My little boy didn't get in to the SEN school

[HighHopes59]

My son is 5 and due to start school this year. He is being assessed for ASD currently. Unfortunately, he didn't get in to the SEN school due to too many applicants and other children having more severe needs. He is verbal but not conversational yet. Can make his wants and needs known and is starting to put words together and has a heap of echolalia too. He's made great progress recently and I'm really proud of him. He has his issues though and I'm struggling to picture him in a mainstream environment. The school are being super supportive at least and it is attached to his current nursery (which he loves). Some stories of hope and positivity would be really appreciated for this worried mama 🙏❤️

My friend started this website to help find SEN schools, resources, etc. It is based on parent reviews. Don't know if it will help?

https://senvisible.co.uk/

Tell me you don't have the first clue about neurodivergence, without telling me you don't have the first clue about neurodivergence.

@HighHopes59 I could have written your post when my son started school. As it happens, he is currently thriving. It won't be suitable for him forever, but its been the total opposite of the car crash I had envisioned it being.

A supportive SENCO and a robust EHCP have been crucial though.

Can I label you? As ignorant?

Ffs if hes being assessed for aSEN school there are obviously some quite significant disabilities !

My son was labelled as you put it at three and a half and he's nearly 14 and not fine he's severely autistic and non verbal your ignorance is astounding.

I had this issue when my daughter started school several years ago. She has autism and there’s no way she would cope in a mainstream environment (she even attended an SEN nursery). Has your child got an EHCP? My daughter did which stated that she pretty much needed 1:1 support and the mainstream school they wanted to put her in (she didn’t get an SEN school originally due to lack of spaces) admitted they couldn’t provide that which was going against the EHCP which I think is actually illegal. Anyway, I had to get my local MP involved and record every conversation I had with everyone involved (including the headmaster at the SEN school) so no-one could go back on their word. It took months of fighting but in the end she’s never stepped foot in a mainstream school and we got an SEN place pretty much straightaway after all of that and she never had to miss any school because of it either.

Appeal and if necessary reapply. Good luck.

Do the SEN school do any outreach to local mainstream schools? Our local SEN school provides this to some children who are in mainstream but need high levels of specialist support. I would take a see how it goes approach and if the mainstream school isn't working out, will you be able to appeal with evidence from the school?

Does the EHCP specifically say your son needs a specialist school environment? If so, you can make a major fuss if the LA seek to place him in a mainstream school, because they will be in direct breach of their statutory duties. Talk to SOS SEN about it.