Moving from private to state

[Catanddogmake6]

I was wondering whether anyone could help me. DD has severe language delay and also ADHD (but bright) and is currently Yr3 in mainstream private school with a 1 to 1. I think her current school are about to suggest "this is not the right place for her" although she is keeping up with the work. Having become frustrated at the mainstream private sector, I think we would consider moving her to the very good local state school with specialist unit. However, I am stuck about how we go about it. She is not statemented, although we have reams of reports, so how would we try and get her into the local primary with specialist unit? When I discussed this with the local council, a couple of years ago, they said they would offer a place at any school they could find a space and then work out what she needed. Obviously we want to work out where and what she needs, make sure it's in place and then move her. I'm sorry if this is obvious but I'm a bit stuck. Thanks in advance.

[madwomanbackintheattic]

Have her paediatrician write to the LEA, in tandem with you calling the school you have in mind and asking them about entry procedures. If you haven't actually visited the school or unit, that would be my next plan, because you might take one look at it and realize that your dd would not fit in. Make sure you are fighting for the right thing.

It is often easier to get places out of round in primary schools, but unlikely there will be a magic specialist unit place she could slot into as parents will have been fighting for those places since school entry. But if you have all of the paed reports, SLT reports, and school reports from her current setting, it's a good base to start asking the questions. I'm not sure how it works in a private setting, but I assume you also have three years worth of IEP/ IPP or similar. All of this evidence will be helpful for assessment and to see whether the specialist unit is necessary, or if your dd would be better placed in a mainstream classroom with some 1-1 as she is currently. This may take some time to sort out, and is unlikely to be perfectly in place when she is moved, however long you leave it.

Find out who your local Area Inclusion Officer (or whatever they are called locally) is on the EA, and call them. They 'may' come out and visit the current setting, but it very much depends on local working procedures (I have had one that did). Discuss with them the local assessment procedures and work to get the ball rolling.

Good luck anyway.

[Catanddogmake6]

Thank you madwoman. Good advice. Think mainstream school with 1 to 1 would be sufficient. Academically she's doing well at the moment - it's more the general day to day bit, paying attention, participating in netball, sitting through long assemblies and Carol concerts etc. It's just we have 2 local primaries - one with a specialist unit and one without. I think she'd be better in the mainstream section of the one with the unit as whole school better equipped to deal with SEN.

Zzz - not sure. Depends how badly the meeting on Monday goes. I think into a school is all we are trying to do. I would just prefer the school that has the unit.