APPEAL SEN reasons

[StormySam]

My DD received her 3rd preference secondary school offer.
First was for selective girls grammar. It is much smaller than the 3rd preference (half the size). She is autistic and has ADHD and anxiety. She is on the SEN register but no EHCP.
She is frightened of crowded spaces, finds it impossible to concentrate in loud and unpredictable environments and struggles hugely with sensory issues.
She did so well in the entrance exam because it was a quiet and calm environment. Are any of these things enough to use in our appeal? I have contacted our GP for a letter stating these things and we also have an indepth report from when she was diagnosed a couple of years ago plus her SEN plan from school.
The 2 schools really are chalk and cheese. We only put the 3rd as it was our catchment school.
Do we have any hope?

She did so well in the entrance exam because it was a quiet and calm environment.

To check - what do you mean by 'well' here? Did she pass the minimum standard but was not one of the 200 highest scoring (or whatever) and so didn't get a grammar place?

You can use these reasons in your appeal yes and any professional evidence will help. If you can get a letter from your current school saying your daughter does better in smaller quieter environments that may also help.

The panel will likely ask why you haven’t pursued an ECHP as that would have got you into a whole different admissions system. Can you answer this? Or maybe you have applied and are waiting?

Are there other smaller quieter schools which have space available? You would likely also be asked if you have checked this so good idea to do so.

Well presumably she didn’t get a place at the selective grammar because she didn’t meet entry requirements?? How good were her 11+ scores?? It’s always worth appealing but be realistic about your chances.

If she did so well why did she not get a place? Was there a social/medical category in admissions policy and did she qualify for it? You would need hcp letters stating that in their opinion only school 1 would meet her needs.

She DID pass the entrance exam but lost out on distance

She passed the entrance exam. It then goes by distance rather than score. The school emailed in Oct to say that everyone in our area who put it the school as first choice got a place in 2025 so i'm hoping that includes waiting lists

Definitely not any smaller schools nearer to us. We haven't pursued an EHCP for a variety of reasons. 2 of my other children have them but her needs did not seem as extreme as she can do really well in the right environment

I don’t mean smaller than the grammar but smaller than the one offered. Nothing like that within reach ? Any other single sex schools that might be quieter than the one offered?

I think it would be good to get the EHCP ball rolling while she is still at this school who know her and her needs. She does have extra needs - even if it’s only for a particular sort of environment rather than teaching assistance or anything like that. It will take a while so won’t help with the immediate issue of school allocation but may well help in future.

Do you know where you are on any WL?

You are right. I will look into EHCP as I think her needs will be greater at secondary school.
No clue about waiting lists yet BUT girls who live here and further away have ended up getting places the past 2 years so I presume that was via the waiting list

Ok, in your shoes I would find out where she is on the WL. And keep checking as this may well move over the next few weeks. Some areas have a portal which will have an up to date # for your WL position, otherwise you just have to keep calling/emailing the council to check in.

As a pp says, appeal successes are rare, it’s worth a go but manage expectations (yours and DDs). Sounds like you should hopefully be in a good position for a WL place.

@StormySam you can use these reasons in an appeal, but it will not be a strong appeal because many other children have similar SEN conditions, and all schools are expected to be able to cater for them. All schools have crowded spaces, with loud and unpredictable environments, even small schools.

Your best way forward is to prepare your child to be positive about the offered school, stay on the waiting list for the others and, if you do appeal, don't pin too many hopes on it.

Bear in mind all appeals will be heard at the same time so there is no advantage in lodging the appeal immediately - at least wait until you know your waiting list position. The school will have to pay a fee for your appeal to be processed, even if you later get a place and withdraw it, so you will be doing them a favour if you wait until nearer the deadline.