No school to suit

[schoolstruggle]

Dd 10 Y5 Uk. Diagnosed PDA, autism and hyper mobile.

We withdrew her from school September 2021 due to her mental health. We home educated which worked for a while but she’s disengaged and I’m struggling with time too.

She can’t cope in mainstream school (suicidal and self harming at age 8). She isn’t learning delayed so no special schools in our area for her. So I decided ok an independent it is, scraping together every Penny. But they all do entrance exams (even at primary level) and she’s working too below age related expectations (plus struggles to manage these tests at all)

So where the hell does she fit in?

Does she have an EHCP?

Which county you in?

If DD has an EHCP you need to request an early review. If she doesn’t you need to request an EHCNA.

Have you looked at all SS within travelling distance including independent and non-maintained? Up to 45 mins for primary and 1hr15 for secondary is generally considered the maximum reasonable travel time, but many DC do travel further.

If there isn’t a suitable school there is EOTAS.

You should tell the LA you are no longer EHE and they need to make suitable alternative arrangements.

In case you find yourself in a similar situation in future, you didn’t need to deregister and EHE. If DD couldn’t attend school because of her MH the LA had a duty to provide alternative education.

It's a national problem. There are very few placements for autistic children with no learning difficulties who cannot cope in mainstream.

Yes, she has an EHCP. Her plan was due for review in June 2022 and the LA have ignored all requests for review. Currently going down the judicial review process. I told the LA I’m no longer home educating on 9 January but I’ve been requesting annual review since September. We ended up deregistering because the school was threading prosecution (and our professions are ones that this would cause us major problems even if found not guilty).

As well as JR for failure to hold an AR you need to email the Director of Children’s services and threaten JR for failure to provide provision under s.19 of the Education Act 1996 and failure to provide anything specified and quantified in F as per s.42 of the CAFA 2014. Then go through the pre-action letter and onto proceedings themselves if necessary.

The school threatening prosecution was just trying to scare you, you would not have been prosecuted if DD couldn’t attend due to her mental health and SEN.

I am so sorry for your daughter and have no answers! Unfortunately due to the national disgrace that the government have reduced are education system to, this is becoming all too common. There simply aren’t enough places in alternative provision schools that
can really provide great levels of personalised learning for pupils suffering with severe SEND or MH. The result is that they are expected to “fit in” with a mainstream school and whilst some can,
some simply cannot due to lack of resources such as a teaching assistant or classes of less than 36.
It’s a terrible situation and one that isn’t to fix as it’s take 12 years to get to this point. I really hope your EHCP gets your daughter the provision and support she needs but I’m afraid I doubt it will.

How far off expectation is she? My dd got in aged 8yrs (Y4). They said that although she did not achieve expected level, they saw potential. They blamed Home Ed for lack of progress... However my dd is a very good fit for that school. Have you tried phoning them to ask? Sorry if you have. The alternatives are to move to somewhere with better provision and/or consider boarding. Have you ruled out EOTAS?

JR threat sent for this thank you!

Feedback from the private school she had a morning at included

overwhelmed during her time with us

struggled to participate in dance and became upset.

not able to join in with the class.

difficultly interacting with the other pupils in drama which was also the case during break and group discussion time.

our school environment seemed difficult for her.

Academically significantly lower than expected for her age.

I had listed on the application that she was autistic and hyper mobile.

I'm sorry. It's super hard. I have two kids with ASD and complex needs.

DD has settled into her private school and is essentially institutionalised. My other one has bounced around and I'm counting down the days til we can stop.

I have been desperately looking for suitable schools and there is so little available.

Is online school an option? Maybe Red Balloon?

I hope you can get the support she needs.

If there isn’t a suitable school do consider EOTAS. DS1 has an extensive package of support.

My DD has a similar profile. Officially she has ASD, ADHD and dyspraxia diagnoses, and anxiety diagnosed and medicated for by CAMHS. She is very demand avoidant but we haven't pursued a PDA assessment.

She attends a independent specialist school that's about 50 mins drive away (she gets transport provided). We didn't have to go to tribunal for this, but we did engage a legal advisor who helped deal with L.A.

Not sure where in the U.K. you are but if a move was a possibility then this school could be the answer to your problems. My ASD niece used to go here and it was the making of her. There is a massive shortage of schools like this that fit the in between.

www.alfristonschool.com

In a similar area they also looked at this school but decided an all girls environment suited her better

eger-roth.co.uk

What about a more specialist school - my friend's child was similar to yours and following home schooling has moved to a school like this: www.lvs-hassocks.org.uk/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=gmb

Thank you. We are within a suitable distance for this. Currently Y5 but could do EOTAS until Y7

If this is in the right area it might be worth a look
wemms.co.uk

Another idea /type of school
www.newforestsmallschool.com/sen-learning-support

Hurst lodge ....