We’d been told Lucas had to move on to a new placement now he was 16. The problem? It didn’t suit him at all. He disengaged, refused to attend, and regressed almost overnight.
Despite repeated efforts, we couldn’t get the in-county provision to meet his needs. So began a whole new battle — trying to secure an out-of-county placement, which involved starting the process all over again.
I didn’t know at the time that most SEN placements only go up to 19, even though the law allows for EHCP support up to 25. That lack of information and transparency meant delays, refusals, and immense stress for both of us.
From understanding his entitlements to learning how to fight refusals, this was another lesson in how broken the system is — and how far parents have to go just to get what their child is legally owed.