What counts as 'meeting needs' at A'level?

[Brose]

Wondering if anyone can offer advice on this situation ... My son's EHCP has named a particular 6th form college as his preferred setting. He's met the criteria for entry. They are telling me that they meet their legal requirements to meet his needs by accepting him in the college, but they can't give him the A'levels he wants due to over-subscription. As a result, he'll have to change his A'levels (he's repeating Y12 for various reasons). My feeling is that this is not 'meeting his needs' and that over-subscription shouldn't be a criteria.

Unless the specific A levels are specified in the EHCP then the college are right in that they are meeting their legal requirements by admitting DS to the college.

I wonder how many others have been turned away from those subjects due to 'over-subscription'. Might be worth asking in case they are pulling a fast one?

Is it all 3 subjects?

And it's definitely that, not him not meeting the specific A level course requirements?

Thanks for your reply. We've just had an emergency annual review, so I' not clear on the actual wording of it that's been sent from county. The idea is that he's switching one of the subjects (that was a disaster for him last year), but sticking with the other two and restarting Y12. The sixth form now want him to start with 3 completely new subjects - he was expected that he'd spend the year consolidating two subjects, while starting one new. The EHCP won't state specific subjects, but it might state that he's only changing one subject. I'm trying to find out, but my timing couldn't be much worse with term ending!

He's definitely met the criteria, because he took his GCSEs last year, so has the grades required. Perhaps I'm too trusting, but I do believe them about the over-subscription. It's two of the subjects that they don't have space in, and they've put him on a waiting list.

The LA have to send the draft amendments within 4 weeks of the early review and finalise within 12 weeks.

The EHCP can state the subjects.

How have the college allocated places in oversubscribed subjects?

In your experience, are LAs meeting these deadlines? If I contact the LA, is there a chance to get subjects included in the EHCP? I doubt I can get any help from the (current) school SEN department over the holidays.
I believe places at the college have been allocated first-come-first-served. Most of the applicants will be getting GCSE results this summer, so some won't meet the criteria, so will drop out.

Many LAs aren’t meeting the statutory deadlines, but they are a legal requirement, so if your LA are in breach email the Director of Children’s Service threatening Judicial Review.

When the LA send the draft amended EHCP you will get chance to make representations, you can ask for the amendments then if they aren’t already included. It’s impossible to say whether the LA would agree to make the amendments you want.

Thanks for your help. I've got a plan now - will try to get his subjects included in Section F and stress that he shouldn't be changing all 3 subjects. Not sure what my chances are ... Thanks again.