Secondary School Choice

[catsandsprogs]

Wondering if any of you have been in a similar position or offer advice.

My son has an EHCP.

The school I named as my first choice for secondary is outside of our local authority but very close to us locally.

We have been offered my second preference but when I asked the local authority why the school I named declined/couldn't meet my sons needs, after constantly chasing and waiting around 2 months for feedback they have advised me that because the school I named did not get back to them with any response they just went with my second preference ( without it seems any chasing or follow up!).

Is this right? Is there anything I can do? It's such a struggle to get any info out of them - just not sure whether to accept this now or realistically if there is anything I can do.

Thanks in advance!

@catsandsprogs

It's not quite clear from your post. Do you mean your son's EHCP been finalised naming the second preference school?

When your child has an EHCP you are only required to name your preferred school (ie one school). It is only when you are applying for secondary schools through the normal admissions process that you are asked to give more than one preference.

If a Final EHCP has been issued, there should have been a letter with it setting out your right of appeal.

OP I have replied on your other thread.

Ellie it seems to be becoming more common for LAs to ask parents to fill in a separate form and unlawfully try to get them to state 3 preferences. There’s another thread in secondary education where an LA asked this and tried to insist at least one option was within the LA.

Dory it seems to me that LAs are finding more and more ways to behave unlawfully generally. It's depressing isn't it?

It is Ellie, I am hearing more and more about LAs insisting their local unlawful policies trump the law and parents are believing their nonsense.

Thank you both for replying and Dory on my other thread. That's what essentially happened, I was asked to submit additional choices, and they chose one within the local authority whilst doing very little to action my named choice! I will be appealing as they fedback to me initially on 12th Jan and whilst conversations have been on-going, the final decision letter after checking was not dated until 12th Feb so I have plenty of time to appeal.

Cats I did think finalising by 12th Jan was early.