To think the local authority can shove it up somewhere..

[ToastyCat]

Hi all,

Sorry to post here, but SN children don't really get many replies, but I just need to rage.

My DS starts school in September - he has a dignosis of Autism, a rare chromosome disorder, global developmental delay, hypermobility, and low muscle tone.

He can not walk, he's very limited verbal, he's still in nappies, he can not dress himself, put his shoes on etc he overstuffs his mouth when feeding, limited diet. Becomes very distressed in groups of people, can be aggressive if space is invaded, and other things that aren't fun.

He has an ECHP in place, and the local authority have decided that a mainstream school can meet his needs even though all the mainstream schools we've visited have said they absolutely could not and if he goes to mainstream school we're looking at heavily reduced time tables and they'd pretty much just be babysitting him.

It's absolutely disgusting, and I'm not sending him to a mainstream school.

I know I can't appeal until they have named a school, which I will absolutely be doing, but is there anything I should do in the meantime?

Thanks all.

I'm so sorry you're going through this, it's so stressful. No advice but wanted to send a hug and support x

Thank you.

I'm just so mad and whilst I appreciate costs, and limited spaces and whatever else, but I just can't see how they've come to this decision.

It's not in the best interest of my child. I suspect it's to save money really.

is the EHCP up to date? Did EP or OT spell out on it the needs of child (that can only be met in specialist school?). is it only placement that needs Changing on EHCP?

its standard that mainstream is offered only.

have u annual/emergency review done recently?

appeal, it’s possible LA will back down b4 tribunal, but agree its a nightmare and hugely stressful

have you identified the school you want? Does child meet criteria? Have u asked SEND team to consult?

good luck,

And yes it’s always to save money, but also SEN places are so high in demand! LA force schools to provide ‘specialist provision’ onsite, but it can never match what specialist schools provide

the problem is that there is no money in LA's to fund SEND demand. So everyone gets less than they need. But Brits hate paying tax for other people's benefits so that is where we are.

This is very unfair on everyone involved - your DS, you, the new school staff and the students too.

Have you looked at any SEN schools? Look at independent as well as LA schools. State to the LA what and SEN school can offer to meet his needs vs what a mainstream school can (can’t) offer.

Make it very clear that you will appeal of a mainstream is named in the final EHCP. There is a such a shortage of places that in my LA that rarely get offered without appeal as so parents appeal meaning they save spaces for them.
Do not accept being on a waiting list for an SEN as they are meaningless, places are allocated based on need and usually parents appealing will be allocated before the waiting list children.

Fingers crossed the LA see sense and you don’t need the stress of appealing.

Have you got a social worker or OT? If so, I’d be getting them on the case.

No, we don't. It's never been suggested.

We have neuro paediatrician, speech and language, physiotherapy, specialist teacher, educational psychologist, and senco at nursery.

His ECHP was finalised in August, so there is a review for Febuary.

It's been said on there and in further documents that a specialist setting would be beneficial, but I don't really know how it all works.

Your poor little boy being denied a school place.it's absolutely disgusting.

Have these people actually met your child or even set foot in a mainstream primary school.

I teach in Reception and Year 1 and we wouldn't have the facilities to provide the basic care for your son, never mind teach him.

We have a number of children who have EHCP's in our school and 1:1 support for a couple of ours a day but they honestly would make more progress in a SEND school.

It makes me so angry that these children are not getting the education they deserve, I hope it gets sorted OP.

What do the expert reports say? Any chance that all consulted MS schools will say they cannot meet need?

And really sorry you are going through this. It's absolutely disgusting and criminal what happening to children with SN in this country. Sadly, it won't improve under Labour and their obsession to increase inclusion.

I would ask the LA to finalise Asap so you can lodge the appeal. Waiting times are about a year so hopefully, he won't be out of school too long .

It's so bloody tough.

My dd attends mainstream, its a heavily reduced timetable, and I have to be on call the whole time due to her various health difficulties.

The council also provide a certain amount of respite funding for dd, however they have cut every single service it can be spent on so the funding is technically available, but unusable.

No advice Im afraid, just solidarity.

I am sorry you are going through this. It's so unfair on your child.

I am not surprised you are cross. My LA area often places children with simikar needs to yours in mainstream due to lack of places.

