To refuse a "managed move"...

[MagersfonteinLugg]

on the grounds that the school they want to move DS to is too far away?

There are autistic children in every mainstream school in the country.

Most schools deal with it ok enough for it to be bearable for all parties.

Don't keep fighting this school that doesn't want him.

I would jump at the offer if I believed it was in the best interests if DS. However, they have previously informed me that the school they want to send him to has already sent one of their pupils over, so they have a space. As the school quoted " they owe us one". Which to me seems to suggest that they're not really fussed about what support DS needs, just that they have taken one of their pupils so now the other school can have one of their cast offs.

Also must add that, although its taken a lot of time and effort, at home we have managed to control his behaviour.
The present school just seem intent on pushing the blame onto bad parenting, eg, when they asked DS why he fell asleep in class he said it was because he was bored. The school claimed he was obviously not going to bed at the proper time, which is just not the case.

Does he have a statement? He sounds as if he should be entitled to some support.

If I was you I would tell them you will support a managed move to the right school but not to one that just suits them. Specify which school you prefer.

Have they said what they will do if you do not agree?

Your alternative is to move him yourself.

In my experience, managed moves are least likely to work where the child has SEN which are not being supported. Change for a child who has an ASD is very difficult to deal with unless the support is put in place to help him to settle.

I suppose my main question is should I play along at the governor meeting or kick up a fuss?

I think you should try it. It's supposed to be chance for a fresh start.

They might have better pastoral systems to help your ds

Round here managed moves are at the end of a long long list of efforts to help students

What have you been trying in partnership with the school prior to this?

I'd look for a school that would meet your dc's needs. His current school clearly isn't going to help.

Also from the schools point if view, it is a respite for their staff and the other pupils too which i know doesnt help you but may explain their swapping system with the other school. I dont think you can choose any school

Has an EP seen your son at current school?
What does your son want? If the school would better suit his needs id take it .If he would be in same situation different setting I'd complain.

Hmmm, I had a similar experience when my (autistic) son was younger, except he was also really violent. School's HT wanted him moved and we dug our heels in. School were forced to make accommodations for his disability and work with us to improve stuff. It worked. School got much more tolerant and helpful. He is now not far off a model pupil at high school.

You CAN change a school's approach, especially when you start muttering about disability discrimination, but it's hard. For me, it was about the disruption and trauma a change of school would have caused.

This doesn't sound right, there should be a proper assessment before any move, if your son has sen

www.education.gov.uk/consultations/downloadableDocs/Exclusion%20Guidance%20-%20Consultation%20Version.pdf para 17-19

If he has an autism diagnosis he comes within the definition of disability. Ask them what reasonable adjustments they have made for his disability, including taking specialist advice. Does he have a statement?

Useful info here

www.autism.org.uk/~/media/NAS/Documents/Living-with-autism/FixedPeriodExclusionsEnglandWales.ashx

Try contacting IPSEA?

Managed moves are normally a swap between schools.

The Idea is to spread the hardest pupils out amongst the borough so one school doesn't end up with all the difficult pupils.

Before the meeting I'd ring all the schools you prefer and find out if they have a place. If they do tell the govs that's where you're moving him to.

If they're all full at the govs meeting I'd concentrate on the transport issue and find out if it can be resolved. The lea may have to provide it (I'm not sure)

If transport was provided would you be happy to move?

Does he claim FSM (or did he in the last 6 years)? If so school will have more money to use to solve the problem.

You can dig your heels in and quote disability discrimination. But I can't see how that would be in your DSs best interests. This school don't want him. I can't see how sending him there is a good idea.

He doesn't have a statement but he has been assessed and formally diagnosed.
Present school have him meeting MATS once a week at school where he talks about his behaviour . They ask him why he behaves the way he does, he replies he doesn't know why, then they repeat the process a week later. Just seem to be going round in circles.
Whenever I have a meeting with school they always seem to want to focus in his behaviour at home. We manage his behaviour at home because we know what triggers him so can step in beforehand IYSWIM.
We have done everything the school have asked as far as possible; removed his games console, removed his iPad, made sure he is in bed at a reasonable time, etc. But it doesn't seen to have altered his behaviour at school. At last meeting they pretty much accuses me of not feeding him a healthy enough diet.
I have started to feel personally attacked and that all his problems are purely a case of bad parenting.

Is there a school locally you think would meet his needs better? Has anyone applied for a statement for him?

Which is why you need to move him.

It is this school which is the problem. Not him (or you!)

The vast majority of children with autism don't qualify for a statement.

Aside from his current school being in a good location, what are the benefits of keeping him there?

You haven't answered many of the Qs on here

Sorry to hear this the school sounds very unhelpful and I would question their advice about removing his iPad and games console. I know some kids with autism in my family find using tech a helpful way to destress. Anyway you need someone with experience of autism to advise you. About the move maybe he would be entitled to transport, if no public transport they may provide taxi. You could look into that.

I am shocked at the ignorance of this school. What have they done to relieve his stress levels? What have they done to make school more bearable for him. What understanding do they have of autism. 1 in 8 children have a diagnosis so he can't be the only one in the school.

I guess your choice is to stay and fight for his rights and work with the school too mould them into the kind of inclusive, accepting school you would like or move him to somewhere that is already like that.

One thing you may not have considered. With a managed move your son's file would have been taken to a panel and discussed. Based on that information, the school who have offered to take him Wi have done so because they feel that they have something to offer him that will help him. It might be worth ringing the new school to find out what they are going to put in place. You need to think very carefully about how you proceed. It is no good just deciding the current school.has been useless. The procedure to get to a managed move takes upwards of 18 months and your son will have had multiple interventions and exclusions. You need to be proactive to ensure his new start sees a change for him so that he gets the education he needs to build a life for himself post 16. Good luck.

A school 15 miles away does seem a poor alternative but is there something about this school's provision which is felt could meet your DS's needs? I wouldn't be kicking up a fuss to keep him somewhere that so obviously doesn't want him but if the other school sounds good could you try and bargain for a transport subsidy for taxis?

Sorry, which questions have I missed?
It's not a specialist school.
The other schools in local area are not specialist either.
IPSEA suggested statementing but when I talked about this with school they said he wouldn't get one as too 'bright'.
DS wants to stay at this school. I think moving to another school will just result in the same problems but different setting. But if they are determined to push him out then I suppose I will have to go along with it won't I?

You need to find another school, yes. Ideally you could do with a mainstream school with an inclusion unit. The schools that have this tend to be able to make alternative provisions for pupils with all sorts of issues. Have a look around the schools and be upfront about his past issues and what you think he needs. You might find that it is the best thing for him.