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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

changing dd's school

24 replies

Foxy800 · 19/08/2012 14:34

Before I start the post I would like to say no decision has been made but would like to know what to do if we feel this is the only way forward.

It is a long story but basically am not currently happy with dd's school. Am going to have a chat in September and see what happens but would like to know what i need to do if I do take dd out of current school. Also she is currently in the process of being statemented. Would this be affected if we were to move her?

ANy advice would be great. THanks in advance.

OP posts:

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strictlovingmum · 19/08/2012 16:05

Hi Foxy,
How old is your DD?
What are the reasons for moving her?
Where would you move her to?
I would think, if you decide to move her mid term, you would have to apply for another school as a mid-year application, and would be placed on the waiting list, some academic years are more likely to get places mid year then others, HTH

IndigoBell · 19/08/2012 18:13

Normally changing schools is easy.

Your find a school you like with places. Then you apply to them via the LEA. Then you move.

The whole process can take a few days.

You don't have to inform your current school.

However, being in the statementing process throws a spanner in the works. What stage are you up to?

Because to get a statement you have to prove that school can't meet her needs. If you move school it may be hard for her new school to prove they can't meet her needs (as they haven't tried yet)

However that depends on the school. If they have a clued up SENCO they may make the whole thing easier.

What stage in the statementing process are you?

auntevil · 19/08/2012 18:18

Where abouts are you on the statementing process? Which school have you named on the statement? Do you have another school in mind?
I moved my DS1 in year 1 part way through the year. I had spent reception year with a teacher who couldn't give a damn and a SENCo that talked the talk, but couldn't/wouldn't walk the walk. We started year 1 with new promises that things would be different with a new teacher - they weren't.
I realised that the only way that DS1 would get a fair shot at being educated was to find a different school. I went to view several, spoke honestly to SENCo and HT at each, asked if there were places and would they accept him. Then I took DS1 with me and asked his opinion of the school I thought best suited his needs (has a disability base). He liked it, school said there was a place and were happy to have him. We accepted and were told he could start the next week. Haven't looked back since and now all his brothers go there too.
If the statement is in progress though, I would re-post onto the SN pages as there are lots of experts at statements on there.

auntevil · 19/08/2012 18:19

x post with Indigo

lljkk · 19/08/2012 18:20

I heard locally something very strange about the statement funding staying with whatever school the child is at for the start of y3, even if child moves after that. Sounds crazy, but I think you are right to ask about close details, OP.

IndigoBell · 19/08/2012 18:27

lljkk - I don't think that's right. Don't see how that could be. Certainly is not right in my LEA.

The money is allocated every year.

So if you had a statement (which the OP doesn't) and you moved half way through the year the new school wouldn't get any money till the next year.

I think.

mrz · 19/08/2012 18:36

That's how it works in my LEA too Indigo

lljkk · 19/08/2012 18:54

Could it be the money is only allocated at start of yr, where child is in September, and it won't move with child if child moves in say, October?

IndigoBell · 19/08/2012 19:09

Yes, that's how it works.

lljkk · 19/08/2012 19:35

Ah, so what I heard is slightly true, then (if also fairly wrong). It was WRT an already statemented child. Suppose OP's child received statement in October at present school, would statement money go immediately to current school or would OP have a window for being able to transfer the money to another school with her child?

IndigoBell · 19/08/2012 19:40

If OP gets a statement then she names what school she wants on it. So if she wants to transfer school she could do it as part of the statementing process.

Original poster

Foxy800 · 19/08/2012 19:48

All of this is what worries me. we are currently at the stage of finding out if she will be statemented so I think stage two. DD is 6 but there is just so many concerns which obviously I want to see how the school handle it as it may all be fine.

Basically when they started in reception they as a class had a rough time, the teacher through no fault of her own had to go on long term sick and has in fact never returned but this meant they had several different supply teachers from the october to februay when they had a permanent supply teacher till the end of the reception yr. The teaching assistants were worth their weight in gold though.

in year one they had the stability of two teachers( job share) through the whole year which of course was great. So I had high hopes for year two. However, over the summer have discovered her new teacher is pregnant ( happy for her) and due in January I believe ( school havent said anything about this). SO after problems in reception am worried that there will be a repeat in this year and dd desperately needs the stability.

Obviously it is not a decision I would make easily and of course I want to give the school a chance in September when they go back as they may have a plan in place and the best thing for dd is to stay there in many ways.

OP posts:

mrz · 19/08/2012 19:49

It may be different in other LEAs but if a child starts school in September we don't actually get any additional money until the financial year in April

Original poster

Foxy800 · 19/08/2012 19:49

IndigoBell that is really handy to know.Thank you all for the replies.

OP posts:

Original poster

Foxy800 · 19/08/2012 19:50

She isnt starting school though mrz she is going into year two, dont know if that makes any difference.

OP posts:

mrz · 19/08/2012 19:51

in September with a statement

IndigoBell · 19/08/2012 19:51

Once you (or school) apply for a statement the LEA has 6 weeks to reply about whether or not they'll assess.

Most kids get turned down here.

If they agree to assess, then you almost always get a statement.

So if they've agreed to assess I think you should stay where you are - but then when you get the statement you can name a different school (if you want).

If you're in the 6 week waiting period you can move if you get turned down, or stay if they agree......

IndigoBell · 19/08/2012 19:53

The money always lags behind a statement.

But don't you worry about that.

School's budgets are millions. A statement is a few thousand. Sure school will say they can't afford it and they're broke etc etc.

But actually, they can sort it out. Just like you having a tight week before pay day.

Original poster

Foxy800 · 19/08/2012 20:00

Thank you for the replies, guys. Obviously i want to keep her where she is for many reasons but on the other hand I want her to have the best education and if they do have a repeat of reception I dont think she will be getting that.

I do also know it is early days though and I need to find out what happens when they go back to school.

OP posts:

peppapigpants · 20/08/2012 15:04

Foxy, you talk a lot about staffing but little about your DD's needs. What is she finding difficult?

Original poster

Foxy800 · 20/08/2012 18:18

She is very behind her peers, finds simple thigns like dressing herself hard, concentration bad, always shouting out etc, some behaviour issues etc.

She loves school but finds it all so hard.

Just dont know what to do for the best.

OP posts:

Original poster

Foxy800 · 20/08/2012 19:33

She also has speech and language issues too.

OP posts:

peppapigpants · 20/08/2012 20:52

Have you had an Ed Psych report? If so, have the school acted upon the recommendations?

When the school apply for a statement, they have to say what they have tried so far and what the impact has been.

Original poster

Foxy800 · 20/08/2012 21:04

Hi, yes she has been seen by the ed psych several times and they have provided a report as have the speech therapist, the occupational therapist and the paeditrition. I beleive the school do their best to act on it but do find it very hard as there are a lot of children who need more support in dd's class.

Several of the other Mum's are unhappy with the situation, for their own reasons, my concern really is making sure everything is put in place to support dd as well of course as the other children. And after their reception year I am just really concerned that there will be a repeat and that will be bad.

Of course until they go back in September I dont know what is happening, the school may have covered it all.

If I am still not happy I have no idea where to start looking at new schools though. Because dd is going into yr 2 I dont really want to move her to one school then have to move her again in a years time!!!

Really just dont know what to do for the best.

OP posts:

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