SEN Placement - what does this mean?

[Happythecrocodile1]

My son is diagnosed autistic and although academically able mainstream isn’t working for him and a specialist placement is being sought. The specialist independent I have named as my preference in his EHCP has been consulted with and have agreed they can meet need but they are unable to say until spring time if they can offer him a place for September 2026.
Please can anyone help me understand what is going on here? What is the significance of spring time? How are placement decisions made? Thankyou!

Spring is school offer time isn't it? They let everyone know in March/April

Have they been named on his EHCP? As they have to admit your child as soon as this happens.

Unless the school being independent changes things? I have no knowledge of the independent sector.

I’ve named as my preference on his EHCP and the local authority have consulted with them (& are consulting with others too) the school I want have said they can meet his needs but can’t say if they have any space for next September until spring time, just trying to work out what’s going on (first time applying for an SEN school as my son is only 5)

It was the same for us. Independent schools do not have to admit, but will if there is space and they can meet need.
If they have younger years, they need to find out how many are staying. otherwise they need to figure out the waiting list (our school has a substantial waiting list).
You usually have to give notice a term in advance, so they know the number of spaces in spring, and then work down the waiting list.

Thanks for your replies guys
@ThisAmberOrca do you know re waiting lists, are they first come first serve or is it on locality etc? How are placements decided?

SENDs schools for academically able children are like hen’s teeth and in massive demand!

Do they have to wait and see how many other people name them in their EHCP? If they have 25 places and 50 people name them then, with the best will in the world, they can’t admit everyone. Presumably they have to wait until the closing date for applications to then make decisions for national offers day?

@Happythecrocodile1 i think ours is first come, first serve as long as the children fit the school.

What kind of school is it? The rules are different for LA maintained Vs section 41 Vs non section 41

My guess is they need to wait for all EHCP applications and amongst those prioritise the need. Your son will be a part of the list and usually some sort of panel will meet to discuss and essentially rank/decide on the combination of children who qualify for places who they can accomodate.

Sounds as though the school will see how many places they have for next September (which they should have a good idea of in the Spring) in each key-stage or year group and then make offers of places accordingly. As it is an independent school, they have more autonomy and control over place allocation and start dates than LA maintained schools.
it is positive tbh at they say they can meet need - but it is not yet definite there will be a place. The LA should still be consulting with other schools in case they need a Plan B.

It’s not first come first served at all, no. They will send consultations to the school all year. In Spring the LA placement officers will look at all the children needing places there and at other schools and make some tough decisions because there’ll be hundreds of children and only a few places.

The priority tends to be:

Looked after children
Those who have won or looking likely to win at tribunal.
Those who are already causing the LA a massive problem EG out of school all year or at risk of permanent exclusion.
Everybody else.

It’s a sad state of affairs but getting into special school or even enhanced provisions is a massive lottery.

Thanks for your replies. If they have said they can meet need, the child is extremely local (so LA wouldn’t need to pay for transport to a school further away), and the child is on a permanent reduced timetable at their current school of just a couple of hours a day…..would this be a good case for placement do you think? (Can you sense my desperation 🫣)

@LisaSimpson77 what you state is true for state SENDs schools, or section 41 independent schools. not for non section 41 (which a lot of the schools for academically able SENDs kids are)
Being local wouldn’t be a criterion for ours , although they do only take children from more than 1 hour away if parents have a plan how to get them to the school )

OP - is your child's EHCP finalised? Will the LA fund that place? Or are they consulting with other schools?

The LA are consulting with other schools too but there are genuinely no other schools that could meet his need - either because he doesn’t have a learning disability so couldn’t meet his need academically/wouldn’t have a peer group, or because of his age (a lot of specialist schools for academically able children don’t take until 7 and he is only 5). Also a lot of other schools are full.

As a parent who’s SEN child goes to a private independent. It’s already positive that the LA are in talks with the school- however, did you know that if there’s need you can put any school as perental preference. This includes private school.
it’s likely the school year is currently full and they’re doing reviews etc to see whether there are children who can’t meet need/whether there are recruitment drives etc.
good luck

Sorry and yes EHCP is complete other than knowing what school is being named. As in it’s his current mainstream that doesn’t let him attend for more than 2hrs a day until something appropriate is identified.

Some independent SS won’t know what placements for September 26 are looking like until later in the year. This is because of things like other current consultations, Tribunals and phase transfers.

Is the school wholly independent or a section 41 independent? You need to know this to know what rules apply. You only need an offer of a place from wholly independent schools. Section 41 independent schools can be named even if they object and on its own being full is not enough of a reason to refuse admission - the LA has to prove the school is so full admitting DS is incompatible with the efficient education of others or use of resources.

You say the EHCP is complete. By that do you mean finalised? Because if it is finalised, the placement to be attended/type of placement should be in I. If the EHCP isn’t finalised, it isn’t complete yet.

@flawlessflipper It is a non section 41 school.
I really struggle with all the uncertainty 🫣

@Happythecrocodile1 the waiting isn’t fun….. i was so relieved when i got the call that he gad a place!
You are very early though, so if its a regular waiting list, you should be pretty much one of the first. And for need, being on such a reduced timetable already (most academically able kids fall to pieces later in primary school) should mean you are pretty high priority there as well.

@ThisAmberOrca I hope so! Something that plays on my mind - mainstream he’s currently is has been awful and they literally don’t even try to follow his EHCP their answer to everything is to reduce his time in school, so specialist is now being sought. I worry that in a specialist school he may pick up challenging behaviours he doesn’t currently have. I hope that doesn’t sound blunt, I don’t know how else to word it. Please is anyone with experience able to reassure me on this one?

My son started specialist in year 7 (his primary school was amazing - independent though, paid by us. state didn’t work at all).
no challenging behaviours picked up. His school is for academically able/very able kids with ADHD and/or ASD.
It seems that once their needs are addressed these kids are a very keen group of students- behaviour is a million times better than local mainstream schools!

@Happythecrocodile1 my daughter started at an independent specialist in Y4, named on EHCP.
Identical circumstances, very academically able, ASD & ADHD, limited timetable in mainstream etc.
She has essentially gone from being the most challenging child to the least challenging child in her setting!
The change in her over the past year has been AMAZING, all for the positive.
My husband shared some of your concerns, but from our experience the specialist has been an answer to our prayers.
Admittedly that's a sample size of one, but I wouldn't worry- if you get the place, grab it with both hands.

Is the wording in F detailed, specified and quantified in F? Or is it vague and woolly with wording such as “access to”, “would benefit from”, “regular”, “up to”, “or equivalent”, “opportunities for”, “as appropriate”, “would be useful/helpful”, “such as”, “e.g.”, “etc.”, “as required”, “as advised”, “key adult(s)”, “small group”? If it is the former, it can be enforced, including via JR if necessary. The LA is ultimately responsible for the provision in section F, so have you raised the non-provision with them? Unfortunately, if the wording is vague and woolly, it cannot be enforced and you should look to improve the wording, via appeal if necessary.

Why is DS on a reduced timetable? Is that something you want because DS can’t cope? If so, when did DS turn 5? If it was before September, is alternative provision in place to ensure DS still receives a suitable full-time education? Even if it was since September, the LA is still responsible for the provision in F if it is worded correctly. Or is the reduced timetable being imposed by the school despite you wanting DS to attend for longer? If so, are they formally suspending each time?