SEN - anyone had the fees paid for independent school from Reception?

[richmond44]

Hi
Just wondered if anyone has managed to persuade a LA to pay fees under a statement for an independent school. DS is 3 and I am about to apply for a statement. He attends a small pre school prep where he could stay until Year 2 (he would go to reception next september), Recently diagnosed as being on the autistic spectrum with no speech but no obvious learning difficulties. We have been told by LA will get a statement probably 1 to 1, he already gets a preschool grant for 15 hours as the maximum for pre school, and LA have said we could probably get a statement to cover his present independent school as its getting more common to obtain one for independent schools than it was say 5 years ago,but they are not giving anything away in relation to having the fees paid. I would like to know if anyone has experiance of getting fees paid on the basis of the fact he is settled at the school, is making progress (albeit slow), suits the small size classes, recognises the teachers etc. I do not want to pursue this route if its unlikely. There are I am sure great state schools but none with such small size classes and he does not like change.
Thanks

Richmond

I can't answer your question but I suggest you post this in the "Special needs: children" topic where a lot more people will see it.

ring IPSEA if you can.

If you can add up the additional costs of help in a state school - vs - costs of placement at a private school and they come to within a few thousand pounds you would have a good argument at Tribunal. (This is my memory, but IPSEA will have the facts.)

Don't forget to add in all the admin costs, insurance, training, holiday pay, sickpay, cover etc etc. for the state school help.

Thanks KATTT and will check out the IPSEA site.

We didn't but did manage to get nursery grant funding which helped a little but she was only 3.
Could try exspectionsal needs funding too

Yes, I did. As your name is Richmond are you from Richmond, Surrey?

My DS2 went to a mainstream primary - which was really excellent for SEN and pushed through his statement. I also paid for DXs on the side (which was really important, it helped him jump the queue in waiting for an LEA Ed Psych) and hired a lawyer - from Maxwell Gillotte - I can give you more info if you like. The lawyer locked down his statement and helped me send him to an independent secondary school funded by the LEA.

In the appeal the LEA said that my use of legal help was "not necessary" as they would have done what I wanted anyway. Funny how they had turned down the application twice.

DS2 was slow with speech and language and people kept trying to slap an ASD label on him from aged 2.5. However, I just knew that it wasn't correct. It took till he was 10 to get APD (Auditory Processing Difficulties) along with Dyspraxia without significant Dyslexia.

The APD really hampers learning in a big mainstream setting, I think, as there are different learning speeds and DS2 needs things explained in short and simple language until he gets it, then he gets it.

I knew from DS2 was 2 that there was something up - don't accept an "experts" DX unless you are sure it really does fit your child.

would you mind sharing hich excellent ms primary was this? i'm hunting for a good primary for my SN child and havent found one yet...thanks v much

very interesting my son has sen and dx of sensory issues but its not a dx if you get me. Im looking into independent schools as the size of mainstream is so big. the L A said that they woundnt fund over the phone but i havent summited my forms yet. my head is spinning any advice much apprieciated.