Applying for school in another LA

[Cocomelon99]

Hi all, wanted some advice. Our DD (3.5) has a diagnosis of autism and currently attends a specialist nursery. We are in the process of applying for an EHCP. She is due to go to school next year and increasingly I think she will struggle in mainstream even with 1:1 support. She is easily overwhelmed by big groups and doing so much better in a smaller setting. SENCo/ SLT etc all recommending an ARP and we’ve found one which is just about walking distance and looks great/ perfect for her needs. Only problem is that it is in another LA. We are right on the border between two LAs and our location means that most the schools closest to us are in the wrong LA. I’ve been to see the closest ARP in our LA which looks under-resourced and without much integration with the mainstream school which I don’t think would benefit her. Their other ARPs are much further away. It is also going to be a nightmare to get her there, no direct public transport routes and she won’t manage the nearly 1h walk. Also have twins under the age of 2 so distance to school is a major concern for me from a practical and safety pov. I am very doubtful she would manage transport if it is provided at all. Is there much point in trying to push for the ARP near us? I’ve been told they will prioritize children within their own LA and we will be pushed toward using ‘local’ resource. Would appreciate any thoughts or if you’ve experienced a similar dilemma.

The school being in another LA doesn’t make a difference. All the same rules still apply.

With the majority of ARPs the ARP is written in to section F and the mainstream school named in section I because most ARPs aren’t standalone settings.

Do you have it in writing an ARP is necessary?

Don’t rule transport out, once settled many DC cope much better than their parents think they will. If the school is named in the EHCP transport should be provided once DD is CSA, before that the LA have discretion. Many LAs will try to say they only provide transport to the nearest suitable school and any other school is parental preference, but this can be challenged and SENTAS can help.

Unless you have a finalised EHCP by the normal admissions deadline make sure you apply via the normal route too just in case.

@Thatsnotmycar thanks for your reply. That’s very helpful. So the fact the unit we want is out of borough doesn’t matter? If so we will definitely pursue a space there, I guess we will still be limited by how few spaces are available… We don’t have it in writing about the ARP but I could ask her current SENCo about this? We have private reports from both OT and SLT which give a long list of recommendations on therapies, frequency, adaptations and environment but no specific comment on setting.
Thanks for you experience on transport, I haven’t ruled it out but am doubtful she will manage in the short term at least. I am still worried how I would manage to get her to a school at a distance safely with two other younger children in tow if transport isn’t an option. She has minimal awareness of road safety and very poor attention. It’s hard enough on a <5 min short walk! We applied for a blue badge but were refused twice on the basis that she is ‘too young’. I may try again now we have a detailed OT report.
we will definitely be applying to schools through the normal channels too as I doubt her EHCP will be finalized in time

No, being in a different LA doesn’t matter. Don’t listen to your LA or the the LA the school is in if they say it does.

Unless your preferred school is wholly independent the LA must name your preference unless they can prove:
-The setting is unsuitable for the age, ability, aptitude or special educational needs (“SEN”) of the child or young person; or
-The attendance of the child or young person would be incompatible with the provision of efficient education for others; or
-The attendance of the child or young person would be incompatible with the efficient use of resources.

Being full isn’t enough of a reason on its own to refuse to name your preferred placement. The LA has to prove they are so full admitting DD is incompatible. The bar is high, higher than many realise.

You need it in writing as evidence. Without evidence you won’t get anything but mainstream.

Do try again for a blue badge. Were the previous applications before DD was 3? If so you have a greater chance now.

@Thatsnotmycar I’ll speak with her SENCo, will the recommendation from the specialist nursery suffice or do you think I should go back to her SLT and OT to ask them if they can be more specific in their recommendations for a setting? I can now see OT has recommended 1-1 but not made any comment about how many hours etc. Starting to think these reports are too vague ☹️
With the blue badge we applied just after she had turned 3, we appealed the declination and had a telephone ‘assessment’ where they decided that because I’d managed to take her to a park one day and that there had been some slight improvement in her communication, that maybe she would get better with time and wouldn’t need a blue badge… It seemed like they were trying to find a reason to decline on any grounds, the autism is hardly going to go away! I didn’t have the energy to keep pursuing but I’ll try again.

1:1 without quantification is worthless. It would help if the SALT &/or OT stated DD needed an ARP.

@Thatsnotmycar thank you for your previous advice. We’ve had an assessment with the Ed Psych arranged by her nursery and she is going to put a recommendation for an ARP in writing.