Local Education Authority Recommendations

[Lucyatd]

Hi all,
I am moving back to the UK after having been away for a number of years. My Son is Autistic and I am trying to navigate the SEN environment in the UK - identifying local authorities that are perhaps more helpful than others etc. My Son will qualify for an EHCP and will likely either need a mainstream with SEN unit or a special school. Does anyone have any recommendations for local authorities who have been helpful, and some to definitely avoid? We're trying to base where we move to on our Son's needs.
Thanks!

Firstly you need to decide what country you will move to because each nation in the UK has their own system. Since you mention EHCPs I presume you mean England?

Once you have done that if you think DS may need an ARP I would check what LAs have one suitable for his needs as what ARPs LAs have varies and make sure you move within travelling distance of them.

Unfortunately you are likely to have to fight for an EHCP/provision wherever you move.

Thanks for your response. Yes, sorry, I should have specified England. Most likely one of the Home Counties. Is an ARP the correct way of referencing a SEN unit within a mainstream? So essentially different LAs will have mainstreams with ARPs that cater for different needs and I should therefore aim to find one that either has a focus on autism, or that can meet the needs of an autistic person? As you can see, I'm not at all clear on England's SEN environment

Units in mainstream are called different things in different LAs. The 2 most common names are Additionally Resourced Provisions/units and Enhanced Resource Bases/units/provision.

Where LAs have ARPs some are focused on specific needs whilst in other LAs they cater more generally rather than to one specific area of need. Some LAs have e.g. ARPs for autism, speech and language, visual impairment while others might not have any for autism but have speech and language, SEMH, physical disability, learning disability and others have ARPs that cater for a range of needs. Then you need to consider some might have an ARP for autism for primary but not secondary or vice versa. Not straightforward.

That is tremendously helpful. Thank you very much for taking the time to set that out. Does a child who needs support during lunchtime and break time need to go to a special school, or do units within mainstreams provide support during these periods also?

A special school isn’t necessary for break and lunchtime support. An ARP isn’t needed for it either, it can be provided in mainstream.

My DS is in an autism resourced provision at a mainstream secondary. He stays within the unit for break/lunch (although he doesn't have to - it's up to the student, some don't). Likewise, there are students not in the unit who have other places to go where there is supervision during unstructured times of the day.

The absolute key thing for any provision will be how the EHCP is written.

Ipsea has some good info for people living in England in terms of how to navigate the SEN minefield:

www.ipsea.org.uk/Pages/Category/get-support

I'm afraid to say SEN budgets have been completely decimated over the past few years here in England and every local authority and education setting is struggling. You will need to be prepared for a fight. Tribunal waiting times are up to a year at the minute. Not every case ends up at tribunal though. It may also help if you're in a position to be able to fund independent reports from experts. If you have some recent ones already that will also work in your favour. Does your DC have the equivalent of an EHCP where you are now?

You don't say how old your DC is. Are you looking for a primary place or a secondary place?