One child in Special School

[Galaxy2846]

Hi all

Was wondering how this would work. We have 2 children. 1 of them is on the waiting list for a special school. The other child attends mainstream. If you have 2 children in different schools how do you manage to pick them up without being late?

After school club for the mainstream child, also I’ve in the past employed a TA (from the sen school) for my child in a sen school to do an activity like swimming after school.
friends do emergency pick ups.
it was a juggle.
but my child who attended a sen
school had a LA bus to and from school which gave me 20
minutes to pick the other one up from mainstream.

I second @Lesley25’s post. People generally manage by a mixture of school transport (and a PA/carer meeting the transport if necessary) and using wrap around care/clubs.

On a separate note, you should appeal the refusal to name the SS in DC’s EHCP. With an EHCP, waiting lists don’t exist in the same way as they do for admissions without EHCPs. Unless the school is wholly independent the LA must name your preference unless the LA 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 is not defined in law, and on its own being ‘full’ is not enough of a reason to refuse to name your preference. The LA has to prove the school is so full admitting DC is incompatible. There is a point where this is possible but the bar is higher than many LAs admit. It is more than an “adverse effect”, “impact on” or “prejudicial to”. Unless the school is wholly independent the LA can, and must, name the school regardless of the school’s objections unless the LA can prove one of the above. Sadly, this doesn’t stop LAs refusing and forcing parents to exist.

This might seem a dumb question but how do you go about getting a child into a special school my son is 13 years old and we have just started the ECHP form at his current secondary school and his situation has deteriorated a lot

If the LA agrees to issue an EHCP, you will receive a draft and be able to comment on it and name your preferred placement. If the LA finalises the EHCP without naming your preferred placement, you can appeal (just like you can appeal if the LA refuse to assess or refuse to issue).

Thank you for the information