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School not named on draft statement

5 replies

MooMummyMoo · 03/03/2014 14:43

Is that right? We have the draft amended statement and it all looks ok, apart from that in section 4 it says the school will be named on the final statement. Earlier in the document and on the covering letter it says that it will be a special school that will be named but the actual school hasn't yet been written in.

Just want to check that is standard practice and there isn't anything fishy going on?

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autumnsmum · 03/03/2014 14:51

That happened with us with the draft statement we said the sp school we wanted and it was named on the final statement

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lougle · 03/03/2014 14:59

The LA isn't allowed to pre-empt your decision on schooling. You have an absolute right to name a school of your choice and unless it is either an unreasonable use of public funds, unsuitable for the age or aptitude of your child (e.g. a gifted child with Aspergers requesting a Severe Learning Disability school), or incompatible with the efficient education of either that child or other children at the school, the LA has to agree.

In particular, the LA must not push a parent to accept a non-mainstream placement.

For these reasons, they are not allowed to name a school on the proposed statement. They must show you the proposed statement and ask you which school you'd like to name, even if you've had discussions verbally that a particular special school is suitable and they'd agree your request for it. They must wait until you say 'I want to send my child to 'x special school'' before they can name the school in Part 4.

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MooMummyMoo · 03/03/2014 17:29

Ok, great. Thanks both.

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RinkyDinkyDoo · 03/03/2014 20:39

I thought the school would be named on DS's amended statement as I phoned the SEN officer to tell her which one we wanted before she made the changes,and she said ok.
I phoned her again when we got the proposed to say it was blank. I filled it in, sent it back and then final version was sent to us with our choice typed on. HTH.

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MooMummyMoo · 03/03/2014 21:17

Thanks Rinky. Certainly on the submitted meeting notes (from the annual review) we mentioned the school we were choosing. So I'll respond to the draft with a couple of changes plus name the school again and hopefully it'll get added then. The couple of changes I want aren't contentious so hopefully we can get it all sorted and finalised.