What's the difference between Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS) and Home Education? If you're thinking about educating your child yourself then this is a definition you need to know.
What can you ask for in an EOTAS Education, Health and Care Plan? Do the council have to give your child anything at all?
Plus, now the easements to SEND in the Coronavirus Act have finished, is everything back as it used to be? And what can you do if you're offered a "COVID" EHCP, that's based on what's available at the moment, rather than what my child needs?
All these questions are answered by our guests on this two-part episode of SNJ in Conversation with SEND Lawyers, Hayley Mason, our amazing columnist, along with her colleague, Nicole Lee, an expert in the law on EOTAS. The first part is below, and the second will be along tomorrow, so pick your podcast platform to listen, or watch on YouTube.
Have you taken the Autumn SEND Survey?
And in light of this conversation, please remember to help us to help you, by taking our Autumn SEND Education survey to find out if your child has the provision they should: http://bit.ly/autumn-send With this information, we can build up a picture of how disabled children are being supported (or not) around the country. We can then push to make sure things change for the better. If you're feeling lost and helpless, this is one way you can advocate for your child - and other children. Please also share with your SEND parent friends
Inquiry into home education
As a point of interest, the Commons Education Committee has just launched an inquiry into how home-educated children are being supported in their learning, and whether more needs to be done to ensure they are all receiving a high-quality education. It will also look at duties of local authorities, and the potential role for inspections in ensuring standards. Find out more here
Rt Hon Robert Halfon MP, Chair of the Education Committee, said:
“While the coronavirus pandemic brought a new focus on the issue of learning at home, there are thousands of young people who are ordinarily taught outside of a traditional school setting. A parent will always know what is best for their child but we want to make sure that the right support is in place for home learning to ensure every pupil in the country, whatever their background and wherever they are taught, can receive the education they deserve."
The deadline for submissions is Friday 6 November. For further information see the inquiry page on the Committee website.
SEND Law now and EOTAS: Part one
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Watch on YouTube
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She is also an experienced broadcast and print journalist & author. Tania also runs a PR, web & social media consultancy, SocialOro Media. She is a rare disease & chronic pain patient advocate with Ehlers Danlos syndrome.
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