Funding with LA and residential college

[Lesley25]

How can I secure the funding with LA of a residential college placement for my son when he turns 18?

I have always wanted him to move into residential at 18 so that isn’t the issue, but how do I get the La agree to
my choice of residential college ?

can they disagree and say he has to stay with me- which I don’t think they can.

Do I have to show that this is the only college that can meet need- problem here is that it’s 220 miles away from my home so is it likely I’ll secure my choice based on that distance? Do I have to Prove that every other college between here and there cannot meet need?

any help would be greatly appreciated

Does DS have an EHCP? Is the college you want wholly independent?

If DS doesn’t have an EHCP you will need one.

If DS does have an EHCP and the college isn’t wholly independent the LA have to name your/DS’s 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.

Realistically you will need to show there is a need for residential. The college being 220 miles away doesn’t preclude it being named.

If the college is wholly independent you will need to show the LA’s proposed placements can’t meet DS’s needs &/or it isn’t unreasonable public expenditure.

How old is DS? In the lead up to the phase transfer review you want to ensure you have evidence DS needs residential/that college.

The LA can’t force you to continue caring for DS but that doesn’t necessarily equate to your college of preference, especially without an appeal.

Thank you. I was hoping you’d answer. 😬

The college is independent, we have an EHCP, Ds is 14 and at the annual review , the school said transition starts now. Ds is already in a special school till 18.

The review was so frustrating. Transition person from social services has left, they can’t give me another name , school asked if I’d like to continue education , but education looks very different to my largely non verbal son than most. It’s life skills, communication, OT, basically an extension of what he has now for another 3 years -18-21.

the schools transition person gave me nursing care home options!

so, In Summary , I should go back to SS and ask for a list of residential colleges and put forward my reasons per college why they are not appropriate, or cannot meet need.

but how do I fight for the residential aspect? Ss has always known how hard I’ve found these last few years and I’m hanging on with carers and respite till 18.

I need a good solicitor and I know I need Deputyship (another thread a while back) once ds turns 16/17 I’ll get that ball rolling.

in all honesty, I’d like more options then residential college, supported living for example with day centres but at the same time knowing my sons SLD and giving him a few more years where communication is at the forefront, is life changing.

I hear of many college courses for adults with LDs but I struggle to see how they fit for my son without the speech therapy, OT and everything else. Plus school seemed to steer me away from education because “ courses can be dropped after a year” .

Is the college wholly independent or section 41 independent? Section 41 independents are treated the same as maintained colleges.

Transition in terms of preparation for adulthood begins now, but the post 18 placement will be formalised in terms of transition until phase transfer year.


I can’t believe you were asked if you want education to continue. Yes you do! Point out to anyone trying to discourage you anything that educates or trains is educational provision and working towards qualifications is not a necessity. Many LAs try to tell parents educational provision isn’t necessary post 18 and therefore they can cease the EHCP and parents don’t realise the educational provision doesn’t have to be what many consider traditional education.

EHCPs can continue until 25 or in some circumstances 26. In your situation don’t allow it to cease before then.


Don’t rely on others giving you a list of placements. They are unlikely give you the whole picture. You can search for placements here. By all means begin to create a list and collate evidence as to why others aren’t suitable, but you don’t need to rush in to this as you won’t need to demonstrate this until phase transfer year. Things change, there may be new placements by then, others may have closed or have different cohorts/resources. You also don’t want to show your hand too early.

but how do I fight for the residential aspect?

Evidence. OT, SALT, psychiatrist/clinical psychologist, social care... whoever is involved. Depending circumstances information from schools or police or hospital… You may need independent assessments, but not yet as otherwise they will be considered out of date. Ultimately the LA may force you to appeal, unfortunately.

At this stage you don’t need a solicitor. If you need to appeal DS will be eligible for legal aid in his own right once he is 18.

Supported living and a day placement or EOTAS is an option if you would prefer that.

College courses can run alongside therapies and other provision. For example, DC may attend college 3 days a week and on the other days have SALT, OT, a mentor to access the community... I’m not sure what you mean with the last sentence, sorry? Some courses only last a year but students then move onto another course.

I wasn’t clear about the last sentence. School was trying to say to me that if you sign up to a 3 year course at 18, it can be dropped after a year and you have to apply for funding every year.
I didn’t think that sounded right. But they seemed to steer me away from education. I now know to say he’s staying in education so thank you.

Thank you so much for going to the trouble with all the above.

you know what, I wanted to avoid the whole hoohaa I know is coming re the LA saying no to the placement and a tribunal so I blindly thought starting earlier might be the way to stop that, but as you’re saying you can’t finalise any of this till transfer year anyway.

I’ll collate that list from your link above.

