To be put off a school by it's uniform?

[SnugglyButterflySnuggler]

I know I probably am UR.

DD is 3.4 and we're applying for schools for her. Ready for her to start next September. She has a few SN so even though technically we have a choice (she has an EHCP) we actually don't as there's only 2 primaries schools (out of 6) in our town that are willing to take her with her specific issues.

The closest school to us that would take herI hate the uniform. It's a state school but they insist on blazers from the January of reception year all the way through to year 6. No pinafores or trousers for girls, skirts only. No shorts for boys only trousers. No polo shirts for anything other than PE, full button up shirts and ties. It just seems so formal for such young children. It's an oversubscribed school so it looks like the parents don't agree. I just can't imagine trying to battle DD into a shirt and tie everyday. The website says children are only permitted to remove blazers if a teacher says they can, even the local high school isn't that strict! (HS has blazers but they don't have to be worn at all after Easter and up until then the individual child is allowed to choose when they take it off) This is actually our closest school even if DD didn't have SN, so this is likely were we'll be allocated.

So AIBU to be put off a school by it's uniform, and is there anything I can about it? I am going to put the other school down as first choice, but I don't think we'll get it as we're just outside of it's catchment for the last 3 years and SN in catchment come above SN out of catchment for that school

ASDismynormality sorry but that’s simply not true. EHCP provision must be delivered, and the responsibility lies with the LA, regardless of how much they try this nonsense about delegated funding and ENF. If it’s in the EHCP then there is no need to apply for ENF, and any tribunal will find the same. Please please don’t buy into this rhetoric, it’s unlawful and only serves the LA. The law is the law.

( and I’m guessing you’re in Surrey or Herts!)

All schools have to find the first 6k themselves but it is already included in schools' budgets (even though many schools seem to be either ignorant of this or hiding the fact).

Then of course the EHCP usually includes a request for more funding to top this up.

There does seem to be an uptrend of schools doing what the OP has experienced - saying no when a parent makes contact - presumably in the hope they won't be named. I've also seen a thread of the reverse - a school being very positive and encouraging but saying no when the LA made the formal approach.

As I understand it, with an EHCP you name the school you want and unless there is a v good reason why not, you will get that school. You shouldn't even have to apply using the standard admissions process and list your choices in preference order etc...there is a separate process for children with EHCP (my nieces/nephews all have EHCP and this is what happened for them - perhaps different in different parts of the country? I would check the process with your LA)

I don't have kids and won't ever have them but always said if I did I would never send them to a school where the girls couldn't wear trousers.

YANBU

EHCPs don't come with funding in my area, schools can apply for exceptional needs funding for for example a 1-1 but they still need to fund the first £6000 (13 hours) from their own budget

The first part of this cannot be true, because no local authority is exempt from the law. It is correct that schools have to fund the first £6000 of any support required from their delegated SN funds, but if the actual cost of support is above that, the LA has to fund it, it has no choice - so it would be pointless (and illegal) making schools apply for it separately.

Absolutely Ceto.

The amount of misinformation regarding funding for EHCP is shocking.

It is correct that schools have to fund the first £6000 of any support required from their delegated SN funds

What ceto said - clearer than I put it. They alrwady get bundles of 6k in their SEN budget to cover the children whonneed it even without an EHCP. It seems some schools would then like to discourage SEN kids from enrolling so they can reappropriate that 6k.

Worriedobsessive. Yes I'm in Herts!

See how I knew?

As both Ceto and I have said, it’s nonsense, don’t be taken in by it. The law applies to Herts Cc too whether they like it or not!

Obviously avoid. Sounds horrendous. Girls forbidden from trousers and boys from shorts? Who’d want a school with that level of nonsense?

I'm in Surrey. Can i ask how you knew pp was in Surrey or Herts?

Heidioftheps because only a couple of counties try and pull this “EHCP doesn’t come with funding” shit. Herts and Surrey are particularly bad for this, but thankfully the Law will prevail!

Thanks worried. It doesn't surprise me unfortunately.

Hi Sorry meant to come back to this but been busy. What I meant by it not affecting her behaviour was that I don't see her kicking off because of fabrics as a tantrum, it's part of the condition. However her conditions don't affect her behaviour in other ways, she's quite a quiet child, doesn't lash out when she gets frustrated but will take herself off/away from something that's upsetting her but will go to a specific place she's told to, so at Nursery they have a "quiet corner" which she takes herself off to where she'll then be spoken to by a member of staff and helped to join in again. So a School could tell her to go and find the SENCO or go to a specific classroom and she'd go.

EHCP states:

1. She has 7.5 hours she's in Nursery 30 hours a week of 1-1 time to work on communication and signing
2. She has a quiet and secure space to take herself off to when she gets upset/overwhelmed
3. She is regularly changed and asked if she needs changing regularly still in nappies by her Key Person or 1-1 (two diff people)

Not sure where funding comes from for Nursery but I've never had any problems getting what I need for DD. Will definitely get the uniform added. Nursery isn't named on EHCP purely because I didn't think I needed to name them, will double check about naming a school.

I was definitely told to apply through the normal channels and add to the additional information about the EHCP, I queried it with the council when first told and that's what they said to do. Apparently if they need it they'll ask Nursery or me for a copy of the EHCP.

The LA is required by law to name a placement in section I of the EHCP. Are you sure the nursery isn't named? In fact, are you sure you've got an EHCP?

The council must have an EHCP copy surely already? Isn't the statutory assessment team who handle it all part of the council?

When is your annual review? Sounds lile you need someone from statutory assessment to be there to help make sure you get all you need on the EHCP. You will need it adjusting to reflect the number of hours your dd will require once she's in FT education.

I could have named the Nursery if I wanted to looking through the forms but I didn't so will definitely get a specific school named.

Annual Review is February 2018.

I'm only going on what the council told me when I called them about it, they will ask for a copy of the EHCP if they need it.

It's not a question of whether you could have named the nursery, the point is that if you have an EHCP the local authority had to name a placement in section I. What have they put in there?

What should happen before February is that the council should consult you about your preference for schools, then it should consult the schools in question, sending them a copy of the EHCP as part of that process - it's not up to the school to ask for it, it should be automatic.

They have to consult before February because the statutory deadline for amending the EHCP to name the primary school is 15th February 2018. I would seriously contact the case officer in the SEN department as a matter of urgency and ask them what their procedure and timing will be for consulting you on schools before complying with that deadline. And do it in writing, querying it if necessary with the head of department if they come up with any more of the bullshit which you seem to have been fed to date. Also double check anything they tell you with SOS SEN or IPSEA.

So a School could tell her to go and find the SENCO or go to a specific classroom and she'd go.

It's pretty unlikely school would be able to accommodate that. Not many primary schools have a SENCo who is always available and they are very unlikely to let your DD go unaccompanied around the school. An area in the classroom may be possible but the school are going to need to plan for it. You're also going to need a TA who is trained in the communication and signing, plus the personal care (nappy changes etc). The school is going to need more notice than just via the standard school admission's procedure.

I would really urge you to speak to SOS!SEN or IPSEA. I think the EHCP is going to need amending to get it nailed down to meet your DD's needs and I really wouldn't delay on getting that started.