Secondary Admissions. Help!

[GrockleBocs]

We live just inside the catchment for School A. School A is a languages specialist school. Dd doesn't like languages and won't speak in class very much. School A has a very prescriptive uniform that has to have logo on every item.
School B is our next nearest school. It specialises in all dd's strengths. Their uniform is more generic. We are slightly out of catchment.
Dd has HF ASD, SPD and anxiety.
Last year nobody was admitted out of catchment to school B. This is a change to previous years.
School B have a great SEN provision. Dd wants to go to school B. She will not agree to any other school (not even private which we have grandparents offering finance) suggesting only Home Ed as a solution. We can't move into catchment due to change in circumstanes (long story).
School A's SENCO has not been available to meet with.
We do not have an EHCP and 'all schools can cope with autism' apparently. I need to get her considered under medical grounds I think.
Has anyone ever managed this for ASD related problems? I will appeal obviously if we don't get in.
Or indeed any other suggestions?!

[Polter]

You can definitely apply under any social/medical criteria but make sure you send evidence as to why that school is the best school for her. There's probably a reasonable chance you'll have to appeal and then you will again need to argue what that school offers that your offered school doesn't. I would start researching and getting evidence together asap. The admissions experts on the education boards are fantastic.

[GrockleBocs]

Thanks Polter. It's the evidence bit that's tricky for social medical. How do I prove she won't wear the uniform or will struggle with any oral exam etc? I've got a CAMHS referral but who knows when we'll see someone!
I had to appeal to get her into her primary school so I've been down this route before but she's already flapping about the school :(

[Polter]

OT and SALT assessments?

[GrockleBocs]

I've got descriptions of her SPD/Anxiety from observations by Social Comminications and possibly SALT in school. Good point. It won't cover all my points as nobody realises the epic difficulties and wasted money on finding acceptable items of clothing! It might cover her difficulty in speaking in a group esp. classroom.

[tartanterror]

polter has given you some great advice there. Do check the rules about who can write on your behalf for the social/medical criteria - there is usually a short list of acceptable professionals and they don't accept substitutes.

On top of that I would gather other things as polter suggests:
Would an OT report evidence the clothing problems? Is it sensory?
Defo ask the S&LT to write you letter about how a communication disorder is not compatible with a specialist language school for your DD.
Could your current school/senco also write?

Check with your local authority on dates for supplementary information. It may be possible to send in professional reports after the 31st Oct closing date - I think for addresses it is sometimes as late as January - which would buy you a bit more time.

Good luck

[GrockleBocs]

Thanks @tartanterror
I will check those avenues too. Our current SENCO would write and the SALT people do mention her sensory issues. Obviously not clothing though as I have her in uniform she will wear (the only non-jersey skirt she owns). School B would allow her to wear it.
They might also be able to reference her total failure in French so far. I have the parents evenings coming up to gather a bit more information about School A. They have to do two languages at GCSE which will be total waste of at least once GCSE.

[BarbarianMum]

Apologies if this isn't helpful but would grandparents help with a move into catchment? Likely to be a lot cheaper than private, long term. This is assuming that the change in circumstances is financial, obviously.

[StarlightMcKenzee]

I would submit a request for an EHCP immediately. It will get refused. There will need to be a tribunal on paperwork. 90% chance of a win. Ask IPSEA for help.

From your description of need it is likely that eventually, you will get an EHCP imo. Ask both schools for their exclusion data, and to tell you how many of those had identified SEND. Ask how many children left in year 9 either through a change of schools, a move to a PRU or through exclusion.

[GrockleBocs]

Barbarian no problem but not it's not directly financial. Dd won't consider private school anyway!
Starlight yes I was hoping to catch up with the SENCO last week but we had to reschedule.

I've asked her consultant for a supporting letter to try and get medical/exceptional grounds as the first part and I shall be onto Social Comms too. The list of acceptable people is very short.

[StarlightMcKenzee]

You don't need to catch up with the SENCO. When you eventually do, - tell her/him that you have requested an assessment for an EHCP. It is WAY better if you do it yourself for lots of reasons.

[GrockleBocs]

So the plan is that I will, yes but she's asked for a bit of leeway on timing so she can do her best with it for me. She will :) I do trust her.

[RueDeWakening]

When you ask for consultant letters etc I found it best to write to them, saying "please could you write a letter supporting our application for a primary school for X? As you know, it is the best school to meet her needs because of A, B and C..."

When I did this (for a primary), the secretary lifted direct quotes from my letter and included them in the one from the consultant, which I'm sure helped - as I knew most why we needed that school.

[GrockleBocs]

Rue ha, that was my cunning plan . I have it mostly written so he can c&p the whole thing :)