EHCP SCHOOL.

[envy4]

Can a mainstream school refused to be named on a EHCP?

Can I ask OP, what is the SEN associated with your child? Does he use a wheelchair or have specific needs that they might not be able to support? Why have you applied for a school out of your LA?

I obviously don’t know your particular situation but there may be two issues at play here: funding and practicality. The school has to meet the first 6k of any additional costs associated with SEN for kids with an ECHP. That is crippling for most schools for whom funding is at crisis point currently. That might affect whether they are genuinely able to provide the care that the report suggests the child needs. The second I s practicality. I’ve seen violent, difficult children kept in mainstream when everyone knows it is destined to fail. In mainstream school, even with a one to one, it is sometimes impossible to accommodate severe additional needs, especially if they involve violent tendencies. Perhaps the school simply don’t think they can accommodate your child’s needs?

I don’t know whether they are legally able to refuse, but it makes sense that they would be able to if they are unable to meet the needs for either of those two reasons. And as a parent, I wouldn’t want my child at a school tha didn't feel they could meet my child’s needs either- it would be a self fulfilling prophecy.

With our case the reason stated for refusing was wrong as his walking was not a concern/dangerous in the context of the school grounds. They just didn't want him (we were not in catchment so wouldn't get otherwise) and thought they'd use that aspect.

They need to give a valid reason and you need to consider their reason. As stated above if they have already x number of pupils with SEN then they may not really have provisions but they must state this properly. Ours was starting reception (later from statistics we found out he was the only kid admitted outright with ehcp in his year) so not many kids in reception with EHCP, but going mid-year this may not be the case.

It's all about how clever the Senco is in wording the refusal

@tabbymumz he has ASD. No wheelchair or anything like that. Because we love on the boarder of two LA's. And the closest school to us falls in the neighbouring borough which is the one we requested.

Just pm you x

Mainstream schools are in a different position from others when it comes to being named in an EHCP. If parental preference is for a mainstream school, that preference has to be met unless placing the child there is incompatible with efficient education of other children, AND that there are no reasonable steps that can be taken to overcome the incompatibility. Even if the reasonable steps - e.g. employing a 1:1 - cost more than placing at another school, that isn't a valid reason for refusing to name the placement.

www.ipsea.org.uk/the-right-to-a-mainstream-education

They can only decline on the basis that needs require a special school or there is a risk to the safety of other children. In theory, anyway.

He doesn't need 1:1 support. Small group for him is fine and his EHCP funding band is good so they have more than enough to support him tbh.

Were reasons given as to refusal for other schools? Or did the SEN Coordinator just say they refused? They need to provide reasons so you can assess it. As and when the SEN coordinator comes back and if its a no, you can consider and draw up a robust reply.

Just a quick update. So school still hasn't got back. It's been 8 weeks. Every time I speak with the senas case worker she says she's trying to chase them up. She keeps sending emails etc .. no reply. The schools in the neighbouring borough. Ds is still with no support as the case worker can't finalise the EHCP due to the school still not getting back. Can something be done? I'm so frustrated and just don't know what to do!!!!

I would change to another school. they really don’t want him, and its another LA. its going to be messy. fit on paper and fit in reality are two very, very different things

I wrote a letter to the LA when my school was asked to take a child with an EHCP, but only because we couldn’t meet the needs of the child as required by the EHCP.

There was no lift in the school and the child used a wheelchair, so half the curriculum subjects would have been inaccessible, because there was no way of getting from the ground to first floor, other than stairs. The EHCP also detailed a particular therapy on a daily basis and we didn’t have a therapist in school and to ‘buy’ one in would have cost thousands per year to meet the terms of the EHCP. There were a number of other reasons too, all of which contributed to making the placement not appropriate.

As far as your question is concerned OP, it doesn’t sound as though your son needs such a concentrated level of support, so they need to explain fully why they say they aren’t able to meet his needs. The money could be used to support any adjustments that need to be made because of the ASD diagnosis, but that is what the EHCP is for and some things are perfectly possible to arrange with willingness. Ear defenders for a child who doesn’t like the school bell, leaving a lesson a few minutes early, a visual timetable, preparation for ‘oops’ moments for example.

I think you have to badger the case worker to badger the school for a response. And contact IPSEA as a PP has said.

Do you have an independent advisory service in your LEA it was my understanding a school had to accept a child if the school was named in the EHCP ?what does your local offer say ,you should be able to look it up on the SEND website for your LEA .

The SEN case worker has said it's been impossible to get hold of the case worker from the other borough if that makes sense. I don't think the school even knows about my child. The other LA are too busy dealing with their own cases by the sound of it.

My ds is already in a mainstream school given to us by the LA, he will cope fine in the other school. He will need support initially but once he's familiar with the routine and setting he'll be fine. I don't think the school will find it difficult to deal with his needs.