Scottish parents - IEP's and out of catchment places

[wigglybeezer]

Does anyone have any experience of securing an out of catchment placement despite their child having an individual education plan (DS2, in P6, is bright but has dyslexia type problems with written work)?

I would like him to go to the same high school as DS1 but we live outside catchment, I have been led to believe that needing extra help in school debars you from an out of catchment place.

I would like to know what I am talking about before I broach the matter in person!

[BadPoet]

I am not speaking from a lot of experience here, but I'd heard the opposite - in that the only extra information that you are able to give on a placing request out of catchment is details of a child's additional needs/IEP. It certainly shouldn't count against him!

We are not at that stage (DD p3) but here there's 2 secondaries children go on to - the catchment one and the one that's out of catchment but everyone wants to send their child to. I'm led to believe they do a ballot but consider any additional needs/IEP first. We've been told (somewhat resentfully) that we'll have 'no problem' due to dd's ASD

Don't they have a policy for siblings?

[haggisaggis]

I think that is there is space they MUST offer you a place - IEP or not. I know when we were looking at moving I phoned the primary school I wanted the kids to go to which was not in the catchment of the new house. They said they would have no problem taking dd even although she is dyslexic with an IEP.

[wigglybeezer]

I should have said that the school is in another local education authority and I have been led to believe that he wouldn't get any input from the E-psych's if he went out of catchment (which his Ed-Psych at the moment thinks is terribly important!).

I have to weigh up whether being at a smaller, calmer, school with his brother but without a safety net of Ed-P involvement is better than being at our catchment school with one.

[shaz298]

Hi,

My wee boy just started primary school in an out of catchment area school and he needs full time + 1-1 hours and will have an IEP so it certainly can be done.

TBH we didn't even have to fight for any of the extra support either.

For extra support and advice you could contact Enquire (www.enquire.org.uk/). They are an organisation to support young people with additional needs and their parents regards education in Scotland. They are really friendly and helpful.

Good luck

Sharon xx