How do I work out the LAs costs of named school?

[KOKOagainandagain]

Sorry for yet another question

I have now received the LA additional information and (despite EP report) they have now accepted that part 2 does not adequately describe all of DS1's needs (their own experts agree with MS and DK and their SALT used different assessments and identified additional problems) and will be amended accordingly.

Part 3 therefore does not meet those needs and so they are now proposing either m/s 'access' class with 25 hours LSA (may need to be increased to cover break and lunch), programme devised by SALT/training staff etc, referral to autism outreach and outreach services for specific mathmatical problems, sensory integration and auditory processing or a dual placement of the above with a dyslexia facility on a 2/3 day basis for two terms and one term outreach in m/s. The LA named school is 10 miles away and the dsylexia facility is about 25 miles away. DS1 would travel by taxi without PA.

This is offer is not adequately s&q atm, provision does not actually exist and the deal-breaker for DS1 is the size/complexity of the school but it is obviously a long way from their original offer in the final statement, 10 hours with access to class TA with no travel costs, and must cost a lot more. How do I find out how much more? I know that they have submitted costs to tribunal but they have not copied them to me. Can my advocate request this?

Are they allowed to argue that any level of provision can be met from within the costings previously submitted? see below - wtf does this mean?

"In terms of local mainstream schools, DS1's attendance at the school would bring in pupil place funding (current AWPU of approximately £2500 per annum).

With regard to the provision of additional support such as learning support assistance, a funding scheme is in operation which provides schools with a whole school budget with High Tariff Needs funding for a small number of pupils with special educational needs supported at School Action, School Action Plus and for those with a Statement of SEN. These pupils will have the most severe and complex needs and will require an exceptionally high level of provision. There are 4 funding bands ranging from £700 to £6000 per annum. The majority of pupils will be supported through the school?s delegated budget. "

Obviously the smaller the gap between their named school and my preference the better.

TIA and apologies for the length

[CouthySaysEatChoccyEggs]

When you say 'Outreach services for specific mathematical problems', what does that mean?

(Interested for DD as I always thought and was told there isn't any specific outreach help for mathematics...)

Can't help with the rest, I'm sorry, but am very curious on this, as I'm about to apply for SA for DD...

[CouthySaysEatChoccyEggs]

Again.

[bochead]

Is there anything in the literature anywhere about how LA's will make the funding more clear to parents to fit in with all the local offer stuff & joint health, education and care plans.

At the moment I think all you can do is FOI requests to get the various elements and sometimes it's helpful to get friends to do it for you so as not to tip the LA off.

Couthy - Numicon seems to be very popular with many LA's and there will be someone somewhere they've trained. Might be worth contacting Numicon directly to ask who their liason is for your LA?

[CouthySaysEatChoccyEggs]

Is it just for primary? DD is in Y10, is 15, working on lvl 3C maths...

[KOKOagainandagain]

couthy - not just levels that are significant in terms of SA but just to let you know DS1 is 12 and got 3a in KS2 SATs although he cant do division or multiplication or tell the time. He also got 3c in his KS1 maths SATs.

Check out this www.stokehilljunior.devon.sch.uk/downloads/National_Curriculum_Point_Scales.pdf
Both progress rate and attainment are significant.

[KOKOagainandagain]

Key Stage 3

NC Level POINTS
A discount
D discount
B 21
N 21
3C 19
3 or 3B 21
3A 23
4C 25
4 or 4B 27
4A 29
5C 31
5 or 5B 33
5A 35
6C 37
6 or 6B 39
6A 41
7C 43
7 or 7B 45
7A 47
8C 49
8 or 8B 51
8A 53
EP 57

[bjkmummy]

How much does your preference cost and what type of school is it? Cost won't be an issue if you can show that the LA school cannot meet his needs. My LA wanted mainstream/unit at a cost of £18k - I won independent at 43k plus 29k transport! You need also to ensure all costs are factored in ie salt, OT etc - price absolutely everything up. In hindsight that was my downfall at mine if let that I didn't have the figure for everything. You need the transport figures as well. The tribunal will go through the figures so the LA should have told you. I got the figures - if the LA not forthcoming then get an order ASAP for disclosure. It's not an unreasonable request and the tribunal will raise an eyebrow as to why the LA are not being more open with you.

The awpu figure is the cost of any child at a school so for every child in the school the school get the 2.5 k - it's a bit more wishy washy re the figure for the additional support as they are not really telling you exactly how much the place costs - they are trying to confuse you with figures, time to ask some direct and straight questions. Email the La and ask them exactly how much the costs are and remind them that if they are unable to then you will ask the tribunal to order the costs release. It's a case of all cards on the table and the LA really shouldn't be playing these stupid games but we all know that they do sadly

[nightmaretime]

Is there a specific way of working out cost?
Our LA paperwork shows scribbling on a sheet of paper such as £60k, 70k etc, with no actual sums to show how the figure was reached.

[CouthySaysEatChoccyEggs]

DD was still on PIVAT at the end of KS1 - working on fine points of P1 on the p-scales. At the end of KS2, she was working on P6/P7 on the p-scales, so she has made progress. Thing is that progress was all made in Y7/Y8, and not anything since. So for two years she has been stuck at lvl 3c.