Exceptional Social and Medical Need

[LnC1234]

I would appreciate if anyone can advise based on knowledge/experience. We are looking at primary schools and though we are out of catchment for our preferred one I am wondering if we have a case for exceptional needs.

One parent is hard of hearing and struggles with hearing voices when in very loud environments. This school is the only one within 2 miles (we've visited most) that has a hearing loop fitted.

Would this be an exceptional reason? to enable a student to have the full participation of one of their parents (e.g in parents evenings)

Not normally, it is the pupil not parent it applies to, so would be relevant if it was your child who was deaf. However you may still get in so put it first, as it doesn't affect if you get into any of your other school choices.

I may be wrong but I believe exceptional needs are only considered when they apply to the child, and even then there needs to be an issued EHCP naming this school as the most appropriate to meet that need.

I understand why you would prefer this school, but I'm afraid your own heeds won't come into your child's school application.

I'm afraid I've no idea how much these things cost, but could a hearing loop be something you could encourage your allocated school to fundraise for? Most schools are keen to promote inclusion so you may find they'd be on board at prioritising a parental need. It could simply be that the need has never arisen before, but if you make them aware that there's a need you may hopefully find them to be accommodating.

I doubt it - that category applies to the child attending the school.

Lots of parent evenings are online anyway or you could arrange to meet in a classroom where it’s just the three of you.

If I've Googled the right thing, it's suggesting £250-400 for a hearing loop to be installed (unsure if that is just installment, or the cost of the equipment as well as installation). If that is correct, that is totally doable for as primary school to fundraise for. It doesn't hurt to ask...

In my experience, it's not standard for schools to have this technology installed (whether it should be is another argument, but it's not something I've seen in any school around here). While it's wonderfully inclusive that your preferred school has one, the chances are they only have it because there's a need for it (or was a need, in the past). I honestly don't think it would be too much of an ask to enquire whether a school can have one fitted. I probably wouldn't base my decision purely on this is I was you. Pose the question at your favourite more local school first. See what their response is.

This category can sometimes apply to parents, but you would need to read the criteria carefully - it will say explicitly whether it does. This criteria has nothing to do with an EHCP - if a child has a EHCP, they are admitted outside of the normal process and criteria .

Realistically this is a long shot, even if the criteria apply to parents, but it's worth a try if they do.

It's fine to request on these grounds but don't get your hopes up. Reasonable adjustments could be made at other schools including sign language interpreting or them installing one

OP, listen to @PatriciaHolm.

Also, be aware even if the criteria at your preferred school does apply to parents, you will need evidence.

No, that wouldn’t apply. Regarding parents evenings, there are ways in which a hearing impaired parent could access them fully - hold it via Zoom, meetings are generally held in the classrooms so are in fact quiet, use of a signer, written reports via email.

Basic question - do the school's oversubscription include this one, whether it applies to just the pupil or includes issues relating to the applicant's parents? The only compulsory oversubscription criterion is the one relating to Looked After and Previously Looked After Children.

It depends on the school's oversubscription criteria. They don't have to include a category for exceptional social and medical need at all. If they do, it is up to them whether they only consider the child's needs or include the parent's needs. Most will only consider the child's needs, but there are some that will give priority based on the parent's needs.

Having said that, a parent being hard of hearing is unlikely to be enough even if they do consider the parent's needs. But it is up to the school to decide what qualifies. If the school concerned includes parent's needs, all you can do is apply and see what happens.

About one in three adults are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus so this would not be an uncommon occurrence. Surely you would just request reasonable adjustments so you can communicate with the teacher / the school.. At primary, there is likely to be one main class teacher so it should be fairly simple. Out of interest, is the out of catchment school higher performing / perceived as generally more desirable than your nearest school?