Daughter refused Sen school so upset

[CornflakesCorn]

I’m so upset, I home educate my daughter not through choice as they wouldn’t give her a place in a Sen school. Well I did an annual review with the LA as I’m desperate to get her back into school I can’t cope with her at home anymore I’m seriously losing
My mind. She even had a visit from a Sen school she’s not doing any learning anymore as my mental health can’t cope with it I can’t do this anymore. Well they’ve only gone and said mainstream! Even after the Sen school visited why I feel like crying! They clearly saw how much she struggles she cried the whole time they was there and didn’t engage at all! How on earth has she been given mainstream what do I do now I can’t keep her at home I’m losing the will to live any advice as I can't cope with her at home anymore I can't believe they've said mainstream
For a child that can't even hold a conversation

The man from the Sen school sounded extremely
Positive and even told me the group my daughter
Would go in so why they now refuse. I just don't understand this I should add she's 13

Sorry you’re having a tough time.

I assume this was an EHCP review? Did you go down the appeal/tribunal route when you first appealed?

Getting a SEN school is very tough, even if the LA approve a SEN school finding a place is near impossible. This added to the cost to the LA, means they pretty much always regret unless there is very very obvious need.

On appeal many people have success, but the barrier is set quite high.

No I didn't appeal The first time I decided to home educate but that hasn't worked out and I no longer wish to. It's been almost 3 years I can't do it anymore.

You can appeal this time.

You can also inform the LA you are no longer EHE and they must make arrangements to ensure DD receives a suitable full-time education and anything detailed, specified and quantified in F of her EHCP.

You need to go down the appeal route, however it can be a very long process, 12 month + is not uncommon.

They often reject at every opportunity, trying to grind you down in the hope you’ll just give up, but you just have to stick at it.

Was it an LA school or an independent (that the LA would fund)?

Seeing as you had review, I’m assuming you were granted a EHCP but that contents of it is the issue? What sort of provision does your current EHCP outline, for example a 1-2-1 TA in a mainstream school?

OP can request an expedited hearing on the basis her DD isn’t in school. Still a wait but not a year plus.

That sounds really tricky. I'd appeal the decision.

What is her SEN? If it's something a mainstream school would struggle to manage, as opposed to her being miserable but staying below their radar, as a last resort I'd consider sending her to mainstream. It might be easier to get her a place at an SEN school if a mainstream school refuses to keep her there. Obviously you know her best and are best placed to weigh up the pros and cons of that approach though.

What is the EP recommendation on her advice to EHCP?
What are her SEN?
Does she have selective mutism? That one itself wouldn't disbarr mainstream but she would need support, and training for the school

Once you have the final EHCP with mainstream named you will need to lodge an appeal. IPSEA website has great guidance and advice on this.
If your child is unable to attend the mainstream for 15 days or more the LA is responsible for putting appropriate alternative education in place under Section 19 so you should push for that once she's missed 15 days at the allocated mainstream school.

The 15 days you are talking about don’t have to have already been missed; it is as soon as it becomes clear 15 days will be missed and should begin by the sixth day at the latest.

She didn't see a EP she is home educated that was not arranged by the LA.

She is autistic, she can speak but she can't hold a conversation she has limited verbal communication she communicates by using echolalia she just repeats sentences and phrases she has heard

The mainstream school said they cannot meet her needs. She had a full time 1:1 all day in primary school they told me she would not get that in secondary and she would need it. She was never left alone at any point as she can be aggressive.

I just don't think I have the energy to fight this I wouldn't even know how to begin an appeal, yes she already has a ehcp and despite having a 1:1 all day in primary until she left it's not mentioned on the ehcp so I've been told they will not give her one in secondary school.

You need to appeal. You and your daughter shouldn’t have to go through this, but special schools are under so much pressure to provide more and more places that appealing may as well be a normal part of the admissions process.

Ask on the SN boards on here OP, there is advice out there that can help you through everything. The right school place will make a huge difference to both your lives.

Sorry but she must have seen an EP or she wouldn't have an EHCP. They must have contributed advice to the EHCP. If you can find the original bundle of paperwork it should be attached.

You actually don't need to move straight to tribunal. You already have an EHCP you are requesting an updated Ed psych assessment as her needs have significantly changed. Do that first because if they agree to that it could save a lot of time, effort and bother. Or employ your own EP.

If they insist on mainstream I would take her along to meet the senco of the named school. They may become an ally supporting you in requesting specialist if they feel that she won't manage there.

I would be very clear that your parental preferences is for specialist and that you have every intention of progressing to tribunal. LAs don't normally persevere with cases they know they aren't going to win, but you need updated EP advice to support your case and that is the top priority.

Really the only way is to appeal and fight it. It’s terrible but many LA are purposely denying support in order to save money.

They knock you down in the hope you’ll give up the fight and even if you don’t give up the fight then they’ve saved themselves a year or so of funding while you’ve been fighting it.

You completely have my sympathy having a child with additional needs is exhausting enough without the added stress of EHCP appeals. I wish I had something more helpful to say.

I would also go to your local sendiass and ask for their support with advocacy for you with the LA.

She should request updated EP assessment first. If the LA agrees to this it could solve all the problems without needing to appeal. Sendiass should help advocate - or the local parent/carer forum if you have one.

LAs don't normally persevere with cases they know they aren't going to win

Yes they do! The statistics speak for themselves. LAs spend extortionate amounts of money defending indefensible cases often against unrepresented parents.

You should appeal. Personally, I wouldn’t bother formally requesting a reassessment of needs. There is no guarantee that will lead to the LA making a different decision and it potentially just wastes time. Appeal and seek an independent assessment as part of that.

Be careful with SENDIASS. Some are good but too many repeat the LA’s unlawful policies. IPSEA and SOSSEN are better sources of information.

You should check if you are eligible for legal aid.

I’d contact the MS she’s been allocated and ask to speak to the head urgently. I’d then go and see them alone explaining the situation and have dh or someone safe bring her to wait in reception to pick you up.

Whilst this isn't overly helpful, it's far easier to get a placement once in the school system plus they can come up with bespoke arrangements within a mainstream school which we arranged (sen schools couldn't meet my DD's needs as she's extremely bright). Considering you aren't coping at home, is it possible to take the placement offered then work with the system to be transferred if they cannot cope.

Have a look at Section F in her EHCP. If there's too much in it, it will put schools off and they'll say they can't meet need. There's only so much capacity, so many staff and so many hours in a school week. If you've pushed for everything humanly possible to be written in there with specific numbers of students in interventions etc. schools won't even consider it. Nobody tells you this do they?! There's a general trend at the moment for SEN parents to push for everything they can for their child (understandably so) but the bigger picture is that further down the line, when schools are sent these consultations from the LA, it's all of the (accountable and legally required!) detail in section F that will shoot these parents (and ultimately these children) in the foot. Ask for an Annual Review and have everything unnecessary removed.

No LA would go to tribunal defending trying to force a minimally verbal child into a mainstream setting against LA Ed psych advice and parental preference.

Arguing over which specialist setting, the LA offer or an expensive indie, yes. Arguing about how many hours of support and the precise nature of the speech therapy package, yes. Arguing about whether a 23 year old with severe learning needs should be moving out of an education setting into a non educational social care based setting, yes.