My ds2 is severely disabled, no physical disabilities or mobility issues so 'access' as such is not a problem but severe mental disability (autism) has a statement, needs 1:1 at all times and is still in nappies at 7. It is felt that currently he is coping in mainstream school and isn't currently eligible for a special school (waiting list a mile long).
We recently moved areas, necessitating a change of school for him and older ds. Because the area we moved to is much busier, ds1 is in a 'junior' school whereas ds2 needs to be placed in an 'infant' school until september when he too will move up into juniors. They school they were in before had both so they attended the same school. Ds1 was placed in a school within a week of moving, we specifically started applying for school places before we moved to limit the amount of time they both spent out of school.
Ds2 still has not been placed. We applied for a place at the same school as ds1 but at the infants part across the road and they were very reluctant, stated they couldn't get a 1:1, they wouldn't have anyone 'trained' to do nappy changes etc. They have since formally rejected him for a place. Ds2 Therefore has not been offered any school place and I am so angry! How can they even refuse him a place, I didn't think they were allowed to! How can they possibly say they cannot accomodate him? Since he has a statement I thought they were obliged by law to accomodate him! The longer he spends out of school the more difficult it will be for him, we specifically started applying before we moved to try and make the transition as smooth as possible but he's now been out of school for over a month and it's just not bloody acceptable to me. I'm 99% sure that the main problem is his disability, given that ds1 got a place so quickly!