No primary school place nearby

[Crumplesock]

Is anyone able to advise if we are being unreasonable in thinking a primary school place that is a 1hr bus ride away is too far (plus 10min walk to/from bus stops on each end of that journey) and that places closer should be found.

That is the nearest one with a space for our children and I'd rather find it difficult to get them their with their disabilities.

Is the LA paying for transport?

Assuming a mid year admission rhe afraid not.
However if your previous school has done it's duty and put an EHC in place, then you could name the same, closer school in theory and therfore force tge school to admit your children even if over eg 30.

If that’s your closest school with spaces for an in year admission, then the LA should either pay for transport or invoke the Fair access protocol to get a closer school to admit. Will depend on your LA.

How far is the school, as the crow flies?

I think more details are needed. Are you looking for starting reception next year, moving school due to needs not being met, or have moved house? One of my kids would manage ok and the other couldn't do more than 15 minutes, so it does depend on the child. Do you know of somewhere closer to potentially fight for?

Our eldest was expelled from the nearest school, I didn't fight it at the time because I realised that the setting wasn't right. He wasn't able to have his needs met (he currently receives higher rate DLA care and mobility so his needs are recognised as being high).

We began home educating him as he was struggling with his mental health and rejection after the expulsion. He had a lot of school based trauma.

This had a knock on effect on us thinking whether we could realistically get our youngest son to school, he was due to start in September.

Things have begun to improve for the children and we have decided we would like to give school a go for them again. Both having expressed a desire to give school a go.

I applied through Local Authority and unfortunately there are no places that are closer that have spaces

@Bluevelvetsofa I don't think so, no one has said about that. Just seen that there's a public bus that is an hr away. I suppose we could pay for a taxi but it wouldn't be much different in time once you account for all the traffic

I think its 4.5miles away @shockeditellyou

Sorry if I’ve got co fused with the disability benefits, but do you get a car for your son?

Look at the Fair Access Protocol.

High rate for care, low for mobility @StormingNorman so no car

Then you have a statutory right to free transport.

I shall look into this @titchy , thank you, I assume it will have to accommodate the needs of our eldest?

Im suprised there is no space for a reception age child. Is there no closer school for your youngest even if not for the eldest? As if the oldest was going on a bus anyway it would be good to know the little one doesn’t have to go so far and will be able to continue to go to a closer school once his elder sibling has left

No closer one for the youngest one either @fashionqueen0123 , I can only assume it's because of the massive influx of housing we have had in past few years and the new schools being built have been rather delayed.

Are you wanting places for both your children and what ages are they? Does the eldest have an EHCP? If he has been expelled from a previous school and if you have homeschooled him, I expect they have reservations.

Have you been offered places for two children at the same school?

One hour bus ride isn’t too far because it depends on the route. Places an hour away on the bus might just be 10-15 min drive away. You get free transport based on distance not bus time. If it’s the later, most people get transport provided by the LEA.

Where are you based? I too am surprised there is no space for your reception child. We have so many places here with schools closing too.

She's said it's 4.5 miles away. If this is the only school which has a place for the older one the LEA will have to provide transport.

Does eldest have an ehcp , if not start the process to apply.

We started the process for the EHCP. This is the 2nd time. First time it stopped because he was expelled. He is only 7, was expelled for running away.

Request transport. Appeal if you are refused. If you need support with an appeal, SENTAS can help.

Being permanently excluded does not stop the EHCNA process. Was an EHCNA request actually submitted to the LA?

What week of the EHCP process are you on?

I was all so niave with it all @BrightYellowTrain as our family really was rather in a crisis. The school had started the EHCP process but as he left, they withdrew their support to complete it.

I submitted a request last week for a new one, I only just realised we don't need a school to actually do one.

I feel very inadequate at being the advocate for my children but I am seeking to improve on this.

Certainly apply for the EHCP, although the process can be lengthy. If your eldest was seven when expelled, presumably he’s eight or nine now.

Has the LA offered places in the school that’s an hour away? And is that for both children? If so, they should provide transport if it’s the nearest school with places. If and when you get a needs assessment, leading to an EHCP, you can name a school, but it wouldn’t necessarily mean that your younger child would have a place too.

It is worth reading IPSEA and SOSSEN’s websites to understand the EHCP process better.

If an EHCNA request was actually previously submitted to the LA rather than just the school saying they would apply, you could just enforce the timescales for that rather than go through a whole new request. Even without the school’s support.

He is 7 now, was expelled when 6. He was suspended from school numerous times for escaping (they kept him locked in cupboards and the toilets so he would escape, kept him in there because he would react to other children bullying him for being non verbal or because he would be stimming).