Mistake by Local Authority in allocation for SEN High School... help needed.

[ThisMustBeMyDream]

My child has an EHCP. The annual review was completed in September with local sen high school A as parental preference named.
End of January I recieved the EHCP draft copy which named sen high school B. I immediately contacted the local authority to enquire as to the reasons for offering school B. It has taken until this week to get the answer.
The answer was that the parental preference school had been listed as school B. They knew this was an error, as they could see from the EHCP review that school A was named as parental preference.
As a result my child has not had a fair consideration for this school and is disadvantaged as a result. School B is wholly unsuitable (I visited, it was awful, current school senco agrees unsuitable, as does the LA person who attended the review and apoke to me a couple of weeks ago after the news of the placement arrived). The local authority manager who spoke to me to explain the above has told me she is attending a meeting at school A next week where she will explain the situation and ask them to go over numbers to admit him.

Is this good enough? What should I be expecting them to do to fix their mistake? I'm not sure if there is anything I can do beyond taking it to appeal - which in itself is highly unfair as it was someone else's error who has caused this. I'm so bloody angry right now, it's hard to think straight. I'd appreciate if anyone has any advice, I know it's probably quite niche from the usual high school appeal questions.

No sadly she is in year 9 at john fisher but hasnt been this academic year. So from september hopefully she will be in Expanse year 10. Has your son started Oakfield yet? We looked round it and it looks fantastic, but too big a setting for my daughter to manager. As for Newbridge - someone jumped the walls while I was there and they said it was normal and he would hopefully come back later!! So scary that school, they arent even allowed to the toilet with an escort!

It is so hard when you are chasing constantly, fighting every step of the way and not getting anywhere. I am so glad your son is sorted :-) You must be so relieved!! xx

@claireheath there’s no way of knowing the likelihood of the ‘panel’ agreeing to name your preferred placement, unfortunately. When is your Tribunal hearing? Do you have evidence to support the need for specialist? Try not to worry if the LA doesn’t agree to specialist. If you are appealing it isn’t them that make the ultimate decision.

Thank you for replying. It is what I thought then, but I know we have done everything possible so it is now in the hands of the panel. The hearing isnt until the 18th of July so whatever the outcome, it doesnt give me a lot of time to organise alternatives and appeals with it being the summer holidays xx

@claireheath I’m sorry, I misread your post. I read it as the LA we’re going to take DD’s case back to panel whilst you are waiting for the tribunal hearing. But you meant the tribunal is in 6 weeks. To reassure you, more placement appeals are upheld than not. If DD is unable to attend the mainstream and you have evidence you have a strong case.

ohhhh i really hope so - will keep you posted :-)

Keep it simple. You requested a particular school. The LA has messed up and mislaid your request and has named a different school. You want the school you requested. It is for the LA to justify why your daughter cannot go there, not for you to justify why she needs to go there.

Yes you’re right!