@ToastyCat

If your child is due to transfer from nursery to Primary school this year, the LA should have reviewed the EHCP last term as the Final EHCP naming the primary school legally has to be issued by 15th February at the latest. This is to allow time for an appeal.

https://www.ipsea.org.uk/moving-to-a-new-phase-of-education-with-an-ehc-plan

You should send this letter to the LA informing them they are in danger of breaching the statutory deadline.

https://www.ipsea.org.uk/letter-to-la-when-it-has-or-will-breach-the-deadline-for-reviewing-and-amending-the-ehc-plan-in-advance-of-a-phase-transfer-template-letter-12

Once you have your Final EHCP either naming a type of school or a specific school you can appeal.

If you have reports saying a specialist setting would be beneficial, that is too vague and woolly. They need to be much more specific. Eg X requires a specialist autism specific setting with class sizes of no more than 6 and staff with at least 2 years' experience of working with children with autism.

When is your child 5? Is there any possibility the nursery would keep him for longer until you get a suitable school?

And if the mainstream schools are talking about a part- time timetable, this should form part of your evidence for a special school. All children are entitled to full time education and part time timetables are only supposed to be used in very exceptional circumstances and for a short period of time.

www.ipsea.org.uk/faqs/part-time-timetable

@TankFlyBossWalkJamNittyGrittyIAmFromAMidSizeCity

Your child should not be on a part time table as that is unlawful exclusion.

Get your documents ready for appeal so you can submit it once the LA name mainstream for phase transfer. Have copies of SALT report, OT, ed psych, physio, paediatric reports etc all as evidence ready to go. Research now the local Sen school you would like, ask to visit and whether they can meet needs then you can ask the LA to consult them as your parental preference. The sendist tribunal do try to prioritise phase transfer appeals when it's just the placement being argued so you hopefully get a hearing before September or the LA will likely concede if you have all your evidence in order. Hope this is helpful.

This is so upsetting to read. You can clearly see yourself that mainstream school can't meet his needs, and I imagine most schools would agree. And yet they want to send you off into a situation that will work for nobody - your DS, the staff or the other pupils. It makes me so cross.

It's insane and it's infuriating, but sadly not uncommon. I know so many people (myself included) who've end up home educating because councils have no money to provide our kids with the support they need.

She can't cope with full time school as things stand, when she's in school I have to be within a 5 minute radius as they call so much as well.

I've went down every avenue to sort something out, but it's just the state of things atm.

I home school part time and she's in school part time.

@Ellie56 has posted excellent advice. The LA needs to finalise by 15th Feb, not only just start the review process in Feb.

@TankFlyBossWalkJamNittyGrittyIAmFromAMidSizeCity you deciding to flexi-school is a valid choice. However, if you don’t want to do that, the LA has a duty to ensure DD still receives a suitable full-time education under section 19 of the Education Act 1996. If you haven’t requested alternative provision (as well as part time school or instead of if school isn't appropriate), you can, using one of IPSEA’s model letters. If you have requested such provision but the LA has refused, ignored you or are delaying, you could look at a pre-action letter and JR if necessary. JR may also be possible for the social care issues depending on the specifics of your case.

Have you also requested an EHCNA? The school shouldn't be constantly calling you to collect either.

Appeal, don’t let them send him to mainstream because getting your child into placements for specialist schools in year is much harder (no spaces etc)

Have you found a school that is suitable? That turned out to be our issue. We have a special school which was for children with very severe needs and everywhere else was mainstream with a designated provision or mainstream with a 1-1.

My friends ds is similar and she has a private SN school close to her which was suitable for more moderate ASD and the LA eventually agreed to pay. Near us there's only one SN school and again it wasn't a good fit. So we had to go mainstream with the extra support, it's certainly not perfect but is the best fit available.

Obviously LA will only offer you state schools but you may find there is nowhere that is a good fit. Mainstream with good 1-1 support may be the best you can do.

This. There’s no money for SEN schools and no one wants to pay more tax. What’s the solution?

Did you visit specialist settings and identify one which you felt was a good fit for your child. Has that school stated can meet you child's need and has places?
A parent can name a specific school as their preference, this can then only be declined if the school is full or cannot meet need, or if LA refusing to fund.

Obviously LA will only offer you state schools

Not always. Independent schools (mainstream and specialist) and NMSS can be named in EHCPs. Many have to appeal for this, but there are a minority of cases where parents don’t have to.

Also, if it isn’t appropriate for the provision to be made in a school (SS or MS), there is EOTAS/EOTIS.