Raising a formal complaint at school

Have you spoken to the local SENDIAS ?they might be able to help and has he been assessed by the Ed psyche ?
As they can say where he is educationally and what provision might suit him
I know a few people who have secured places at private specialist schools ,but it's not been easy as they tend yo cost £££,s and LA,s are reluctant to pay for it so will always look for cheaper options

Do you have local SEN groups ,get talking to other parents ,they often have a wealth of information.

You have to.prove that the school you want him to go to is the only school that can meet his needs
Easier said than done I know

A PMLD school is not going to accept a child who doesn't have PMLD my son goes to one all the kids have significant and complex needs.

In terms of why it might be - the funding LAs send often lags the date at which the school pays which cam be a problem. It sometimes doesn't cover the cost of the service and finally schools allocate funding to other bits of the plan when the notional budget has already gone.

But I very glad it looks like the AP is now on.

The OP's situation isn't unusual - the LA has agreed to fund Alternative Provision but for the school to source it and make the arrangements. Clearly this school isn't one able to do that, which is why I (and a few others) have said to push back at the LA on their Section 19 duty, and cut the school out of the alternative provision discussions.

We moved DS3 from 1 independent special school to another at Yr7 transition and it hasn't worked out. He only ever attended for 2.5hrs a day and zero since February. My eldest is 19 and started school with a Statement, so I'm not exactly new to the world of LAs and schools, but getting alternative provision in place has not been successful. I've connected with many parents in my area in a similar position. Even those that the LA has agreed to fund AP for, get stuck in the awful matching system our LA uses with their approved providers.

I'm going way off topic now, but to the OP, forget the school, use the IPSEA resources re Section 19 and also push for an early review of the EHCP asap. Again the duty is technically the LA's, it doesn't need to be the school starting the AR process, the LA can do it.

I want them to use his funding to put in place AP for the time he is not in school.

Is’t that the LAs responsibility rather than the schools? How would the school pay for the TA that has to support your child while in school if they spent the money on AP? It’s likely that they have to employ the TA for more than 2 hours a day because no one would take the job otherwise.

And while you could try and push the current school to provide better/more provision in the mean time. It sounds like they really don't want to and you probably won't get anywhere with them. I concentrate your energy on looking for a more suitable alternative as soon as possible.

@Ricecakesaremyjam, I think you do need to look at an alternative school. From what you have said about your son a placement within a unit attached to a mainstream school could work well for him. You may not have found them a good fit when visiting but they are often much quiter then a main classroom and will adjust the level of teaching for individual students.

I may only have experience of these units at high school level but they do have a total mix of students. They do access the main school site and some students get integrated back into the main school if appropriate. These students do get the opportunity to sit exams when they can as well.

@Heronwatcher that is something the OP has posted about on other threads. As I understand it, this thread is about AP whilst she goes through the process of securing another school placement. It doesn’t have to be one or the other.

Thankyou for the clarification.

I understand OP visited and didn't like what she saw. I can see why a school would refer anywhere in order to get rid. I can actually understand that and it is going to get worse probably with the resource problem we have.

Maybe this in between provision that OP wants and it looks like resources funded for, is better for her child. There can be real disadvantages for some imo being in certain specialist places. And mainstream in it's current form isn't right either.

The mentality of- well behaved conformists here and naughty apes over here - exactly as posts often feel on these threads, is not truly in touch with the nuances here of each individual.

Agree that all schools are different but what is missing here is the sense from the OP about what school she feels would be right for her DC. For me the priority should be the OP finding 1 or 2 schools which definitely can meet need and then going through the various steps needed to get them named on the EHCP.

Complaining to the current school governors just seems like a waste of time if the OP has accepted they are unlikely to be able to meet need.

Do you personally know this mother and child as it sounds like you are a parent or staff member at the school because of your remarks? You shouldn’t be contributing to this thread if so as it is a conflict of interest.

@Swiftie1878 sadly, it isn’t uncommon for DC to be unlawfully, informally excluded. OP’s DS is by no means the only one.

Oh wow! If you aren’t that person, then it seems like this 2 hours per day of schooling is a bit of a ‘thing’!
Have you checked to guidance given with the EHCP? Does it suggest what your child is able to cope with (in terms of hours etc)?

Not all the scandals in independent SS have been residential placements, and some of those that have been offer day placements as well. Just like with other things, some are brilliant and some are not.

Parents are not awarded 1:1 for their children. The child is assessed by professionals and the provision is to meet the child's educational needs. Funding is a separate process between the school and the LA.

The OP had given up her job, but also how could she take a school hours 1:1 job when her child only attends 2 hours a day and has no other provision in place?

Which is the actual point of the thread; getting alternative provision in place so that he can have a full-time education. And apparently the LA has already given funds to the school to arrange the alternative provision, on top of whatever funding they have for the school 1:1.

I think you are referring to residential settings.
I have worked in and visited numerous special schools and my son attends one. They bear no resemblance to what you are describing
In a PMLD school they will have onsite speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, specialist activities such as rebound therapy, often a hydrotherapy pool
Not to mention staff who are highly experienced in supporting PMLD learners.

@AmIHumanOrAmIAYeti then SEN law where you are is different. OP is in England and therefore action by the school/LA/her needs to be based on English SEN law.

Legally a child cannot be denied a place in a mainstream school because they feel they are unsuitable.
The school cannot offer her a place at a specialist school, only the LA can.
This is the school trying to force her hand.
However, if the LA are agreeable to a change of placement to a PMLD school I would give that serious thought, they won't do this lightly and the special school will be far better placed to meet OP's child's needs.
With PMLD particularly, the physical environment and therapies on site at a special setting are likely o have a massive positive impact.

I’m not in England.