Secondary School Appeal SEN tomorrow!!!

[OhRex]

I feel I am a little late to the game, I just honestly didn’t think of looking on Mumsnet til now….

My 11yo daughter (ASC/SPD/anxiety) didn’t get into either of the secondary schools we applied for and was offered a place at our nearest secondary school.

She hated that school when we visited and became quickly overwhelmed and anxious. I declined the place as I felt that it would be harmful to the appeal if we accepted.

Our first place school has 682 applications for its 180 places. We were initially at 64 on the waitlist and are down to 28. She LOVED the school at the Open Evening - I have never seen her so engaged, she was in the science labs doing experiments, shooting basketball hoops in the gym (she hates any sport), she spent ages in the Art room (it’s her favourite). She was so happy and calm there.

We are out of catchment area for both our first and second choice schools and our social/medical appeal at time of applying was rejected as autism is so prevalent and all schools should be able to handle her.

ALL her friends are attending the 2 schools we didn’t get into.

Our argument is that we (parents, teachers, support workers, SENCOs) have spent 7 years helping her to make friends, nurturing those bonds and she finally has a tight team of girls around her who understand and support her. It is is unimaginable to me that she would be able to make what will be a very hard transition anyway, without the support and familiarity of those friends.

We have supporting letters from the SENCO, Family Support Worker, Headteacher, class teacher, her Autism diagnosis and report, all as evidence.

What do I need to say in the appeal?? I am crapping it.

That's good news

That is good news.

@WhatNowwwww you can get EHCPs for DC who mask and appear ‘fine’ at school.

Oh great! Well done. Must be a great relief!

Great news! Well done.

Fab

I think we will @WhatNowwwww - interestingly the EHCP debate came up during the hearing. The school representative explained to the panel how it worked and how criteria can differ slightly from LA to LA, she said the if my DD would have been in her borough, it’s likely she would have been more successful.
Now that we are going to School A, it will be something I’m going to bring up with them to see if we can possibly put it in place for the future.
’masks beautifully’ are they for real? Do they understand what masking actually is??? There is nothing beautiful about a square peg bashingvthemselves into a round hole silently, without any relief, all day….

Thanks @PatriciaHolm - it is truly a weight lifted. DD is also massively relieved. She said it had been so hard to cope with her friends being excited and to be happy for them.

The school representative explained to the panel how it worked and how criteria can differ slightly from LA to LA

No, it doesn’t. LAs might think they can have their own local policy but it does not trump the law.

I hope you have success this time with the EHCP.
SENDIASS have been really helpful for us if you want some support with it.

It was depressing to hear that from the OT who was actually lovely and the most helpful professional we’ve had contact with, apart from the diagnosis team. At least she recognised he was masking though. The SENCO said to me “well I understand masking is when you'll
notice a child fidgeting or pulling their hair”. I really didn’t expect to have to explain why that’s a simplistic definition that doesn’t apply to my child at all.
He’s so tired at the end of a school day, after no relief as you’ve said. He’s managing academically though so they don’t want to offer any support. It feels like I’m banging my head against a brick wall!