We've just found out, our daughter will have to miss either year 6 or 7. Help!

[chuffinalong]

Hi, my daughter has learning difficulties and possible PDA, a form of autism. After a very negative start to her school life, which caused all kinds of problems, we home educated her from year 1 until the beginning of year 3. She then went back to another school, but they started her in the year below, due to her learning difficulties etc. She then made friends and never moved up. The school have said that the LEA want her to move up but have always stressed that it's our choice. Because she hates change so much and is settled now in school with her own friends, we've never wanted her to move up.
Anyway, the other day, I phoned SENDIASS, the people who can organise for us to look at secondary schools for her and they made some calls and said that schools won't take out of year group, so she'll either have to miss year 6 or year 7! This did come as a huge shock. When I told the SENCO at school that she'd have to miss a year, at first she said, "not necessarily" I said that it was definitely the case, then she said "oh well, we did talk about this at her last meeting" Sounding quite defensive now. I said that we didn't and that I'd have remembered that! She then said "oh well, it's a new thing schools have bought in." After speaking to SENDIASS again, I know that it isn't new at all.
We have decided that she will miss year 6 rather than year 7, so that means that her application will be late, we haven't even seen the school and there are all kinds of issues regarding her Statement being changed to the new format and her needing an ed psych report.
This has come at such an awkward time as she is starting to isolate herself, doesn't want to be around people, especially children, hates noise and is very anxious a lot of the time.
She doesn't know about all this yet, and we're waiting until everything is sorted out before we tell her.
Does anyone have any advice to give me, about how to prepare her for the news/ shock? What to get organised etc? Thanks.

[mrstweefromtweesville]

I have no advice but I wish you and your daughter well.

[chuffinalong]

She's in year 5 now by the way. If it were up to the school, we still wouldn't know anything about this...

[chuffinalong]

Thank you.

[fastdaytears]

I know this isn't helpful but that does just seem ridiculous. Your DD has more than enough to deal with as it is. I hope someone can come along and say it's all nonsense and you can get this person who said that sacked (well, maybe not that)

[IrenetheQuaint]

Not convinced this is true, and it runs against the recent changes to allow children to join reception later. Have you spoken to the council/the schools themselves?

[chuffinalong]

Thank you. She does seem blooming useless, but hopefully she can see what a cock up she's made and learn from it?

[chuffinalong]

The SENDIASS lady has spoken to the school directly, then phoned me back.

[blueemerald]

Are you looking at mainstream or special school? With an SEN school (in my experience) year group will matter much less.

[Burnet]

I think you ought to fight their decision. It seems ridiculous.

[wonkywheel]

No experience of this but it sounds shockingly handled by the school! Can you talk to the head before making any decision, maybe even talk to your preferred secondary and explain the situation and ask what they think? If you put it to them that by skipping Y6 or 7 she'll be shockingly prepared for secondary they might be willing to support you and talk to the primary themselves?

[LIZS]

I guess the urgent issue now is that you would have a deadline looming to apply for year 7 entry. I'm not entirely sure the advice is correct though. There is now parental discretion for summer borns to start a year later at Reception age and stay with that group but not sure how that works for those already placed out of peer group. If you have a statement or the equivalent (ehp?) then you should be able to name the future school and maybe negotiate. Have you spoken to LA yourself?

[chuffinalong]

It is a special school for moderate LD's and autism. As it stands, there is even question over weather or not she can go, as her statement says severe LD's. They wouldn't usually even contemplate taking her, but the admissions lady looked at her file and said that she only just got severe and that it's been 3 years since that assessment, she's probably suited to that school. Her only other one is for children with severe, profound and physical disabilities. My daughter doesn't even see herself as having problems, so not the best choice...

[chuffinalong]

I have to fly to work now, but I'll look again in the morning, thanks everyone for your help.

[boobybum]

Hi,

You might want to try posting on the SN chat or children section for some advice.
I don't think your daughter necessarily has to miss a year if it is on her statement that her education is to be off-set by a year (although I think from what you have said this isn't currently specified on her statement but that doesn't mean you can't add it to her statement). I think you would have a strong case for arguing that making her miss a year and be moved from her friends would be very detrimental to her.
It would probably also be worthwhile for you to contact IPSEA for advice.

[ReallyTired]

I am sorry you have the shock of your daughter having to catch up a year. It may not be as bad as it seems, especially if she does move to special school. Lots of special schools have mixed aged classes and the size of school feel more like a cosy primary than a large mainstream secondary. Year 6 in mainstream is pretty hellish with SATs preparation and there is a lot to be said for skipping year 6.

[Racundra]

Whereabouts are you? That's nonsense, sheer bunkum about all schools do this now! I know schools in our area allow children working a year below to remain a year below (and thus with their friends) throughout all phases.

[ReallyTired]

If she goes into special school there are lots of advantages for being in year. For example if she does her GCSE at 16 and then goes to college she will be finished her education by 19. It can be harder to get funded for particular courses if she is going to be older than 19 when she finishes.

[ReallyTired]

A special needs secondary would cost stupid amounts of money.

[Italiangreyhound]

chuffinalong hi, I can't give you any advice on this as I do not know what is best for your dd. I would just say if you are not happy with the way you and your dd are being treated I would explore every avenue and I would get your local MP involved too.

Good luck.

[cece]

Have you contacted IPSEA?

[manicinsomniac]

I would try to fight this if I were you. Missing a whole school year isn't ideal for any child, never mind one with additional needs.

At the school where I work we have a few children in every year who are out of year in one direction or the other. We are independent but some transfer to state part way through our school or when they get to the end of it and I have never heard of any of them having to go back into their correct year.

[PandasRock]

This may depend on which Lea.

When dd1 (ASD and learning difficulties) was small we were given the choice of delaying her entry into school (she is a late August birthday), BUT we were told that she would, at some point have to make that year up, as there was absolutely no chance of being out of year in secondary school in that LEA.

OP, I am sorry this has happened to you. It was our worst nightmare, and we ultimately chose another path because of it.

[auntyclot]

You can absolutely fight this and if I were you I would keep her where she is and spend the next year fighting the decision that she will miss year 7 - it gives you time to kick up a stink, also to see if the admission guidelines change. Have you contacted the Summerborn campaign? They have a facebook group - flexible school admission for summerborn children - where people are very clued up and you'd get good advice there from people who have fought these decisions and won.