted Josh’s case to both the previous college and the local authority statutory assessment team and identified the first step, which was to complete an immediate review of his plan.

An emergency review was arranged by the previous college for XXX.

SENDIASS input ensured that sections B & F were amended to reflect Josh’s needs and SEN provision, including identifying his needs around learning and understanding appropriate sexual conduct in the community.

SENDIASS ensured that Josh’s voice was heard in the meeting and recorded. For example, in the previous college notes it was stated that Josh’s goal is to work in a shop. SENDIASS asked him his preference during the meeting, and he said he wanted to work in a hospital.

Review paperwork was sent off and SENDIASS kept in contact with the statutory assessment officer to update her while she was writing up the draft amended plan.

The family had two college options. They visited one in XXX but did not like the setting and thought it was too far away as Josh is not an independent traveller.

SENDIASS arranged for a meeting at the family’s preferred choice of college on XXX. The college had been informed about the case by SENDIASS previous to the meeting and the aim of the meeting was to give Josh and his family all the information about the available courses so Josh could make an informed choice about his future. It was also to allow college staff to meet Josh in person so they could match him to the best course and to allow Josh to experience the college setting and meet some of the staff.

Outcome of the meeting – the college were able to present the different course options to Josh and everyone contributed to the discussion. It was agreed for Josh to enrol for another supported internship starting XXX and the aunt was supported to enrol Josh for this straight away to ensure he received a place.

SENDIASS also brokered an arrangement where college would accept Josh on a bespoke education package of two days college per week, starting XXX.

IAMS worked with the family to inform them of activities, Local Offer, and other opportunities to encourage Josh to get out in the community (such as information on disability concessions) during the time he was out of education.

SENDIASS referred Josh, at the family’s request, to the adult disability nursing team for targeted one to one support around relationships to learn appropriate behaviour in the community and in the workplace.

This need was identified at the review as an essential part of his education as the college stated, “the only thing stopping Josh from being offered paid work was the issues he had around looking at inappropriate images.” Therefore, any education preparing him for work should also include support around this issue. SENDIASS also, with family’s consent, informed the new college of this issue to ensure Josh was properly supported and not put in a situation which would make him vulnerable or where he would fail.

Josh’s EHC plan is currently, at the time of writing, being amended after a proper review. The statutory assessment team have been informed by SENDIASS about the bespoke college package which is being offered to Josh and funded through high needs funding application. SENDIASS have offered ongoing support to the family to ensure the draft is correct and advised how to proceed when the plan is completed.

Josh has been consulted and fully supported to identify his preferred and suitable next educational course and his family have been supported on enrolling him on the course for XXX.

SENDIASS have initiated and supported discussions with college to ensure Josh accesses education provision in spring/summer term to avoid him being out of education for a considerable length of time. This is also in line with Josh’s wish and his family’s wish to get back into a college course as soon as possible.



At the time of writing the case study, Josh had started accessing the college 2 full days per week at the end of XXX, joining a current Routes to employment course. Unfortunately, this was then halted on XXX due to college closures as Covid-19 response.

Josh will be given the support and learning he needs around relationships and how to act in the community. He is on the waiting list for disability nursing support. This will take a while however college are also informed about this need, which has also been recorded in his plan, and this knowledge will ensure Josh’s needs are met. This provides him with more chance of successful outcome following his next supported internship.

SENDIASS has had a lot of involvement at every stage of this case due to the family’s language needs. At the start of the case Josh’s EHC was out of date and he was at home without a college place. At the end of the involvement Josh’s EHC was reviewed and being amended, he was enrolled at his preferred choice of college course for XXX and had started accessing college 2 days per week from late XXX on a bespoke package.

To support young people to become more informed, SENDIASS is looking to produce young person friendly resources to pass on to colleges, to include basic information on EHCs, the review process, choices at post 16, as well as what SENDIASS can do to support and advise.

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