Applying for under exceptional medical or social need

[GoodluckJonathan76]

Does anyone have any examples of when this can be used? DS1 has additional needs at school we are currently trying to work through (ruled out autism last year through an assessment) and now thinking possible ADHD but does not have a statement and very unlikely to get one. The school has flagged up several times that they think DS1 has additional needs, is different, and we have the psychologist and psychiatrist reports from earlier this year, as well as a letter from CAMHs, which all state that he has unusual quirks/ additional needs but does not have autism. We are now picking things up again with CAMBs after the school flagged further issues this term as he moved into year 5. In the words of the SENCO, she thinks it would be a disaster if DS went to the local comprehensive (very mixed and quite rough) and there is a far better school with a better SENCO and pastoral care system further away where we think he would fare much better. The school is about 2.5 miles but is very oversubscribed (catchment is 0.5) so we don't stand a chance on distance. Do we have a chance if we rely on the exceptional medical/social ground? Interestingly, I checked the admissions policy and it doesn't have a separate category for kids with statements of special educational needs, it just goes 1) children in care, 2) children with exceptional medical or social needs, 2) children of teachers. Wonder if this will make it easier.

If he has a statement which names the school they must take him. If no statement my LA only considers med/soc needs if there is a letter from a registered health or social practitioner that states the school is the only one that can meet his needs

The school should provide guidance about what they mean and require within this category.

But generally, you need to state clearly what he needs and why this school can provide it. Be very specific about what the school offers and provides. This needs to be backed up by letters from health / educational professionals which say why the school is necessary, and naming what it is that the school offers that will suit the child. The professional letters need to say ‘in my opinion...’ not ‘his parents believe that...’ it is the best / only school.

If you don’t get a place straight away you can appeal in the same basis, arguing that your child will
Be disadvantaged by not attending this school because of the various support mechanisms available.

They won't have a separate category for children with statements (or EHCPs as they are now called). Those children do not go through the normal admissions process. The school must admit a child with an EHCP or statement naming the school even if they are already full.

The admissions information that your local authority has on its website should state what evidence you need to support getting your son into this category. As others say, it is likely that they will need information from health or education professionals to back it up. It isn't enough to simply show that he has additional needs. You need to show that his needs can be best met by this school.

We did apply for medical needs category for my ds's primary , backed up by several letters from professionals. It was denied for this category, because needs wasn't significant for the school enough. Though we did get the place from other category because it was the closest school.

What is considered appropriate under this category does differ from one Local Authority to another. However if you were in my LA then they would consider that every school should be able to cope with the issues that your child has as stated in the OP. I accept that this is easy to say and that the reality across different schools is stark but it does illustrate the likely reaction to your request. They are much more likely to be interested in moving your son towards an EHCP, which would give you a level of control over where he can attend school. I would suggest that you try to push this along as fast as possible - you have nearly a year to get an EHC plan in place and get entry to the school you prefer.
I would also say that you need to have an independent look at the local comprehensive rather than rely on the SENCOs view. Gauge your own view of how much a disaster it might be and start mitigating against that, as realistically without an EHC Plan in place that is the most likely school you will be offered.
Sorry that sounds quite blunt but you do need to be realistic.

Admission, I know we have a tiny chance but I think it's worth a shot. I know that we need to get letters from professional to support our case. I am just wondering though, who can rely on this ground if not kids with additional needs? I was trying to think of some examples when this ground could be used but can't. I know someone who used it successfully with a child quite similar to mine although they only got in on appeal.

To give you an idea, my ds had multiple food allergy(including
anaphylaxis), chronic illness(which he lost one of his organ), social difficulty with asd/adhd traits and was selective mute at the time of primary admission, all backed up by letters from relevant professionals. Still, LA said his needs can be met at any school within the area.
I would get EHCP.

So when can the social/medical ground be used?

Irvine, if you get EHCP, does that not mean he gets priority at any school you apply to?

OP: a school which is flat access or is s new build so is accessible for children with mobility disabilities, for example of medical need, a child whose parent has a job which puts them at risk in the local catchment (some police or social workers),

It is worth a shot, if it is a Foundation school or Academy they may be less strict than a LA, who do take the view that all schools are / should be equipped to manage a range of SEN.

Also it may be more credible to go to Appeal with material you presented from the start.

