Transfer EHCP funding from state to private - any stories of success?

[Bonniebluebear]

We're looking at a prep school for my DS who has autism. At the moment, he has a full-time 1:1 TA at a state primary and I want to find out if anyone's managed to get your LA to fund a TA in an independent school. I hear it's hard, but not impossible, so if you managed it, I'd love to hear how! Also, I'd be grateful to hear any experience of getting personal budgets on an EHCP.

My sister tried and failed. They did, however, fund a place at a local independent SEN specialist school which bizarrely cost more.

Bonnie, I have replied extensively on your previous thread.

Your first step should be to consider whether the prep school will meet your child's needs - and importantly, whether they will commit to continue supporting him throughout their time with him. You will want to spend a LOT of time talking to the SENCo.

You should ask:

• How many children with autism have attended the school from point of entry to point of exit.
• Success stories of their support for such children, and their destinations.
• How many children leave the school each year at non-standard exit points, and how many of those were diagnosed or suspected to have SEN.
• If possible, ask to be put in touch with parents of children with SEN similar to your DS's who are currently or have attended the school, to openly discuss their experience.

If they squirm at ANY point, or refuse ANY of the above information (they may well baulk at the 'how many leave at non-standard exit points' one, and talk about 'family circumstances' and 'best fit'), then walk away.

You will also want to ask all professionals involved with your child - Ed Psych, paediatricians etc - about their opinion of the specific school for their support of children with ASD. Again, they may not answer openly, but look for subtle signs of 'well, it is ultimately your choice' or 'we haven't experienced that' [ie no such children attend that school, so they have no experience].

THEN worry about transferring the EHCP. If the school has previous experience of children like your son, they will have done it before, and will be able to guide you. if they say they've never had to do it before this is another indication of lack of experience with SEN....

Is it a mainstream independent school? If so the difficulty you will have is in them not being on the governments s.41 list (ie an independent not signed up to the SEND Code of Practice) and therefore not as easily persuaded to provide the provision. Once you opt out of 'the system' it is less easy to persuade an LA to part with cash - see also Home ed for which they have a power but not a duty to provide money.

I have replied to your previous post as well. Did you or still have a private EP or SALT? If so they will have an idea of local Indies as you do seem very set on private.

Thete is a very inclusive Indie in my area but I would still be cautious as there was another that was the same and even has an attached unit for additional support but a new head came in and wanted to distance the school from the very inclusive ethos. That would be my biggest fear of committing to the inclusive school even though they have current pupils with ECHP’s .

Please please be careful! X

Years ago a mum at DS’s prep did it. She got her DC into an independent school specialising in whatever problem her DC had. They did it by hiring a specialised solicitor and threatening to take the LEA (or whatever they’re called now) to court. I’m struggling to remember but she was definitely successful and I think went to court because I remember her saying the LEA had to pay her very considerable legal bill. She was wealthy -and bloody determined- and it went on for about two years if not longer and she was paying the legal bill as she went along but genuinely believed they would win and thus get her costs back as they had such a strong case. I think her argument was that no state school could provide him with the support he needed I’m not sure why.

cantkeepaway
Thank you for your post - all very good points. You are clearly very knowledgable - would you mind me asking if you're talking from 'inside experience' at an independent school?

Neouf
Very good point about independent schools not signing up to the SEN Code of Practice. Thanks.

user14...-
Yes, we still fund a private SALT for my DS. He was discharged from the NHS SALT a while back, as they deemed his language to be age appropriate.

There's an independent school near us that has a reputation for being inclusive. We visited, but the standard of the academic work there was below what we would like for our boys, both of whom are bright.

happygardening
Thank you for sharing what happened with your DS's mum. I have heard that you would have to make a case of 'only independent school X can provide for my child's needs' in order to get funding. That's not the case with our DS. His current state primary has been great for him.

I really don’t want to be horrible OP but ypu can’ t have it both ways. You tell us you want an inclusive school then you say the academics within the inclusive school are not up to par???

Your private SALT will probably have been into most of the Indies innyour area, I would ask her fot an honest appraisal and if current parents are happy.