To be having second doubts about child starting mainstream?

[2021neverends]

Child has an EHCP and due to start mainstream in September. School originally said no they can't meet needs. As it was my preference the LA overruled them and now I'm doubting whether that was wise.

He has his review in June but I don't know if its just my anxiety.

He is just developmentally behind.

AIBU to be regretting my choice? What sort of things would indicate mainstream really isn't suitable?

Why would you want him at a school that doesnt want him?

What did educational psychologist recommended?

Are they giving him a full time 1 to 1 assistant?

Because his sister is there and also has an EHCP and I'm on my own so logistics are a nightmare. We would only get transport for specialist

The EP didn't really indicate either way. The school felt it was specialist school provision and that in mainstream he will be out more than he's in.

Staffing hasn't really been discussed

What were your reasons for choosing the school in the first place? Before they said they can’t meet need did you feel it was the right school?

I did but then I don't know if I am burying my head in the sand re his needs or not. No one ever really wants to give you unbiased advice when schools/la/professionals are involved

We went for special because we felt that in mainstream they'd spend half their time trying to keep her in the class and half the time taking her out.

Generally, if special school is recommended, it really is best, because it is more costly than 1:1 in mainstream and places are in very short supply.

What sort of things would indicate mainstream really isn't suitable?

If the professional reports from the EHCNA indicated your child needs things like small class sizes, a calm quiet environment, therapy etc which you would be unlikely to get in most mainstream schools.

Why did the school say they couldn't meet needs?

In my experience as a primary SENCO I have seen so many schools automatically say they can’t meet need. It’s sad but it’s true and rarely they have a good reason. What often happens is what is happening to you now, the parent starts to doubt or says I don’t want to send them to a school that doesn’t want them. Which is sad because that school might have been perfect. It happens so often I used to find it shocking.
Can I ask how they have been with your other child as they also have and EHCP?

What is the worst that can happen? it doesn’t work out and you have to change school. For the reasons you are giving, your daughter already at the school it is worth a shot. You won’t know if you are burying your head in the sand without trying it unless there is something screaming in your gut that this won’t work. I have been nervous with every school change my child with autism has had to make, nursery, infant school, senior and in the end he has coped fine and if he didn’t we would have made any necessary changes. I would give it a good try and deal with issues if they arise.

With kindness @2021neverends if SS has been recommended and you can get funding for it then I would take it with both hands. Specialist provision is the best fit for some children and it sounds like this is the case with your lovely boy.

I get that transport could be an issues. Could you arrange a different start time for dd to accommodate this?

@Notoriouslynotnotious

What is the worst that can happen? it doesn’t work out and you have to change school. For the reasons you are giving, your daughter already at the school it is worth a shot. You won’t know if you are burying your head in the sand without trying it unless there is something screaming in your gut that this won’t work. I have been nervous with every school change my child with autism has had to make, nursery, infant school, senior and in the end he has coped fine and if he didn’t we would have made any necessary changes. I would give it a good try and deal with issues if they arise.

The worst that can happen is that term one is an unmitigated disaster and all the special schools are full, so they have to limp on for the rest of year R until a space is freed.

DD1 goes to special school. She has a level of independence that would be impossible at mainstream school, not least because the site is secure, with CCTV of key areas. In mainstream she'd need a 1:1.

In our area the lea will automatically only give around 10 hours of 1 to 1 classroom assitance leaving child and school struggling the rest of the time.

I personally would push for special school as its much easier to transfer from special to mainstream much harder the other way round.

If school feels they cant meet child needs even though you have a child there already I'd listen.

I work in a school and I think you have plenty of time to make your decision. In my experience little ones do absolutely fine in mainstream. The problems tend to arise as they get older so you have plenty of time to test drive mainstream.

@Ellie56

They aren't happy he isn't toilet trained. They said things like total communication are only really viable in specialist. They said they feel his behaviour will be detrimental to other children. He has been in preschool 2 years and zero behavioural incidents. His only issue re other children is he can be quite unsteady and if he falls he has fallen on top of another child on more than one occasion and when preschool said this the school said he poses a preventable risk to the other children because of it.

@wowcherarestalkingme we are trying to move her to specialist, she has been on a part time timetable since day 1 and they weren't happy having her either. The actual staff are brilliant, the head seems to be an issue from the three years oldest has been there.

My feeling from watching various people over the years go through this dilemma, with decisions both ways is that generally if the child will cope at mainstream (perhaps with help) then that often is better.
However more children would benefit from special schools than are deemed eligible to go there. The children I know that have gone to special school have absolutely flourished, often having tried mainstream and struggled.

Please contact the likes of IPSEA or sos sen for advice

Then in all honesty it sounds like he would be better off somewhere else. If you are having difficulties with the school for your other child it doesn’t sound like the right placement. Are there any other schools in the area you would consider?

If they have your daughter on pt timetable (basically a form of illegal exclusion) please do not send your son to that school. The same will happen to him.

He is going to need full time one on one care to able to be in mainstream, especially if needing cleaned and changed? Do they have disabled facoties to do that?

Push and push hard to get both your children into a special school and get the education and support they deserve. Get legal advice if needed. There are specialist sen legal advocates.

Meet the pastoral team. I work in Sen team. Discuss his needs. Resources are thin in state sector. Make contact with his assigned key worker. In my school, kids aren't really helped properly. Make a plan b. Private school?

I don't know if he is getting 1-1 at all, his section F is really poor but I couldn't tackle two tribunals at once. I'm really overwhelmed with it all.

I teach in a special school, and every year we get children coming to us from mainstream schools who have said they can't meet their needs and it turns out to be true. The children have sometimes had very difficult times before coming to us, often on part time timetables and almost completely excluded from the class. However, in my job I do not see children it has worked out for as they will stay in mainstream, so I have no idea how often that happens.
I think the question to ask yourself is whether you think the school is going to do their best by him and welcome him - I personally wouldn't want my child somewhere where he is seen as a burden.

Hmm. With that attitude I'd have reservations about the school as well. And unfortunately, if section F is poor the EHCP won't be worth the paper it's written on.

When was the EHCP issued?

My daughter was due to go to mainstream but her echp would not explicitly state 1-1 support. That is not good enough. She is now at special school and is so happy and doing so well! I know now that there is no way she could have coped at mainstream, she is bright but very limited speech at 5. My son is in mainstream with 15 hours a week 1-1, he has an extremely high IQ so didn't qualify for special school. He struggles a lot more. If the special school would allow it, I would send him there in a heartbeat. Please do not try and squeeze your child into mainstream if it is not recommended. Especially without 1-1 support. That is so distressing for a child. Also, remember that in a special school your child will get individual work geared to their ability. In a mainstream class the teacher aims for the level of the majority of children. Even with an echp, without a 1-1 assistant, there will not be the resources for your child to get a robust education geared to their level.