AIBU to seek a specialist post-16 placement over mainstream?

[TheOpalFox]

The la …Placement for post 16, they want him to go to a mainstream and we want specialist

School gave wrote a very very detailed witness statement saying how much support he needs

Would
Anyone be willing to read through it . Please? It’s so upsetting but maybe what I need for my son to get in specialist? Maybe. ?
Eeeek

Thank you

I don’t mind reading it. Do you have an EHCP?

Sure do!

It’s.l not letting me send a pic :(

I will read it also.

It’s not letting me attach a photo :(

What about if you just list the issues he faces? Or any diagnosis’.
Do you agree with their statement or some of it?
Do you know much about the Specialist place? Is it reasonably near you? Can they meet his needs, when you have researched it do you think?
Places are hard to come by aren’t they.

Can you condense some of the points raised?

They said they can meet need but so has fhe
mainstream and I’m just so so worried about him going to a mainstream post 16 placement because he has struggled so much :(

It don’t mention his diagnosis . Just how much support he gets and still struggled 😤🥹

Did you have evidence of the diagnosis?
What part of the country are you in?

Yes we’re in bham

How many items on the struggle list?

40!!! Yet they want him to go mainstream post 16 😤🥹

If you want some help/want him to get more specialist provision then you need to be much clearer about his needs and what the specialist provision can offer compared to mainstream.
Are you looking at Sept 2027? or has an application been declined? Surely if he has an EHCP progression into post sixteen provision for 2026 will have already been discussed and agreed. I don't think a 'witness statement' from school will be sufficient.

Is he currently in specialist?

Do you think the ehcp accurately reflects his needs? If no, then the school needs to ask for it to be amended - a supporting letter doesn't carry anywhere near as much weight as an ehcp.

In what way do you think mainstream won't meet need - it is mainstream secondary or mainstream college (which might have a SEN pathway)? Is it inaccessible? Doesn't offer courses appropriate to his learning level? Usually mainstream post 16 is subject to certain gcse grades - I work with several young people who wanted to stay in their current secondary post 16 but were not predicted the required grades to do so.

If it's a mainstream post 16 college but have said they can meet needs, it's likely they have a SEND pathway for EHCP learners.

Have you visited?

In my LA, if the mainstream college can meet needs it is unlikely you would get agreement for specialist without needing to go to tribunal.

Or does his EHCP need updating with new evidence, and re consulting with the mainstream college in which case after the update it may be that they say they cannot meet needs after all.

Sadly it’s for this September and it’s the tribunal :( now I’m worried his ehcp is out of date or don’t reflect him properly? Bet it’s too late to do anything about now tho ? Now he’s left school ? He’s sitting his GCSE’s atm

Have you appealed B&F as well as I?

Is the preferred placement wholly independent?

It would help you to re-read your previous threads about DS’s EHCP and transition to post 16.

While a witness statement from the current placement can help, you need to look at the rest of your evidence. For example, do you have an EP report and what does it say? It isn’t about the number of difficulties. A witness statement highlighting lots of difficulties doesn’t necessary mean a specialist post 16 placement is needed.

40 items to meet needs for?!
Incredible.

Sounds like a very strong case at the tribunal then?!
Do you have any kind of help from a solicitor/ Sendiass or Ipsea? Etc. I really wish you luck and hope it does the trick.

My DS hasn’t had an interview yet for college for September this year. Things are slow.

Was the content of B and F updated ready for post 16?

No no one told
me me this :(

Yes send Iass are coming and are supporting me

There should have been an annual review and any changes needed (with evidence) made ready for college.

Too late now for the tribunal, hopefully it still reflects his needs well enough and the tribunal goes your way.

Scary. No one told
me this really :( scary :(

Do you not have an annual review every year?

Did you appeal B&F as well as I?