Moving ASD child to a different school

[Ricecakesaremyjam]

DS 5yrs diagnosed ASD/ADHD. Has an EHCP, full time 1:1 funding but since starting at mainstream reception last September, he has never been allowed to stay for more than a morning. Never even stayed for lunchtime playtime. EHCP not being followed. Had conversations with SENCO about him needing more support and in agreement we will seek this. Feel like he is being babysat rather than actually educated. His annual review is next month but I’m set on moving him on asap. What is the process? Do I contact his case worker ahead of this to fill her in? I’ve never actually spoken to them as they change constantly and so I’m unsure if they know they’ve been funding 1:1 support for a child who’s never been allows in school more than a few hours. Another thing troubling me is the SENCO has several times referred to him attending a PMLD school nearby , this is absolutely not his presentation he is academically able, sociable etc but autistic and struggling in his current school where to be honest he just isn’t receiving any proper support, he just gets sat in a separate room with some Lego for the few hours he is there. my wish is for him to attend a mainstream with an ASD unit. I’m worried about the influence she could have on next steps for him if she gives her opinion to my choice of school’s SENCO and they could then refuse to take him off the back of this? Any advice appreciated! Thankyou!

My child is a completely different age to yours however, I'd urge you to go for it.

After the past three years of trying to get my 13 yr old daughter with ASD's needs met, I finally won at tribunal to get her moved on Friday. The school she will go to is mainstream with an ASD unit attached. It's innovative and inclusive.

ETA: she's also academic and would never have fit in at a specific SEN school.

Whats a pmld school?

Where I am we have two completely special schools and then lots of mainstream primary schools with a class specifically for kids with autism- they range in ability and have a ratio of 3 kids to one teacher - is that something you'd prefer?

I'd get on with the ehcp coordinator and explain that the school isn't meeting his needs x

Congratulations on getting her the right placement, i know it wasnt an easy journey xx

You need to contact the LA and reqiest an emergency EHCP review, then you tell them you want to change the named school as the current school clearly can't meet need if he is only in for short periods.

Is there a particular school you want him to go to? Have you visited it?

Best thing we ever did was moving our son into an independent autism school.
I would visit some nearby to get a feel and see what they offer academically. Our concern was the LA sen schools offered little education wise, but this independent has an education pathway.
It sounds like the current setting would support move which is helpful.

That sounds awful for you and your son. His experience could have been so different in another school.

We have some specialist autism classes in mainstream primary and secondary in our LA. It is a panel decision for places in the same way that special school places are allocated.
I’d contact the Parent Support officer service for your area as they can help advise and represent you at the meetings.
I would be asking for someone from the LA to attend the review so that they can see that the provision set out in his plan, that they are funding, has not been in place.
If you are looking for a move please explore all your options and visit suggested or suitable alternatives.

We moved our 11 year old DS who has an ehcp. As others have said you need to have an emergency annual review stating that the current school cannot meet need. My son's school arranged this as they supported the move. We got refused change of placement first time so went back and got an educational psychologist report and salt report and then move was accepted. The more evidence you have the better.

If you want DS to attend full-time, he can unless the school is formally suspending DS. You don’t have to allow the school to continue to unlawfully, informally exclude DS.

If the provision detailed, specified and quantified in F isn’t being provided, it can be enforced. It is the LA who is ultimately responsible for ensuring the provision is provided. IPSEA has a model letter you can send. If that doesn’t work, you need a pre-action letter. Then, if that fails, judicial review proceedings will resolve the situation. However, the provision can only be enforced the provision is detailed, specified and quantified in F. If F is woolly and vague with wording such as “access to”, “or equivalent”, “opportunities for”, “as appropriate”, “would benefit from”, “regular”, “up to”, “would be useful/helpful”, “such as”, “e.g.”, “as required”, “as advised”, “key adult(s)”, “small group” it cannot be enforced. You should use the review process to try to tighten up the wording and, if necessary, appeal when you have the right of appeal.

If you wish to move placement, you can make it known during the review. Following the AR meeting, the LA must inform you if they are going to amend or not within 4 weeks. If they aren’t going to, you will have to right of appeal. If they are going to amend, they must send the amendment notice. At that point, you will be able to make representations state your preferred placement. Then the LA must finalise within a further 8 weeks. Once the LA finalises, you will have to right of appeal.

