How do I get an EHCP without a diagnosis and how do I access an alternate provision if we don't get an EHCP?

I have a 13 yr old son who has been home educated since Sep 25. We were failed by our primary school when they kept referring him for ASD and ADHD and telling us that he was "managing with scaffolding" when he was clearly struggling and failed all his SATs. He went to a private school for 1 year and they deferred him back a year because of his delayed learning, they did a Sandwell assessment that showed he was working at 7-8years old in every area, but then the school closed down so we chose to home educate (there was huge anxiety around school and learning and it had started manifesting as self harm also).

Since doing so we have realised just how far behind he is. The only official diagnosis we have is a visual processing disorder and after 3 ASD and ADHD referrals they all came back as inconclusive. We have an anxiety related Tourettes diagnosis and the consultant there wrote that he has an obvious learning disorder but then discharged us so we have no follow up for that. Our GP has just told us to get in touch with the LA to get an EHCP but I dont think that will do much good when hes home ed so we have no capacity for an ed-psych or similar. We are struggling with traditional home-ed as there is severe anxiety around learning in the traditional sense so I would like to let him access an alternative provision for 1 or 2 days a week but I cant even find anything that we can fund privately.

So I suppose my question is in 3 parts -
1. do I need to get a diagnosis or where do I get any support for a "learning disorder" and how do we find out the full extent of it? (hes had testing for global delay that was negative)
2. I know I need to start the process for an EHCP but Im at a loss how I do this as a home educator and without a diagnosis and no professional/medical support?
3. Is an EHCP the only way to access an alternative provision?

EA 1996 s19 & what is suitable

Autistic, demand-avoidant Child with EBSNA and autistic burnout not able to attend school for mental health reasons. After 7 weeks of asking the Council for alternative education, school offered a tutor to visit at home. Refused by us (parents) as not suitable (child very protective of ‘safe space’ at home & needed to be offered something they could engage with). A PAP letter was sent from our solicitor to the Council and the response was that an allocated place was available (at the school he was unable to attend) and therefore the Council were not in breach of s19. EHCP was issued the day after this, naming the same school (who say can’t meet his needs) in Section I, and we are appealing.

Was it unreasonable of us to refuse the home tutor, and has the Council discharged its duty with any offer of education?

In Wales under the ALN code can a foster carer for a child request DRS?

How hard is it to move my child from a special school to mainstream?

My child has attended a special school all primary (ASD was nonverbal but now fully verbal). He now has a place in a special school in high. However, lately I am feeling that maybe the special school is now holding him back socially and academically. Academically he is behind but this is because he doesn't show his ability in school and isn't challenged enough or taught the curriculum as needed. Of course, I am grateful for the tremendous support he has received when he needed it and know so many families struggle to get a placement. However, having met the secondary school, they don't offer GCSEs and only FS in some subjects. Also, socially my child has struggled (outside school he socialises with children from mainstream but the gap is getting wider as he doesn't get enough social opportunities with similar children to him) and I feel it is affecting his development. I am torn between special school and mainstream. Special school is no longer a challenge and mainstream may be too much. However as I am thinking about this, please could someone help whether it is possible to move him to mainstream if the first year of high isn't suitable for him? We don't have any mainstream schools with sen units near us which would have been better. Its either or.
What is the procedure and what do you think is the best way to deal with this? I know he wants to go to college and I don't want to hold him back but I also want him to safe and happy and do what is best for him.
School said when I asked he isn't ready for mainstream but also admitted that he doesn't show his true self in school and have seen glimpses of him that suggests otherwise when teachers are not around.

How many schools should I name on my son’s secondary transfer

Lambeth asks for three preferences - I have only one school’s name; can I write down only one ? Thank you very much

Can La refuse to let you change school with ehcp

Refuse to consult with settings

EHCP section I failure by LA

My son has tried two mainstream schools both failed as he is adhd with autism traits. His final EHCP stated he is to return to the mainstream school he prev failed in. The school listed in the EHCP told the LA they can’t meet need, but a specialist school that we named during the EHCP process said they can meet need but the LA has ignored all this..

My son refuses to go back to mainstream education as he knows he’s over whelmed and gets in trouble. And, he has elements of PTSD to the point I can’t even get him to a meeting in the named school.

