to be allowed to visit this school before I send DS there?

[cakedup]

We have recently moved and therefore applied for a place in a local school.

I was able to visit my first of choice of school and speak to the SENCO, they were happy to accommodate. I tried to arrange a visit with my 2nd choice school but was told they were too busy and I should wait for the official tour. Unfortunately my 1st choice school had no places but I was offered my 2nd choice.

When the school called to offer ds a place, I asked them if I could visit the school and speak to the SENCO before I accepted a place. DS is severely dylsexic - he is 3 years behind his peers - so it's really important to me that I know the school can accommodate him.

I was told that I couldn't visit the school as they were too busy (again). There is an official tour at the end of the month but I am requested (by the school admissions team) to accept the place before then. I was told that I would visit the school as part of the induction but this would be AFTER I accepted a place.

I asked, could I then, at least speak to the SENCO over the phone? I could practically hear her eyeballs rolling and she said she'd try but couldn't promise anything.

I've never had to change DS' school before so this is all new to me.

AIBU to want to visit the school before accepting a place? It seems like a no brainer to me but maybe this is not the usual thing and I'm being too demanding??

Academies can handle their own admissions. Some choose to and some use the LA for admissions. The school you describe did not seem like any school I know and I just wondered why their "gate keeping" was so well drilled and not welcoming. I had the impression they were keeping you away and wondered why they would do this. They have met the admissions code by letting your DC have a place, but are not being reasonable towards you prior to the start date. I can see no reason for their attitude other than to keep you at arms length or drive you away.

I'm a primary school teacher and the senco. What you've experienced isn't right, but as pp have suggested, you may have just come up against a rather 'overzealous' secretary... Try to get the contact details for the head, senco, teacher or whoever and by pass reception. Do you mind me asking which local authority you're in?

One more go then try a governor. (A much more hopeful route in a maintained school than an academy.)

But...Are you sure you want a place there?

I had this experience at our local school.

When I was PG with DD we moved here because the school is (supposedly) the best in the area. Consistently Outstanding Ofsted etc.

DD went to a lovely little private pre-school and the guy who ran the school suggested that we didn't send DD to the local outstanding school and instead look for a smaller school, he didn't rate the 'outstanding' school at all.

Anyway, we decided to look at 4 schools including our local outstanding school. Our local school was the ONLY one that refused for us to look around it until the 'official tour'. I don't want to see a school that has prepared everything in readiness for a tour!!! I wanted to see a working school with all the good and bad that goes with it to get a real feel. So, in the end we didn't bother looking at it at all and didn't put it on our choices.

DD is doing brilliantly at the school we did go to and other than the drive (the local one is in walking distance), I don't regret our decision at all.

DD's first TA (she was just helping out for a few weeks) used to be an outreach teacher and visit all the local schools to discuss their provision for SENCO and ensure they were doing what they should be doing. The head of the 'Outstanding' school apparently told her that she didn't want any children with special needs at the school and pretty much told her that if there was a way she could get them out, then can she do it please!!! The woman was shocked and told me that I'd definitely made the right decision not sending DD there.

I've been trying to call the SENCO again but the line is constantly busy.

NotAWhaleOmeletteInSight I'm in Barnet.

hattyhatter I do feel that if I wrote to the head, which is what I feel like doing, he would be obliged to make all the right noises, but unless he can give me a reasonable explanation as to why I've not been allowed to visit, then I would be inclined to refuse a place based on their attitude. I thought it might be a good school for SEN as they have the Pathways program for children with autism. Not sure if that makes any difference to what support they offer for dyslexia though.

Wow Letustryagain. Unfortunately I do feel this is what I'm up against. DS has been going to his school since he was 3. In all that time, the head teacher never once enquired about the welfare of DS, and even when I'd approach her about specific issues she would be slow to act and would need chasing up. Then she heard we'd moved, and for the first time ever came up to me in the playground asking to speak to me about DS, because she was 'worried' about him. She then basically encouraged me to change school as the journey was too far and it would be an easier transition into secondary school for him. My arse. She basically jumped at the opportunity to be rid of DS because he is expensive (needs lots of support) and she doesn't want him bringing down her SAT stats.

I just called and spoke to the receptionist. She said she had passed on my message to the SENCO but that the SENCO is very busy looking after her pupils with SEN. She said she can't 'make' her call me, she can only pass my message on. I managed to get an email address for the SENCO but was told to use the school email address for the head teacher.

So I'm thinking to email the SENCO, express my concerns and see what response I get. I was thinking to cc the head teacher but probably be best if I don't, as I want the SENCO trying to impress him.

Ok, the SENCO just called me. She was a lot more helpful and did not dimiss my concerns. She asked me lots of questions about DS and the kind of support he's been getting, but did not say anything on what they could offer him.

