Does receiving SALT count as 'exceptional social or medical need' when applying for a primary school?

[Guitargirl]

DD goes to nursery at a school which is not our closest primary. We are applying for a school place at the same primary but as we don't live that close we are unlikely to get a place on proximity to school.

DD was assessed in July 2009 as having a speech delay and was referred for SALT within our local authority SALT service, they have just signed her over to the school SALT and she now goes to a daily language group within nursery.

My question is on our school application would receiving SALT within that school count as 'an exceptional medical or social need?' DD does not have special needs and doesn't have a statement. If I approach the school SALT or Local Authority SALT for a letter of support are they going to think we are being cheeky!?

[mrz]

It wouldn't in my LA.

[PatriciaHolm]

Given that SALT can happen at any school, and is not specific to that particular one, I would doubt it, sorry.

[activate]

I'd write "Communication difficulties requiring speech and language therapy " and of course approach SALT if you want to get in the school then an SEN puts you to the top of the list for state schools

[admission]

SALT would not in most Local Authorities be considered to be exceptional medical or social need. The words that are usually found in the admission booklet are that few applications fall within this criterion, so for instance in my LA there were about 2000 primary places, 30 applications were received under this criteria and only 2 were agreed. One related to the pupil's ability to only walk a very short distance and the other was in fact related to a parent's social needs.
If you are in touch with SALT then ask again about the possibility of a statement of SEN. My guess would be the they will say that your child does not warrant such an assessment but that would be the only other way of guaranteeing a place at your preferred school

[BetsyBoop]

Usually for the "exceptional medical or social need" category you need to have a reason why that school and only that school can meet your DD's needs.

As PatriciaHolm said, this is difficult because SALT can be done at any school.

However there is nothing lost by trying.
To stand the best chance you need to identify reasons why this school would offer advantages to your DD in terms of helping her speech delay, that would not be available at any other school, and get letters from the relevant professionals supporting this.

It is important though that supporting letters say "In my opinion school X is the most suitable school for Mrs Guitargirl's DD because of....", and NOT "Mrs Guitargirl believes that school X is the best for her DD..."

[BetsyBoop]

x-post with admission

I agree that a statement is definitely the way to guarantee a place, but I would also agree with admission that it's probably unlikely/not needed based on what you said in your OP.

[Guitargirl]

Thanks very much everyone for the advice!

[Panelmember]

Only just seen this thread. In our LEA, receiving SALT would not be seen as an exceptional need unless it could be demonstrated that the school was uniquely placed to meet the child's needs. As other posters have said, that's pretty unlikely.