Applying for reception place before EHCP in place

[BBQsAreSooooOverrated]

Dc4 is 3.5yrs and I need to apply for her reception place before Mid January. She is non verbal, doesn't use pecs or signing currently and although not she hasn't officially been diagnosed as having an asd she has lots of traits. She's under salt, portage and paediatrician and is being referred for OT too.

Although the ehcp process has begun we know it can take up to 6m to be completed by which time the deadline for applying for her reception place would have passed. We're unsure whether to apply for a mainstream school or the nearest special school at this stage.

There are 3 primary schools in our catchment area, one of them my older 2 dc attend at the but it is large - 3 class per year, which we dont feel is suitable for dd. The other 2 are one form entry per year which we'd prefer if we choose mainstream school however, as she would have no siblings at either of those schools she'd be 5th/6th on the admission criteria so without the ehcp in place she might not get a place at either of these schools.

Do we just apply so she has a place somewhere even though this might change after the ehcp is in place or do we apply as a late application after the ehcp is complete?

Does anyone have experience of a non-verbal child/autism in a mainstream school or have you chosen a special school for your child? It's so hard to know what to do for the best

Thanks x

The EHCP process isn't supposed to take more than 20 weeks from the date when you first asked for it. Make sure you keep the council to the deadlines, they're imposed by law and could be enforced through the courts if necessary.

It would be safest to apply through the normal primary admission system. You won't get your child into a special school unless and until he has an EHCP. When you get a draft EHCP you will be asked about your school preference, and will have a chance then to change your mind and also to ask for a special school placement.

Thanks for your reply. We'll definitely keep on at them and chase up if necessary. Sounds like it's going to be a long road.

Does the school you prefer have an exceptional medical/social need category?

Because if so, then apply in that category. Note on the form in the comments bit that EHCP process is underway (refer to correspondence). Summarise needs and why this school meets them better than any other local school. Ask if further information and supporting evidence is needed, to whom it should be sent and deadline for submission.

Also, in these circumstances, talk to a senior manager in admissions dept to check if there is anything else you need to do, and follow up that conversation with an email setting out your understanding what is necessary.

Good point thank you, yes no.5 mentions a disability.
Children who are due to start school and:

1. have a statement of special educational needs naming that school
2. are in public care or have been adopted
3. live in the area served by the school and who have a sibling attending the school at the time of their admission
4. live in the area served by the school who have a brother or sister attending the feeder junior school
5. have a disability and live in the area served by the school (Appropriate professional evidence will be required to confirm the disability)
6. live in the area served by the school

Will look into doing that then thanks as she sees various hcps.

Speaking from our experience, we viewed and decided where we felt was best, which was a special school as our also non verbal DS would have had to go into a mixed age year group of about 30 in the local mainstream primary ( he wasn't potty trained either) we applied for the EHCP and even though the LA said we'd have to apply through admissions to the local school to get an educational place, I refused as I knew it wasn't the right place. I ended up delaying his school start for a year (he's a July baby so would have been one of the youngest without the added difficulties) anyway, we finally got the EHCP and the school place we wanted and he went the following September when he was five.

That's really helpful thank you, Dd isnt potty trained either yet. Although not as young as your ds her birthday is at the end of May son we could also consider deferring.

I have experience of this but can't seem to pm you! Can you pm me so I can message you!?

Thanks. Pm'd you :)

I could have written this thread myself, BBQsAreSooooOverrated.

My son is almost 3 1/2, essentially non-verbal and in the needs assessment stage of EHCP planning. He doesn't have an ASD diagnosis yet (and I'm not sure when he'll get an official one, whether that goes hand in hand with the EHCP or is another letter) but that's a certainty either way.

I have been agonising about the school admissions process (knowing that we will probably end up in a 'named school' situation with the EHCP but obviously not able to rely on that 100% until it's there in black and white). I am applying this weekend and have just used my visits and research online about the schools local to us, have chosen the three best ones from what I know and the way I felt about them... I hope that will be enough.

I have added extra information under the social/medical headings for each school. I looked through their websites, SEN policy etc and found attributes they have which I felt would specifically benefit my son and which I felt weren't necessarily offered by other schools in the area. I'm not sure whether they will consider this if he doesn't have the EHCP or Statement already, but I felt it was definitely worth a shot and I do have various reports and documents (as do you) so maybe it will make a difference despite not being complete.

I'm sure you've probably submitted your application now, as it's so close to the deadline. I just wanted to add that you're not alone in the worry and uncertainty, but hopefully it will work out for the best... wishing you and your family all the luck in the world.

Op here, Name changed.

Thanks for your post :)
I still haven't applied for my dds place, needs to be done by end of the week. We ruled out the specialist school in our county. We're waiting for an EHCP assessment now and have a named coordinator for the EHCP process so that's positive apparently.

After a meeting with the senco for our area she encouraged us to look at another school locally that's out of catchment (but half a mile closer than our catchment schools!), as it's suoposedly superb for children with special educational needs, particularly asd. The teachers all know makaton, have visual timetables etc.
We were pleased with what we saw there compared to other schools. Our only concern - well mine really as it'll be me doing the school runs- is that we already have a ds at another local primary school in the opposite direction to our house. Both schools finish at the same time so will be a bit tricky logistically. Being a grown up is difficult, so many decisions!