I’ll have to google the college and the section 41 you mentioned because I don’t know.

interestingly you mention I shouldn’t show my hand too early. I thought by threatening the La of this possible Placement that might stir them into giving me more options I hadn’t considered. I don’t think that’s likely so I’ll take your advice and keep my mouth shut whilst researching the other options .

when it comes down to it, what I really need to weigh up is , if moving my son at 18 to a residential educational placement in new surroundings- a different part of the country , seeing me only at the end of term, for what I think is specialist AAC support / communication is worth all that upheaval. Hydrotherapy pools, OT, etc he’s had all of that for the last 10 years, .At 18, I wouldn’t’ move my son for those things alone.
I’m really only moving him to this college because it’s excellent at communication strategies.

he will go into residential at 18 regardless but what that looks like - it could be a supported living house with day college , in his surroundings he is used to, seeing me every weekend, starting his life as he means to go in, is it better to get him used to that set up?

i won’t know till I do the research, it feels like such a lonely time, having to see which fit would be better. I find I’m asking people I know who have a child l like mine a few years ahead , what are you doing? Then I feel enormous guilt when they say they’re
looking after them forever. But I know I cannot do that.

onwards and upwards, better get that excel spreadsheet up and running!

Unfortunately if you are wanting an expensive independent residential you are likely to have to appeal whatever you do beforehand.

The list of section 41 provisions is here. It is updated regularly so just because a placement is on there now doesn’t mean it will be by the time DS is in phase transfer year. And vice versa.


By don’t play your hand too early I meant don’t explain in detail and evidence why every other provision can’t meet DS’s needs. By all means make it known that is the placement you want and you will appeal it if not given it. But don’t e.g. mention placement A isn’t suitable because of XYZ and placement B isn’t suitable because of X and Y. Because I know a parent who did this a couple of years in advance of post 16 transition and the LA altered their maintained provision to provide XYZ so on paper the parents argument wouldn’t hold weight at tribunal. The LA were frankly devious and nasty. The longer you give them to prepare the easier it is for them to arrange their own provisions in a way to work against you.

If DC start a 3 year course at 18 you will still have an AR, as you legally must, but the LA are unlikely to cease the EHCP or amend the placement unless it isn’t working. If they do try to you can appeal which is highly likely to be successful since DS would be mid course.

Is weekly boarding or coming home every few weeks an option?

I feel enormous guilt when they say they’re looking after them forever. But I know I cannot do that.

You don’t need to feel guilt. Setting DS up for life sooner rather than later is an equally valid choice and nothing to be ashamed or guilty about. Getting him settled and provision in place while you are still around and able to step in when needed is no bad thing.


better get that excel spreadsheet up and running!

This made me laugh. That is how I showed no school could meet DS1’s needs and we needed EOTAS.

I came across this website which might help others too reading this thread
natspec.org.uk/colleges/search/

it’s just a list of colleges in the uk by disability you can see a list of.

thank you @Thatsnotmycar
i wish I could repay you with your brilliant advice.

good point re. Why a college won’t meet need and giving that info too early..

. The threat of an expensive college maybe enough to get them to at least assign a social services transition worker to me.

@Thatsnotmycar did you only do schools within your LA and maintained when you showed they couldn’t meet need?

I’ve just done a download and across the uk there’s about 74. Surely, if I just do my LA colleges and maintained ones with residential provision and show they cannot meet need , then also cost out supported living with carers as an alternative provision I’ve not missed anything out.

then I cost out whatever provision ss throws at me I should be covered.

but fairs fair, I’ll look at the LA maintained one’s and alternatives and they may well be a better fit for my son - especially if communication /life skills Carrie’s on.

I started with all schools (maintained, academy, NMSS, independent) in my LA followed by looking at neighbouring LAs. Then in my desperation to find a school (EOTAS works well but if there was a school that could meet DS1’s needs he would be going!) I searched the whole of England, but my spreadsheet entries for these weren’t complete as once I found a reason they were unsuitable I moved on.

As well as your LA you need to look at any within travelling distance and any other residential provisions that are cheaper that you think the LA may look at once you mention a more expensive option.

Many years ago, under a different name, I received support from MN’ers I could never repay. Now we are in a much better position I like to give back where I can.

i do the same with the early years and carers and can help on here.

on the Natspec website ( brilliant by the way), that covers the age I specifically need - post 18 education , the list is per region and by disability (southwest etc) so it’s not as daunting as I assumed - even if I view all of them.

not all are residential which i would cost out with supported living in a house with a wraparound care package.

you never know, I may love a day provision on the list and then the supported living option means he stays in an area known to him and us.

I feel a lot better and calmer about it all so thank you @Thatsnotmycar

i will continually update this thread with useful info I find on the way and to let everyone know how I get on.