School Applications, WWYD?

[WheresYourTimeGone]

DD starts school Sept 19, applications are open now for a few more weeks.

I’ve looked round all the local schools and ranked them in my head in which I think will be best for DD. She has SN so I tried to speak to the SENCOs at the open days, 2 schools SENCO wasn’t there that day, 2 of them the SENCO said I needed to call or email to make an appointment to discuss DD, 1 didn’t even acknowledge me and just nodded (I’ve ruled that school out completely).

Of the 4 remaining schools, I’ve called and emailed the SENCOs of my top two, no response. I was told they’d call me, they never did. I called each again twice and was told the same they never called. I also emailed them both, which went ignored.

The other 2 schools, the SENCOs had a quick chat on the phone with me. One said she was confident she could meet DDs needs without asking me any questions about her or her situation never even spoke to her Nursery. The other one asked a few questions and then had a conversation with the SENCO at her Nursery. Didn’t take any other details or want to meet DD or anything. I don’t know if this is normal?

I honestly don’t know what to do. Until this I thought any of the schools could meet her needs but now I am so unsure. She doesn’t have an EHCP as her SN isn’t really a learning delay and the Ed Psch thought she’d be unlikely to get it, although I am applying for it anyway won’t be done in time to name a school if she gets it.

WWYD? I only get 3 choices, and I’m a single parent so it’s hard to know what’s best with having no-one to talk about it with. Do I just apply for the 3 that I think will meet her needs without having talked about them to anyone?

The first thing to say is that if you are applying for an EHCP then I would continue that because if you do get an EHCP then you will be in a far stronger position to argue for a school named by you. The time limit of mid January does not apply for pupils with an EHCP and in fact if it is after mid April when places are allocated then you will be admitted anyway if you name a school, no matter the number in the class.
I would however have to say that if the Ed Psych thinks your child will not get an EHCP then that is the most likely outcome.
I am somewhat shocked by your comments on SENDCos not being very interested in your child's SN. In my primary school the SENDCo has spoken to every parent whose child we know or find out has any level of SN and is considering coming to the school. From our point of view the sooner we know the sooner we can do something about it. However I can see that for many schools they may well want to wait till they know exactly what children have been allocated a place at the school before talking in any detail with you about you child's SN. I can only suggest that you try to decide your 3 school preferences on the basis of the general conversations you had, though I accept that does not feel right from the parent's perspective.

One of the none responding schools did just call me and have arranged an appointment to meet me and talk about DD, so maybe they were just working through a list?

This is the school I really want for her, so hoping it goes well.