COPRODUCTION MEETINGS
A Coproduction meeting is a non-statutory meeting to share views, concerns and ask questions about your child or young person's draft EHCP.
They are usually virtual with the EHCP draft being shared on screen.
The LA must allow parents/carers a minimum of 15 calendar days to review a draft EHCP draft and share their thoughts.
If there are significant changes you feel need to make, and/or you have a lot of questions / things you are unsure off, you are entitled to ask for a coproduction meeting with your EHCP coordinator / SEND officer to talk through everything.
When the LA sends you a draft EHCP, they will send a letter at the same time, on this letter it should give you the details of how to request a coproduction meeting, and the timeframe.
No - it is optional. You can choose to request a coproduction meeting, or you can choose to have written email discussions about the draft.
You, an LA officer (usually your EHC coordinator / SEND Officer sometimes a manager if you have specifically requested an officer who has the authority to make decisions), the nursery/school/college setting if appropriate.
You all go through the draft EHCP and discuss various points. This could be queries you have sent in advance or queries that you raise on the day.
The LA may or may not agree to your requested amendments.
Sometimes the LA will seek further clarification from the professionals who have provided advice that the LA have used to write the EHCP.
If the LA officer has agreed to make amendments, they will write them up and issue a new draft.
If they need to speak to other professionals or need authorisation to make any of the requested amendments, they will give you a timeframe to get back to you. Once the draft has been written they will issue a new draft.
You have 15 calendar days to review the draft, if you are happy with everything let the officer know and then they will issue a final.
When a draft EHCP is issued, Section I - School placement - is left blank. This is a statutory requirement.
If the LA do not agree to make your requested amendments or you are still not happy with the EHCP, you will have the right to appeal.
When final EHCP is issued, you will receive a letter, that lays out your rights to appeal. You will need this letter.
You have TWO MONTHS from the date of the final EHCP / letter to lodge an appeal with the SEND Tribunal.
See SEND TRIBUNAL AND THE APPEAL PROCESS for further information and guidance.