I am 3k in debt because I had to get a private assessment due to waiting lists, and the private psyc report has also been ignored by the LA in their decision making.

I have escalated to tribunal, however even if the local authority decide to change it to the school we requested - how long would this take? Can it be done immediately as I am concerned he will loose his place on hold for him at the specialist school who can meet need and it’s his chosen preferred school. We were told by the LA to visit other schools which we did and he fell in love with the one we requested. He is high level adhd and has lost trust in everything and everyone because of this, it has really damaged him mentally. This is his first EHCP since diagnosis. He hasn’t been in full time education since November 2025.

This is so stressful, I am also a 24/7 single mum to two teen sons, I am also battling MS and this is having a damaging impact on my health as well as my sons.

Thank you for your time.

We have just had our annual review and LA have granted EOTAS with Personal Budget in section J, They have included provision in Section F but no funding for it. What do I do?

Can I make them supply the provision on the plan where there is no funding attached to it?

Can an academy refuse to refer a disabled child for 14–16 Youth College/AP because she cannot first attend the same school she is unable to access?

My 14-year-old daughter is on roll at an academy but has been unable to access school consistently since October 2025 due to SEND/dyspraxia, anxiety/sensory difficulties and recently diagnosed Overt Hashimoto’s/hypothyroidism.

The LA has agreed Section 19 medical tuition on Feb, but no provision has started yet. We still have no confirmed start date, hours, tutor/provider or venue.LA don't always respond to emails or answer all questions.

The academy Principal originally suggested South Tyneside Youth College / 14–16 college as a good fit. However, he is now refusing to progress the referral unless my daughter first reintegrates into the academy on a limited basis. The difficulty is that the academy is the setting she cannot currently access.

Youth College is school-led referral/SLA route where the child remains on the school roll, so parents cannot self-refer. The LA says Youth College questions are for the school because it is school-arranged AP. The school has also said further correspondence will not be acknowledged until my daughter attends school.I requested a sar after the pa told me she had ran my complaint letter through chat gpt and would not accept it as it was 100% ai generated. They refused the sar. I will raise an I C complaint

I have submitted a Stage 2 complaint about the head refusal but that process is too slow because the Youth College window is time-sensitive they have trials in June and it's 1st come 1 served.

I am not asking for a guaranteed Youth College place. I am asking whether she can lawfully be blocked from even being considered because she cannot first attend the setting she is currently unable to access.

My main questions are:

1. If the Youth College route is school-commissioned, does the LA still have to act under Section 19 if the school’s refusal leaves the child without suitable education?

2. Could this be an Equality Act reasonable adjustments/disability discrimination issue if the school is applying an attendance precondition my daughter cannot meet because of disability-related needs?

3. What is the quickest route to challenge this, given the LA says Section 19 is being arranged but the school controls the Youth College referral

4. Will she be classed as disabled due to long term condition Hashimotos and ongoing anxiety she is awaiting Cyps appointment.


Thanks

Would I have grounds to appeal to SENDIST for daughter not passing kent test?

My daughter is about to transition to secondary in Sep 2026, she has a diagnosis of autism. Schooling has been on off with part time time -tables, strong EBSA history, missed almost all year 5 due to anxiety, she did not engage with learning. This year complete turn around forged friendships, great teacher super high attendance. likely to be either the top student in her class for sats or in the cohort that excel. senco believes she would have passed the kent test this year if taken now. I did not apply for extra time for the kent test (was not sure, and did not want to approach her school as she was out of school at that time) the score that lowered her was maths which she is has now caught up with and is excelling, since re-engaging with learning. I believe her score does not reflect her academic ability (senco agrees) can I appeal? is there scope for an appeal on medical/mental health grounds? (SEMH significant) previous CAMHS involvement. she is heartbroken she is not going there due to not passing. LA have named sen provision in mainstream she does not want that, she wants to be in an academic environment her current school are willing to back me but do I have a case or am I clutching at straws and what should I do please? I read I can only appeal a school place if she passed but think (not sure) it may be different if you have an EHCP? I don't know my options or if I have none or some? appreciate any advice please, thank you.