In the second session of our three-part series, EHCP Essentials: Mastering the EHCP Process for Your Visually Impaired Child, guest speakers Sophie Heiser, Advocacy & Wellbeing Manager at Blatchington Court Trust, and Lynne Pierce, Education Advocacy Officer at Blatchington Court Trust, covered the key components of a strong EHCP.
They discussed what to include in key sections of the EHCP form, including Section A, ensuring the EHCP reflects your child’s needs and aspirations; Section B, detailing special educational needs; Section E, outlining outcomes; and Section F, specifying the special educational provision required. The session also provided an overview of the review and appeals process.
The session covered:
- What does a good EHCP look like?
- How to be specific and measurable
- Professional reports
- What you can do as the parent
Session 2 resources.
Explore the YouTube links below to watch this insightful and valuable session, packed with practical advice and useful information.
We’d like to extend a huge thank you to our expert panellists, Sophie Heiser and Lynne Pierce, and to Laura Hughes, CEO of Moorvision, for her valuable support in the Q&A session. To all the parents who joined us, thank you, and we look forward to seeing you at our next EHCP webinar on the 25th of November.
Session 3 – What can I do if I want to appeal?
On the 25th of November at 7 pm we’ll be discussing:
- What to do if there is a refusal or disputes
- How to prepare your case
- What to do at the tribunal
- Common pitfalls when going to tribunal
Our expert panel will then answer questions that were submitted by the group when registering for the session and share resources for the topics areas we have discussed.
Session 1 – What is an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP)?
To watch Session 1: What is an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and who is entitled to one? and access the resources please click the the button below.
Meet the guest speakers
Laura Hughes, Moorvision CEO.
Laura Hughes is the CEO of MoorVision, a charity providing activities, information, advice, support and advocacy to families of children and young people aged 0-29 with vision impairment across Devon and Cornwall. Laura is also the parent of a young adult with vision impairment.
Lynne Pierce, Education Advocacy Officer at Blatchington Court Trust.
Lynne is the Education Advocacy Officer at Blatchington Court Trust, providing information, advice, support and advocacy to families of partially sighted/severely sight impaired and Blind children and young people across Sussex.
Lynne joined BCT over 8 years ago having previously worked for the RNIB group since 1997. Initially teaching in a specialist Further Education College for visually impaired young people (16+), Lynne subsequently managed one of the RNIB College Partnerships then Team Leader of the London & South East Children & Young People’s Service.
Ruth Buckroyd, Educational Advocacy Assistant at Blatchington Court Trust.
Ruth Buckroyd is the Educational Advocacy Assistant at Blatchington Court Trust, a charity providing activities, information, advice, support and advocacy to families of children and young people aged 0-29 with vision impairment across Sussex.
Ruth provides administrative support to the advocacy team and joined BCT at the end of Sept 2023. She is currently studying towards the SEND Law Level 1 Course provided by IPSEA. Ruth is severely sight impaired with the condition Retinitis Pigmentosa.
Sophie Heiser, Advocacy & Well-Being Manager for Blatchington Court Trust.
Sophie is the Advocacy & Well-Being Manager for Blatchington Court Trust. Her team’s work involves meeting and introducing new clients and their families to the trust, helping with educational issues, managing the counselling service and liaising with LOOK’s mentoring scheme.
Sophie chairs the Educational Advocacy Forum which is a virtual national meeting where discussions are held around the national picture of SEND education specifically considering its impact on VI learners.
Please note that this session will be recorded and published on podcasting platforms, so if you contribute during the session, you consent to appear in the recording.