Reception class appeal - aspergers son

[NourishingButtons]

Hi, my son has not been given a place at our village school (0.3 miles away). He has undiagnosed aspergers - his issues are inflexibility, needing continuity, lack of impulse control, social emotional devt, rage, control issues. He has been referred to and accepted on the link inclusion scheme to assist the transition to school for vulnerable children. It is a massive blow. I believe his needs will be met at the village school and not at the school place given for 3 main reasons - continuity of peer group where he is known and accepted, has made some strong friendships, and will be exceptionally difficult for him to start a new school with no familiar faces. We moved to the village when he was a toddler so he would settle into the playgroups/pre school. Secondly they have offered a minibus, but due to his issues this is not an option and we have no other way of transporting him. Thurdly he is behind with gross motor skills and he is hard to coax outside/do excercise so the walk/scooter to school will be his main excercise and help with his muscle devt. Its an infant class size prejudice appeal. Do we have a case? Is there any chance?

[NourishingButtons]

admission - your comment has disappeared - I saw you said 'this is generous given that it is infant class' ??

[prh47bridge]

I can see the entire comment. Can you see it now?

[NourishingButtons]

Wierd, can see the last comment at all - just the first bir on 'I'm on' but when I click through from there or directly from 'primary ed' only my last 2 comments are at the bottom???? I want to read it aarrrgghhh

[NourishingButtons]

admission - thanks for tip will start diary now

prh yes i can see it now, clicked show all messages and it worked, dont know what i did??

[PanelChair]

I too think the adviser is being overly optimistic, given that this is an ICS case and the threshold for those is so high. I agree with admission that you can use the lack of an admissions category for social/medical need as part of your argument, so give it your best shot.

[NourishingButtons]

Thanks panelchair - its seems so wrong that my son can be highlighted for extra help with transition through the link inclusion scheme - then his transition can be stomped on by not keeping him with his peers and sending him on a minibus with his social, emotional, behavioural issues. I have a private Ed Pysc on board now too doing an assessment, good idea?

[PanelChair]

Yes, Ed Psych report could be helpful, but it needs to offer his professional opinion, rather than just repeat your views and concerns.

[NourishingButtons]

Thanks, have also decided to have a BIBIC assessment which was yesterday with the results and strategies today - I am even more rared up as its the first time I don't feel like a neurotic mum, but a professional is seeing him and there are definite issues, they don't diagnose but indications seem to be very complex including aspergers, sensory processing disorder amongst possible others. We have also applied for statutory assessment, as before we had only just come across it and tbh may have been using it as an appeal/admissions issue, but now I strongly feel he needs it to reach his full potential as he is massively bright as shown yesterday. Awaiting results but they are indications. I am a mummy lion hear me ROOOAAARRRRR

[NourishingButtons]

So, we had both BIBIC and Ed Psys assessment done (privately).

Only had verbal debrief from BIBIC as yet, but indications were quite severe sensory processing, 90-99% on intellect tests (possible gifted) and likely aspergers. They can't mention school issue but we can obv pull out bits to make our case.

Ed Psyc report we've had, and he totally agreed with our concerns. His report also confirms high intellect, low social communication, aspergers to be looked at. Highlighted lots of specific needs and that he would need 1-2-1 in whole group activities, desk work and transitions. He also did a whole page in his conclusions about the school issue and that in his opinion why chosen school will meet needs and given school wont - concerning impulsivity/health and safety/transitions/rigidity of mind concerns on minibus, being disadvantaged peer/friend wise.

Do you think this strengthens our case by much?

[prh47bridge]

It is still going to be an uphill task to win an appeal but expert evidence to support your case certainly helps.

[NourishingButtons]

Tbh if we don't get it upheld I will wonder why they even have a 'unreasonable/perverse' category. Our case will clearly state our sons complex special needs (with prof opinion), and that these needs will be much better met at village school, and that he will be vulnerable at other school. I think I will start a one woman crusade!!

[prh47bridge]

If the school had an admissions category for medical need and you provided the Ed Psych report when you applied you would have a strong argument that the LA was unreasonable not to place your child in that category. As they don't have such a category you face the harder task of convincing the appeal panel that the LA was unreasonable in not having a medical need category and that your son would have been admitted if such a category existed. You may convince them but equally you may find they take the view that they have to work with the admission criteria as they stand. I hope you manage to win them over.

[NourishingButtons]

Thanks prh - but what kind of things would win as 'unreasonable'? My understanding is that you can only win on 2 things - a mistake made, or 'unreasonable'. I'm sure going against prof opinion about individual special needs must be immoral and maybe even illegal??

[prh47bridge]

For an ICS appeal there are actually three grounds on which you can win:

• the admission arrangements to not conform to the Admissions Code and relevant law and the non-compliance has cost you a place
  
• the admission arrangements were not correctly and impartially applied and this has cost you a place
  
• the decision to refuse admission was unreasonable
  

The standard for a decision to be unreasonable is very high. The decision must be, "so outrageous in its defiance of logic or accepted moral standards that no sensible person who had applied his mind to the question to be decided could have arrived at it."

It is up to an appeal panel to decide what is unreasonable. In your case they may feel that, since the Admissions Code is clear that a medical needs category is not compulsory, it is reasonable for the school not to have such a category. Similarly they may feel that the LA's decision was not unreasonable based on the information available to the LA at the time, given that your son's Aspergers was undiagnosed and the Ed Psych report was not available.

I am not saying an appeal panel will decide that. They may agree with you that, faced with cases like your son, the LA should give priority. But you need to understand that it is very difficult to win cases on the grounds that a decision is unreasonable. Given your son's difficulties I hope you manage it in your case.