1:1 TA primary school - no applicants

[AliceTheeCamel]

After a various delays with our LA we have secured an EHCP for my 5 yo DC and (mainstream) school put out an advert for a 1:1 TA to support them.

Trouble is, they only got 1 applicant and that person then withdrew from the process. Obviously you can't magic up a TA out of thin air if no-one wants to do it, but where does this leave DC??

Feeling very deflated right now, having been more positive when the EHCP and funding were finalised.

Is the 1:1 detailed, specified and quantified in F? No woolly and vague wording such as “access to”, “would benefit from”, or “equivalent to”? If so, it must be provided and can be enforced. Email the LA’s Director of Children’s Services informing them of the situation and reminding them of their duty under s.42 CAFA 2014. If that fails email again threatening judicial review. If that fails contact SOSSEN for help with a pre-action letter.

It is difficult for many schools to recruit, but there are things the LA can do to ensure they fulfil their duty. For example, they could fund the 1:1 at a higher rate, potentially a substantially higher rate, to attract more applicants. Many schools don’t anymore but do they have anyone supporting pupils without 1:1 detailed, specified and quantified in F? If so, they should redeploy them.

If the wording vague and woolly it can’t be enforced. If this is the case, if you are still within the appeal window you should appeal. If you aren’t you should request an early review in order to try to tighten the wording up.

Thanks for replying @FloatingBean , no the 1:1 isn't detailed, specified and quantified within Section F and we are in the process of appealing it to get the wording tightened up. It's just all so frustratingly slow!

Unfortunately if the 1:1 isn’t detailed, specified and quantified you can’t enforce it whether the school can recruit or not as 1:1 doesn’t have to be provided.

I suspect the school told you this so you would push on your sons behalf for a higher rate with the LA, but the truth is, without it
quantified in F , you could
lobby the LA in the schools behalf , contact social workers and the sendo to request a higher rate and then the school could very well not even give this TA to your child.