Pls help-deferring school place ASD

[Aswad]

Apologies for posting here but I feel completely lost and overwhelmed
My daughter’s almost 4, completely non-verbal, limited understanding, not potty trained and doesn’t have a great appetite (will often refuse to eat at nursery)
I don’t think she is ready for primary as she will struggle with such a massive change and the bigger environment. She currently attends a small nursery.

1. My understanding is this: we HAVE to apply for a school place by the 15th of this month otherwise we miss the deadline and she gets any school with a space?
2. We can defer but the Head can turn this down?
3. There are some local primaries in my area with a resourced provision (specialist units within the school for children with ASD) but we’re talking a handful of places. What happens if I ONLY apply for these but I don’t get any as we’re not close enough?!
4. She doesn’t have an EHCP but we’re waiting for an assessment (waiting list here is 2+ years)
5. Do you think I’m being foolish by deferring her place? She seems settled, it’s a smaller setting. I know she’s not getting 121 but I’m not sure she’s ready for the academic side of things

I really, really appreciate any input, no matter how small. This is all so mind boggling and I feel like I’m drowning in hopelessness Thank you.

Seashor I would agree with you for some children and I have seen prem summer borns really struggle... but this child has significant challenges which may well be better unpacked in a (good) school.

Please don't assume that applying for a primary with a resource base will get you support from the base. You would likely need an EHCP and apply specifically for these places.

A head is far more likely to agree a deferral for a child with SEN because there is a more obvious reason. Saying that, there is a risk she still won't be ready next year, but it would give you longer to get an EHCP and investigate other suitable provisions. Although I'm bot clear if the consent to defer would 'transfer' between schools.

Are your current nursery able to support with an EHCP application? Do you have any special school options to consider or just the resource bases?

If you want to defer you need to agree it beforehand. You can apply for Sept 2022 entry but the place would not be held over to Sept 2023, even if the head agreed, you would need to reapply. At this stage you may as well submit an application and see what happens by allocation day in April. You can decline at that point or even later. Have you or preschool applied for the EHCP?

How far did you get? I was in exactly the same position
my daughter is 5 in January and is non verbal autistic as well as global mental development delays sleep paralysis and pika
up until last month she wasn’t diagnosed we had the appointment with the consultant and she rushed the panel meeting to the next one for diagnosis other wise it was 18-24 months
but she was so concerned about her going to a main stream school she wanted everything in place to allow a special provision
now even with the official diagnosis there is still no places. She was given a main stream and although this school has a very good senco it doesn’t stretch to meet her needs, we had a meeting at nursery with the school and they explained although they would never turn a child away and they do have extensive help for children with additional needs they still feel they wouldn’t be able to meet her needs. And even when they school year starts the educational health care plan wouldn’t be in place in time so she would be chucked in a class with 30 odd other children and the same be expected of her as the others (this gave me nightmares) Bare in mind she’s nearly 5 and developing at 8-20 months she too isn’t toilet trained because what 8-20 month child is.
she’s also a terrible eater and has to persistently have foot to pick at she won’t sit and eat because it’s meal time
she need 1 on 1 if she finds a opportunity to escape she will she has no danger awareness
so I deferred her she’s staying at nursery and now I’ve done that it’s opened up funding to nursery so they can provide her 1 on 1 for the whole time she’s there I can have more sessions or less sessions as well as being able to put her in during the 6 week holiday for a break which I wouldn’t have been entitled to normally without paying
they are in the process of doing a education health care plan but this takes 20 weeks
I’ve also decided that if they still haven’t found her a special provision school by the end of the deferral I’ll be keeping her at home until they do.

I'm really hoping OP joined the FB group flexible school admissions for summerborns. There is some great work being done on there, they have changed the landscape for summerborns wishing to start at compulsory school age in reception. The OP (as is common) was given some faulty information about it all being up to the head. All state schools need to follow the admissions code.
Sorry that's not much use to you Sonjane.

Hi @Sonjane

the request to defer her was accepted. The letter says we have to apply again in September for a reception place and I’m hoping this is correct as chronologically, she should be in test 1. I don’t have much faith in my LA so I anticipate a fight ahead re this

I’m about to apply for an EHCP as now I know that deferral has been accepted.

there’s no way she would have been ready, DD sounds identical to yours!

The good news is that the EHCP, you can request three schools and the LA has to consider this. it’s great that they both have the extra time in nursery, they need it!

I’ve had professionals use scare tactics and give me false information so knowledge really is key here. Join all the FB groups and read, read, read! It’s overwhelming and very depressing but we have to fight for them.

find out who your SENDIAS organisation is as they’ll be able to offer support if needed.

good luck! ❤️❤️❤️

My daughters has been accepted didnt take long she can stay till December then as from there I don’t know I just feel I get a break in the battle for a while
it’s exhausting isn’t it what upsets me and infuriates me is how much we have to fight for them, it isn’t fair there is so little help and support and people that actually know what to do I was told point blank no by the specialist teacher about deferring her it was NOT a option at all which turned out to be a crock of poop.
I hope you get where you need to be and your daughter gets the diagnosis she needs