It is also well worth having a good look at your local school. Some schools perceived to be ‘rough’ can have excellent SEN provision.

My kids went to an ‘outstanding ‘ primary, but the experience and training of the SEN / Inclusion team at the comp was way higher.

EHCPs are very difficult to get in our LA.

Examples:

When the school is the nearest one which is fully accessible given width of a wheelchair (many, especially older buildings, are only partially accessible).

When a child has frequent (life-threatening) collapses and the school requested is next street to the major hospital where child has been lifelong patient. Backed by letters from two consultants, about how delay to treatment was immediately life threatening. And from hospital SW and hospital school about how this was by far and away the best school for continuity during admissions. Siblings of this child (who also had medical conditions, but not quite so severe) were admitted under exceptional social need.

Social need: sole parent with significant mobility issues requesting a school for which she could cope with the school run. Backed with letters about her limits from specialist and GP (essentially giving maximum cope-able journey parameters, I think only one school within them). This was in a LA which explicitly said that mobility issues for principle carer would be considered by the panel.

Would the ‘school run’ reason apply at Secondary?

Sorry, my bad. I overlooked which topic, and you're right school run reasons would not normally apply for secondary.

Sorry, mine was example of not getting in under medical/social, even though ds had multiple needs, since any school can meet his needs. (My concern was distance, I wanted him to go to overscribed closest school, which we got a place anyway under distance in the end.)

So, since EHCP name the school, it's only way to guarantee you get a place at your preferred school I assume.

“The school have now removed that from their admission code because of how my son got his place... “

That ‘s bonkers! Surely the whole point of a priority category for children with exceptional medical social needs is that there are children with those needs .

And especially when you consider that within the appeals process kids can get a place above local
Kids at a highly oversubscribed school if parents can argue that the school’s stamp collecting club offers a unique support to their stamp-collecting child.

EHCPs are very difficult to get in our LA.

No-one should ever be put off by this sort of perception. All LAs are bound by the law, they can't just decide to ignore it for their own policy reasons. If they do, that is what the tribunal is there for. Around 85% of refusal to assess appeals are conceded by LAs or won by parents, and around 80% of refusal to issue appeals likewise go the parents' way.

Fair point DeepanKrisp.
(Our LA has a history of pushing it to tribunal , but it is true, most of the tribunals are then won. Scandalous way for them to operate).

Ok but some schools still have 2 categories, one for kids with statements where the school has to offer a place, and another for special medical/social needs. Presumably the second ground could be relied upon IF the child does not have a statement but still has additional needs? I am pretty sure that DS will not get a statement (we were told as much when he was assessed for autism). I accept it's going to be a massive struggle and very slim chance but am hopeful that we could get a letter from the psychologist/GP/NHS clinic where he was seen supporting our case. Of course the challenge is making the case for that particular school which will be difficult.

Your problem is that to use the additional needs criterion you have to be able to demonstrate that because of those needs your child can't attend any other school. LAs will claim that all schools have SENCOs and good pastoral systems and therefore that there is nothing about this particular school which makes it the only one that can meet your child's needs.

I wouldn't necessarily take the word of either the school or the health authorities that your child won't get an EHCP, they're rarely fully aware of the relevant criteria. For example, for the first stage - an EHC needs assessment - the criteria you have to satisfy are whether your child has or may have SEN, and whether he may need an EHCP. If the SENCO thinks your child won't cope in a normal mainstream comprehensive, it sounds as if you would certainly meet those criteria.

I would check how many places this school has offered under this category over the past few years.
Unfortunately it can't be relied on (even with a diagnosed condition) as quite a high percentage of children have additional needs with no ECHP/statement.
The only examples that I can think of in my area are schools that are a recognised resource base for a particular condition e.g. one school has a unit for deaf children with additional support with staff who are qualified in sign language etc. (if your child needs that type of support).

EHCPs are like hen’s teeth where I work.
I can’t tell you the number of what we thought would be watertight applications with whole dossiers of evidence and they’ve been rejected out of hand. Incredibly dispiriting.

There are certainly a number of local authorities who seem to reject EHCP applications on almost a knee-jerk basis, without contemplating applying the law. They're the ones with over 90% failure rates in appeals against refusals of assessment.

My dd got in on appeal on socio medical needs...(in year admission to year 9). presented all evidence and panel were super understanding. You can but try.