She said it's usual to accept a place first, and then to be given a tour by the head teacher and they've never done it the other way round before. I told her I didn't want to accept a place before I knew they could offer DS the support he needs, and she seemed to totally understand that. She said she'd be happy to meet me, discuss DS' needs and give me a tour herself. But that she would need to OK that with the head.

She is going to get back to me about hopefully meeting her on Monday.

Yikes, they really try their hardest to make you feel like you're asking for something above and beyond! Shocking attitude!

She said it's usual to accept a place first, and then to be given a tour by the head teacher and they've never done it the other way round before.

That is bizarre. Without having seen the school at all?

On a slightly different note, please please get your child an EHC plan. They will often tell you that you will never get it as, frankly, councils can't afford to have too many children with EHC plans. If your child is 3 years behind he needs his support to be set in law which is where the plan comes in. You can start the process yourself, you don't need the school to do it.

I have just got an EHC plan for my 3.5 year old daughter who has a speech disorder who is only about a year behind in speech but average in all other areas. I was told by EVERYONE that I would never get it. But I persevered and I did. You can definitely get one, trust me. You will find that your child gets much better SEN provision.

Yes. Apparently I am the only parent in the history of that school that wants to look around the school before accepting a place.

Thanks for that Piratepete1, it is very encouraging to hear. My SENCO told me it wasn't even worth trying as I'd never get it, when I told him if we could please still try he agreed but never got back to me, even when I would remind him. I just thought I'd have a stronger chance if I applied with his help. He (and the Ed Psych actually) also implied that an EHC plan would not make much difference as the school were doing all they could for DS anyway. I also contacted someone at SEND about this and she told me that if the school feel that they are offering adequate support and DS is progressing, it would be unlikely that the LEA will agree to it.

The important thing is do you feel as if the school is supporting your child well? They need an EHC Plan if your child needs more support than the school can provide. Do they have a specific dyslexia programme running? Does he have one to one support? I got support from the Nuffield as it is the centre of excellent for speech disorders. I just asked the GP to refer us there (on NHS) and travelled the 3 hours to London. It was completely worth it as, after they did a complete assessment of DD, they suggested what support she needed. Both myself and the nursery realised they couldn't offer this so it gave good grounds for the ECH Plan. Is there a similar centre for dyslexia? It might be worth a phone call to the Nuffield who might suggest somewhere. I have always found them to be very helpful.

The important thing is do you feel as if the school is supporting your child well?

How can OP possibly answer that? Her DC doesn't attend yet and she has been allowed through the door to even SEE it yet

Oh I see you're advertising for Nd are you Pete? Helpful.

In all honesty, I have always found "is your child getting enough support" a hard one to answer. It's all relative isn't it? DS has been at his current school since he was 3, I don't know any different. He has had support though - 1:1 sessions, TA help during class, laptop to use, etc. however I don't think he would have got all that had I not asked for it. Despite all that, he is still so behind .

I've done as much research as I can, I'm in touch with dyslexia organisations, I've even conducted a dyslexia awareness workshop at several schools including DS' school. The only thing I haven't done is hang out on the SEN threads which I plan to do next!

To be fair PiratePete, a year behind at 3.5 years of age in an area like S&L is quite significant as it impacts on all areas of development.

Nobody can tell you cakedup that you won't get an EHCP -it is up to the case officer to apply the legal tests to the evidence you/school supply.

However, I would wonder what support you think your DS needs and how expensive that support will be? EHCPs are awarded when the cost of provision for the child exceeds £6000 per year.

The question will be whether the provision your DS needs is more than £6k pa. That's around 12-15 hours of TA time.

Get the prospectus and call the SEN governor/ chair of governors and ask if they would show you round as the staff are too busy, and you want to be sure that the school can meet your son's needs, explaning that he is expected to start shortly.

missymayhemsmum thanks. I've had a look on their website/prospectus, there is a list of governors which includes Staff, Parent, Community and LA (whatever that is) with no contact details so I'll have to look into that.

So I haven't heard back from the SENCO who was going to try and arrange for me to visit today. I'm pretty shocked by their incompetence tbh.

I'm just wondering if it's worth pursuing now. Not only has this put me off the school, but it's still half hour away on public transport (although I do need to try out the route myself).

Meanwhile DS is suffering because a) he is hating the hour long journey to school and back and b) because of the uncertainty of whether or not he is staying, no SEN plan has been set up for him which I normally do with the SENCO at the start of each year.

DS has been off most of last week with a stomach ache. I took him to the docs who took a urine sample. But then he was absolutely fine all weekend, only for the stomach ache to return Sunday evening, so I'm thinking it's psychological?

Wonder if SEND are able to help, might email them anyway.

Do you have any other options, except the old school and this one, cakedup?