Stammering and primary school admissions

[ChocolateMama]

Hello, more help please! Still trying to sort out primary school application...

My son has speech disfluency (largely stammering) and received speech and language therapy from our local authority for this.I also liaise with the inclusion co-ordinator at his nursery and so I guess he is in Early Years Action Plus.

My question is, I have identified a really good primary which has an outstanding special educational needs policy and has been recommended by the Inclusion Co-ordintor at the nursery. My son does not have a SEN statement, but would the fact that he is receiving speech therapy through the borough help our application as otherwise we would only have a small chance of getting him into the school?

Also, it says on the application form about supporting the application with additional letters etc? Would the fact that he is already on the councils radar count for this?

Any help would be really really welcome. Sorry for the long post.

[gladbag]

Different LEA's admission policies do vary slightly, but for the vast majority you would need a SEN statement to make any difference to your priority in the application process. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

Do check with your own LEA though. If you look on their website there will usually be a phone number to contact the Primary Admissions Team direct, and they will be able to advise you on exactly how it will work in your case. Good luck.

[mrz]

It wouldn't be a priority in my area I'm afraid as at any time half my class are receiving or waiting for SaLT referrals .

[MumNWLondon]

I would be surprised if this counts as a SEN - the people who i know who have got statements for children are for really serious medical conditions eg cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, autism, muscular dystropy etc.

[mrz]

Definitely would not get a statement for a speech difficulty such as a stammer I'm afraid.

[reikizen]

The only way you can know for sure is to look at the school's admission's policy. Most have SEN (statements only though) at the top and then distance, siblings etc further down. Even if he had a statement I'm pretty sure it would have to identify that school as the most appropriate one to make any difference. In my experience you can include additional letters but if you don't fit the admissions criteria and the school is oversubscribed you won't get a place. You could always appeal of course.