Funding independent non-specialist school through LA - advice and recommendations needed

[Ratbag82]

My year 4 DS2 with HF ASD is at crisis point in his mainstream state school. He is bright with processing problems and struggles with change. His current school class size has increased by about a third and he cannot cope and is falling behind, expressing wishes to harm or kill himself, school refusing, has become extremely quiet when in school and is extremely unhappy.

We're looking to place him elsewhere but there are no suitable specialist schools in our area for his needs and other local state schools are similar in class size and resources to his current school. Instead we've been forced to look at private schools. I've found one which has intergrated OT, I think some specialist trained teachers and fantastic pastoral care and a smaller class size policy. It is not a specialist school but welcomes SEN kids and does really well for them.

It's a huge stretch for us to fund it long term on our own and I am considering applying for an EHCP and to name this non-specialist independent school as his preferred school in section I.

I know this is a long shot and we'll have a huge fight on our hands with LA but we're so low on options for him and deeply concerned for our DS2 and his mental health as well as his education.

Has anyone had an experience of this and can give me some advice and recommendations of expert witnesses and legal support? I'm about to instruct SEN Legal but would love to know of any other legal services people have found useful before I go ahead.

We live in East Sussex, son has HF ASD and is soon to be assessed (and likely diagnosed) for ADD. I'd love a recommendation for a good OT also if anyone can help.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[Ratbag82]

I forgot to say, we've been to tribunal before for my other son and successfully secured his funding but this was at a specialist school so although I have some experience of the EHCP/Tribunal process I have none for seeking funding for a non-specialist private school which I know is a massive task!

Any advice gratefully received xxx

[Ellie56]

Sorry no experience of SEN Legal. Our son qualified for Legal Aid and we were given Simpson Millar. The first time was good, the second time not so good, but I think this was down to the fact there are so many children being failed that they were taking on more and more cases.

Lots of helpful advice on the IPSEA website.If you're looking to start the EHC Needs assessment now you can apply yourself . Info here:

www.ipsea.org.uk/ehc-needs-assessments.

IPSEA also have an advice lines:

www.ipsea.org.uk/advice-line
www.ipsea.org.uk/tribunal-helpline

You have to keep checking for appointments as the volunteers put the appointments on themselves at all times, even late at night.

You could try these:
www.sunshine-support.org/

Marguerite Haye, the Head of SEND has a huge amount of experience and knowledge, and is deeply committed to Children with SEND.When she worked in our LA she wrote our son's EHC Plan and was instrumental in helping him get the specialist college out of area that he wanted.
They may also be able to help with the OT as they've recently set up their own assessment centre.

Also these: www.educationalequality.co.uk/

Evelyn Ashford who set it up, has spent 15 years fighting for her son, and knows education law inside out.

[Ratbag82]

Amazing, thank you so much Ellie56, I'll check these links out. It's such a minefield, I really hoped we wouldn't have to do it all again for DS2 but he's really struggling poor thing so the writings on the wall. Sunshine support and educational equality are new to me so I'm excited to see what they can do.

[alittlebitsocial]

Hi @Ratbag82

We are currently starting the process with our DD. She's in year 8 and in mainstream school but we don't feel her current school can cope with her anxiety. They tell her she's got an attitude and is difficult this is really starting to affect her, she is starting a time in her life when her hormones are all over the place, its hard enough being a teenager without teachers or TA's telling you stop crying and stop the attitude! She wouldn't go to school today and she was stressing about it all last night!

We have found an amazing independent school in Hampshire with a learning support attachment. They want to take her but we need to refine the EHCP first. As it's rubbish. They have been in contact with the LA but haven't heard anything yet.

Fight for what you need for your DS. I plan to go all the way for my DD education.

We have a DS in a special school and its outstanding, really meets his needs and I'm starting the move to secondary process this year
!

I will be interested to follow your journey, we can't afford the fees either. Have you considered bursaries? There are some companies that might help with certain circumstances if school can't help. We have applied for a scholarship placement that funds up to 50% off fees.

[sprongle1]

@ alittlebitsocial, I have sent a pm. Hope that's OK.

[canon2020]

"seeking funding for a non-specialist private school"

Might you be better concentrating on the placement and the suitability of that placement?

www.sossen.org.uk/admin/resources/website2.6.2.pdf is about choosing a school

[houselikeashed]

Just found this thread.
I was wondering the same. We gave up on state schools for dd and found the perfect independent school which she has attended with 100% attendance! She weekly boards, and is much much happier.
However, She is now in y10, but we have been hit hard financially by the virus and can't afford to keep her there for year 11. A real disaster.
Don't know what to do. She is already on a bursary - which the school can't afford to increase.

[Jediknight]

Have you considered crowd funding?

[searching4schools]

@houselikeashed
This is what we are looking at. We'd not considered weekly boarding before and my daughter had school refusal issues before deregistering at Easter. Wondering if the fact that you only leave home to go in to school once a week makes it much easier? Would you agree?
Does your daughter have an EHCP? A long shot, but perhaps the LA will consider funding if it is just for one year?

[Ratbag82]

@Canon2020 Our focus is and always has been about suitability of placement for our DS.

One of my sons main needs is access to smaller class sizes as he has processing issues. Where we live there are no state schools locally with small class sizes, the only ones that do are independent schools (things are complicated a bit further by him being in a bulge year)

He has had taster days at two schools and we have selected one based on suitability as it is the best to meet his needs. It is not a specialist school which would make the access to funding more straightforward. Ideally he needs a High Functioning Autism school but none exist in our area so the school we have selected is the next best fit.

This isn't about placing him in an independent school for the sake of it. Unfortunately many parents in this area have to make enormous financial sacrifices for their SEN children as state provision here is woefully inadequate, like so many parts of the country. So many parents, like us have to make the difficult choice to place their SEN kids in private schools and take the financial hit. I know lots of families who have sold their homes, remortgaged, taken out enormous loans, borrowed from relatives etc to cover the cost.

We really have explored all the school placement options and this is the best fit in terms of suitability. I have successfully sought funding for my DS1 in his specialist school but accessing even part funding for a non-specialist school is unknown territory for me, hence my need for recommendations.

[Pobblebonk]

SEN Legal are very expensive. I'm also not sure how independent Sunshine Support are: they seem to operate more as a referral source for people who are signed up with them. If money is tight, it's usually best to use it on good experts with experience of tribunal work, as the best solicitors in the world can't achieve anything without the right evidence of what your child needs and why..

The best starting point is information available through IPSEA, SOS SEN and Special Needs Jungle. SOS SEN have some good booklets on the assessment process, what should be in an EHCP, and appealing. There are also now some webinar recordings available through them covering similar topics. Even if you instruct solicitors, it's really helpful to know for yourself what the process is.