Depending on when your annual review is next month, asking for an early review may not be any quicker, anyway.

When was DS 5?

If you go on the IPSEA website, you can find all the information you need there.

PMLD is profound and multiple learning disabilities.

Start shopping around ASAP for schools. Get views other asd parents. If there isn't a special school that can meet his academic needs then a private school woth small classes

I know what school I want him to go to. It’s a mainstream with an ASD unit.
I don’t for the life of me understand why the SENCO keeps banging on about PMLD schools when that really isn’t his presentation. Feels scary to me that she would misrepresent his presentation if that’s her opinion? How much weight her does opinion carry when deciding next steps for my son? If she is corresponding with my preferred schools SENCO and they could refuse to take him off the back of her opinion?

I promise I’m not a mum in denial. He wouldn’t have been diagnosed and an EHCP by the age of 4 if I didn’t know he was going to need a lot of support to access education. I’m just aware none of you guys know us so just wanted to make it clear that he’s definitely not got severe enough needs to attend a PMLD school xx

Could it be the Senco isn’t aware of the options available?
Maybe worth discussing this with them.
I was open about the school I thought DS should attend. The Senco didn’t go look at them all so all they could really comment on was ability in school.
I would try and contact your caseworker.

Do you mean a special school fir children with profound and multiple learning disabilities?
If so it doesn't sound like your son would meet the criteria
I would ask for an EHCP review ASAP and also vist the schoo you want your child to go to
Shut down any further discussion about the PMLD school it's not appropriate at all .

why on earth does she keep banging on about it?! He is very intelligent, sociable, toilet trained, behavioural issues in line with autism/ADHD ie rigid behaviour, hyperactive, no danger awareness etc.
PMLD school wouldn’t be appropriate in a million years, really concerns me she keeps saying this as a SENCO - would her opinion carry any weight with regards to next steps?

What reasoning have they given you on why they are 1) not allowing him to stay longer than a morning and 2) keeping him separate to the rest of the class?

I assume he’s verbal?

they said initially he couldn’t stay longer than a couple of hours as it wouldn’t be meaningful he would just be running around and they thought it would be better he was happy and his experience was positive rather than constantly being told not to do something like run. He has a full time 1:1.
in recent weeks his behaviour has been more
challenging and the possibility of a PDA profile has been suggested by school. He often shouts at his 1:1 and is becoming more disruptive.

Yes he is verbal 👍🏻

My son goes to a,PMLD school and whilst they are fabulous place
If your son doesn't fit the criteria its not the right place for him
Has your son been seen by an educational psychologist they csn give an idea of what kind of setting is best for him.

Autistic/PDA/ADHD and dyspraxia mum to DS8 (diagnosed at 3) here.

SENCO’s in both of the schools DS has attended have been spectacularly useless at everything, except getting rid of the kids they don’t want in a “naice” school ime. You might be seeing that in action.

Is there a space in the SEN hub at the school you want? Have you visited? Is the SENCo at the new school supportive and have they met DS and confirmed the hub can meet need? I would get my ducks in a row before the annual review on all these points.

Current school is unlawfully excluding DS. They need to suspend him or provide a FT timetable even though it might be tricky. Most schools need reminding of this.

Expect the LA’s caseworker to be glacially slow and absolutely fucking useless as well - just ime again. You will need a plan and an iron will!

Good luck OP - it really shouldn’t be like this.

The current school isn’t the one deciding whether to amend the EHCP or not, the LA decides that.

For most units, the mainstream school is named in section I and the unit provision is detailed in F. Although the school would be consult it would be the LA (and SENDIST if you appealed) making the decision. You don’t need an offer of a place.

It would help you to read IPSEA and SOSSEN’s websites so you understand EHCPs and the law better.

It may be the school you think is a PMLD school isn’t actually a PMLD school. In some areas, there are generic catch all special schools covering a whole range of needs. In many of these schools, often the pupils placed there have had more and more significant needs over the years because of the pressure on places. It may be the SENCO doesn’t realise the current cohort in that school now.