To think you only get a specialist school if you have a lot of money to throw

My son is at an independent special school. We didn't spend any money on solicitors or reports.

Some of it was luck, things were bad when we applied but things are even worse now. We had a couple of heads who were supportive.

Some of it was we both have the type of job that uses the skills needed to understand the SEND code of practice and follow the appeals process.

It's stressful.

Specialist school placement for my little one, has been since he was 2.5 as his needs are so great. No mainstream nursery/preschool could offer him a place and his EHCP was already in progress, he now has his specialist school as his named school in his EHCP.

We were offered it by the LEA when the NHS Great Ormond report said 5:1 class size

As it was the only specialist school in city was for dyslexia and I did not want to send DS 1 hour away each day or boarding school. He’s managed to get GCSE and scrape A Levels so done ok.

You don't need a solicitor. You can use an advocate, who will be significantly cheaper. I've just been through the process and still going through it and use an incredible lady. She's under Emma Hopkins Consultancy, and you can find her details on fb

I feel very lucky my DS with ASD stayed mainstream until the end of primary. He's been allocated a place at specialist provision which was my first choice for him. A local mainstream high school tried convincing me he would be fine there, despite not providing the EHCP stated 1-1 support and him having to be independent transitioning between every class which he struggles with in the same classroom 🫠 some people who claim to be trained in SEN should really not be there.

My eldest son went to one - no money involved. He has very severe issues, couldn't cope in primary, and an amazing SENDCO. He got his EHCP without issue and got his school place without issue.

My other son also couldn't cope in primary, slightly less severe issues, completely useless SENDCO (different school). He is now in mainstream secondary except he isn't because he cannot cope and hasn't been able to go in for months, 4th round of EHCP applications because all previous have been refused to even assess, I'm currently finding alternative provision for him myself and expecting and almighty battle to get funded provision that he needs.

I think maybe it's luck which professionals are involved. A good SENDCO is worth more than their weight in gold.

It is a real fight. So many specialist schools were closed down or reduced by this government. Its shameful that families are put through all this

I would have said no you don’t, up until the last year, but things have got so bad now, that I’d say having money for a solicitor will absolutely help.

I agree really. It is very hard. I did get independent specialist for my two. The first one I had help from IPSEA. The second I paid for legal help and it cost about 5000 plus cost of professional reports. You also need to pay for independent reports in many cases.

That type of place would really suit my DD. Nothing like that round here, though.

Nope, no money got my autistic ds a SS place. Years of fighting/writing/meetings/moving and appreciating the supportive people along the way did it.

It became the absolute top priority for many years and I still had to suck a bit up and sometimes still do. I don't think that part ever ends until we parents do.

You don’t need a solicitor. You need evidence. If you have to appeal, as many do, and you need independent assessments but can’t afford them and aren’t eligible for legal aid, Parents in Need can sometimes help.

My DS is in a special school. No lawyers. Offered a place by the LA. People talk about how lucky we are but I would give my right arm for him to be more able.

My DN has just got a special school place for September. He has only just started walking and is pretty much non-verbal. No money needed in his case. I think it's much harder when a DC has significant additional needs but not learning disabilities.

It’s an independent mainstream but mainly for mildly neurodivergent children.

Many parents do hire a lawyer but we didn’t. However, we did pay for a private SALT, ed psych, sensory occ therapy and we had a SENCO fully onboard helping us fight to get the school named on an EHCP so it’s fully funded including transport.

My nephew got a place in a specialist school as there was no way he will ever be in mainstream. His needs are complex.

We didn't pay. But I did phone/email/pester anyone and everyone until the council reluctantly agreed.

My experience is you need to fight for everything yes, but you don't necessarily need to spend on solicitors. We found the threat of legal action was often enough. My son has severe autism and local authority agreed he needs specialist but they wanted to send him to a one we really hated. We fought for him to go to the good one. It's absolutely not made easy and nothing leads me to believe they act in the children's best interests at any point.

Didn't cost a single penny. You just go through tribunal process to get type of school in ehcp. Obviously stressful and not easy but considering parents win 98% of the time I highly doubt they have solicitors. I wouldn't waste money on it. Evidence speaks for itself usually. If a child needs a specialist school it becomes quickly apparent

I don't have money to throw at a school, my eldest is in a school 45 mins away and he got a space due to his needs and his EHCP supported this, I called for his annual EHCP early in year R and said to get him out of mainstream, I think I was lucky. My second son not so much and his needs are much greater.

Exactly the same situation here. Ds is 12 and attends an independent specialist school fully funded by the local council. He has never been in mainstream.

you don’t need an education lawyer to go to tribunal, most people don’t, and most appeals are successful. If you’ve got any money to spend the place to use it is on expert reports.

Yes, DS in specialist school and we paid for a solicitor.

Well done NorthernChinchilla! What a great result!

We'd been to Tribunal twice before at assess and issue stage, and I did all the paperwork.
Every single school said they either couldn't meet her needs or were full, so we got an amazing tiny Inde. Still pinching myself tbh