Has anyone successfully got their child a place in a private fee paying school with an EHCP?

[Dotty1000]

Any advice/tips welcome or anything I should know

I suppose it depends on what support is needed, quantified in the EHCP and what type of fee paying school you’re looking at.

Quite a few SEN schools have converted to independent, although not fee paying in the traditional sense.

So are you going to be able to get the LA to pay for your child to go to Marlborough / Eton? Unlikely.

Are you going to be able to get the LA to pay for your child to go to a specialist independent school that meets their EHCP where no other school does? Possibly with a bit of a fight.

We got our son a place, not for a fee paying school but an independent specialist school yes.

Feel free to message if I can help.

A lot of special schools are independent- they take kids with a specific profile, and you either pay privately, or take council to tribunal.
You need very, very good reasons, so i would think the chances for a non-special school ate slim.
Friends managed it for a non-special school, but their child uses a non-standard wheelchair and local primary schools are really not accessible for this chair, and accessible schools are far away.

Yes but post 16 very specialist run by a charity, not a run of the mill private school.

Sen budgets are incredibly stretched so they rightly will not be paying unless no state school can meet needs

Is the school you want to pursue wholly independent or a section 41 independent school?

For wholly independent schools, MS or SS, to be named in an EHCP you need to show the LAs proposed school(s) can’t meet needs &/or that it isn’t unreasonable public expenditure.

If it is a section 41 school, the same rules apply to section 41 schools as they do to other schools like maintained schools and academies. So the LA must name your preferred school unless the LA can prove:
-The setting is unsuitable for the age, ability, aptitude or special educational needs of the child or young person; or
-The attendance of the child or young person would be incompatible with the provision of efficient education for others; or
-The attendance of the child or young person would be incompatible with the efficient use of resources.

You may have to appeal, unfortunately.

My daughter is at a private school where I know of 2 kids who are there on a fully funded ECHP. It's a mainstream private school (although not Marlborough/Eton).

Most private schools are not geared up for coping with an EHCP

Inasmuch as you can say, what are the needs of your child that only a fee paying school could meet?

Yes, my DS has been at a fully independent school funded via his EHCP since 2019.

He was only approved for the funding after two mainstream placements broke down, and because we are so rural that the nearest state special school that could meet need was 45 miles away. So funding this school was cheaper for the LA than funding a taxi (plus escort) to do a 90 mile round trip twice a day.

His school is technically a very small independent mainstream but they are fully (and genuinely) trauma informed, and they specialise in meeting the needs of children who have struggled with school. I'd say about 50% of the student body are funded via EHCPs.

DS went to an independent specialist school which was named on his EHCP and the LA paid all the fees and transport expenses. All of the dcs there had significant SEN and were funded by their LAs via EHCPs. DS had high needs which couldn't be met in mainstream (no mainstream schools would offer him a place) and all the LA special schools couldn't meet his academic and SEN needs. We had reports prepared by private EP, SALT, OT, Psychiatrist and had a solicitor and barrister to prepare a case at tribunal.

I know of other parents whose DCs got EHCP funded places in less specialist private schools (schools which had a fairly mainstream curriculum but with a bit of extra support, and tended to take pupils with SpLD but no behaviour issues). But I don't know anyone who had a child funded in a fully non-specialist school (like St Paul's, Highgate etc) where there isn't much specialist input or expertise with SEN.

You’re going to need thousands for private EP / salt and OT. Plus an advocate. Also, you will need the school to offer a place. (Yes people can argue you can do it for free but exceptionally difficult) and a tribunal. Also if it turns out you need a 1 to 1 and not specified in F you the parent are paying for it!

If the child doesn’t keep up / need more adjustments than the NT child and the school / head will not be flexible to meet the needs - The private school can offer roll and end the contract even with an EHCP.

Plus sencos can be dire in independents. Some independents are sen inclusive and some are really not (even though the claim they are)!

You are better protected in the state system for the child!

I’d be weary not all rosey

An offer of a place is only required for a wholly independent school. Section 41 independent schools can be named even if they don’t offer a place.

You absolutely do not need an advocate or other representation. It is more than possible to do it without. The majority of parents do not use an advocate or other representation.

Evidence is required, but if you can’t afford independent reports, there are options, e.g. checking if you are eligible for legal aid or contacting charities such as Parents in Need.