In this week’s episode of The Autism Mums Podcast, we’re talking about something that so many families raising autistic children will recognise - the exhausting and often disheartening process of dealing with the local authority.

This episode is an honest look at how hard it can be to get what your child needs and how important it is to stay organised, persistent and strong.

Key Takeaways

Keeping on top of it all: Parents and carers are often left chasing reports, updates, and decisions just to keep things moving.

You Can’t Assume Progress is Happening (unfortunately): If you're not following up, you're at risk of falling off the radar.

Options for Your Child: Parents are frequently kept in the dark about available options regarding alternative provision and specialist schools

Travel Expectations Can Be Unrealistic: Specialist schools may be far from home, making logistics overwhelming.

Change is Needed: Better communication, transparency and supportive systems would ease the burden on both families and staff.

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Transcript

[00:00:00 ] Hello and welcome to

the Autism Mums podcast. I'm Victoria. And I'm Natalie. We are two sisters

raising autistic children who know the joy, the challenges, and the everyday

moments. This is a supportive space for honest conversations, practical tips,

shared strength and expert advice. Whether you are celebrating a win, surviving

a meltdown, or just trying to make it through the day, we are right here with

you.

Join us as we share the ups, the downs, and everything in

between parenting autistic children.

Victoria Bennion: In

today's episode, we're gonna talk about the challenges that so many families

face when navigating support through the local authority for their children. We

are gonna talk about the EHCP delays to the mystery surrounding alternative

provision and specialist schools.

If you've ever felt like you're fighting an uphill battle just

to get your child what they need, you're not alone. We are sharing our own [00:01:00 ] experiences, frustrations, and the lessons

we've learned.

There's much to say. Okay, you go.

Natalie Tealdi: I was

having a think about when we have had to deal with the local authority and it,

and it started off with the EHCP process. And then. There was also alternative

provision as part of that when the school placement was breaking down.

Victoria Bennion: You

can come across dealing with a local authority before you get to the HCP stage.

If your child isn't attending school, , you can be put in touch with inclusion

officer and ask to attend regular meetings. That's what happened with us

Natalie Tealdi: In my

experience it has involved lots of chasing up. So with various reports you need

to gather for the HCP and making sure it's all on track. And just to paint the

picture, when you have a child that's struggling at home, they're struggling

generally with school home they don't yet have.

A diagnosis. So you're trying to learn everything you possibly

can about a [00:02:00 ] SD and you're dealing

with daily meltdowns. They're being sent home from school. So you've got all of

that going on. And then on top of that, you need to deal with the local

authority and they're really frustrating processes.

Victoria Bennion:

Yes.

Natalie Tealdi: We

were looking at alternative provision. For our child and. I found that really

frustrating because I asked for a list because I wanted to have a look at what

the options might be myself, and there's quite a lot of secrecy involved and

I'm not really sure why. So I wasn't able to view a list even though one

obviously exists.

So I had to do my own research and I contacted these places

myself because we were going into a half term. That is usually a really quiet

time. A lot of people take holiday during half term, so it's hard to get hold

of anyone at the local authority at that point, so you're trying to progress

things, but I was just trying to do what I could, so I made my own inquiries,

found out that there [00:03:00 ] were a possible

few placements for my son.

Then we go back to school. We go to a meeting and I'm told the

council have done their own inquiries and there are no placements available,

which is not what I found. But at that point, because I've done my own

research, I was able to say, well, I've spoken to this place, this place, and

this place, and they all say they have a place.

Um, so you know, that's frustrating. So they then go back and,

eventually we found somewhere, but. It's that added.

Victoria Bennion: You have to be on top of it.

Natalie Tealdi: Yes.

Yes. And I just think there should be a better way. And I, I know so many

stories from other parents it's standard, isn't it? And there seems to be a lot

of staff turnover, staff sickness, as well as the usual annual leave. I'm not,

I'm not saying they shouldn't go on their annual leave.

Victoria Bennion:

It's shocking though, because I don't think you would see this in other [00:04:00 ] industries. For example, private sector. I

had a query with my child, and I needed to speak to somebody fairly urgently

the day that they broke up for the Easter holidays and. When I finally got

through to speak to someone, I was told that there was no point in me ringing

again to speak to someone during the East holidays. The person I needed to

speak to was on long-term sick and nobody else was there.

So apparently they take two and a half weeks off. And there's

no cover. I couldn't run my business like that. , I just had to wait, that's

just one of those other frustrations. Do you think that you could maybe tick

something off your list and you can't,

it's an added layer, as you said, when you're dealing with all

this. Another thing that I've come across is that you think something is

approved or something is done, they've said that's fine. And then nothing

happens. Just an example we'd been promised tutoring support., It took quite a,

a lot of correspondence to get to the point my tutoring had to go to panel. I

was told it was approved. And I was told that the [00:05:00 ]

tutors would be in touch two months later. nothing still being chased,

Natalie Tealdi: Oh my

goodness.

Victoria Bennion:

It's just another added layer that if parents aren't managing it. Along with

managing everything else, it's something that's, you know, realistically isn't

going to happen.

Natalie Tealdi: It's

another thing that you have to keep on top of, isn't it? , I was making weekly

phone calls with our contact at the local authority just to check in, and I'm

sure she really did not like having those phone calls with me. But it was just

that I felt that if I didn't, we'd drop off the radar and then nothing would

happen

you just have to keep on to get what your child needs. 'cause

at that point, your child is often struggling so much that you just need

something sorted out for them.

Victoria Bennion:

absolutely. And then weeks and months in their life, that's a very long time

and they're going without the support that they need, but there seems to be no

hurry. I.

Natalie Tealdi: And I

don't really understand what goes on there, but I'm sure improvements could be

made to [00:06:00 ] processes if they could work

with parents, collaborate with us, treat us like, you know, intelligent human

beings. I. I'm sure they could set up systems where they can track eh, HCPs and

we can log in and see a process.

You know, see, okay, that part's been ticked or they're still

waiting for that. Maybe I could chase that person to help it move along, rather

than just being blind.

Victoria Bennion: I

also think there needs to be more transparency

Natalie Tealdi: And

also with, specialist schools as well. Why is there not a list available so

that we can have a look to see what possible schools might be good for our

children,

you know, why is that a secret?

Victoria Bennion: I

know you're completely blind, aren't you?

Natalie Tealdi: I do

wonder if it's because of financial reasons, because they cost different things

and they don't want parents just plucking the most expensive school, is it to

do with that? I don't know, but I really do think it should be more accessible.

Victoria Bennion: If

your child isn't coping in mainstream, you are completely at sea. [00:07:00 ] With what happens next? What does that

look like if you have a child that's needs something different? Because when

you're in the mainstream school sy