How difficult is it to name an out of county SEN school? Please help us choose a school.

[ChocolateFeud]

There are 2 SEN schools local to us; both appear very good but DH and I cannot decide.

DC is in Yr6 and due to transition to high school in September. MS is not suitable at all. We have already been through stressful and long tribunals to secure their ehcp. We just want a happy and settled DC now.

DC has ASC with co morbid difficulties. DC is a keen learner and is academic.

Thoughts please?

School 1:

Is in our county and under our own LA.
A 20 minute commute.
Rated good.
Offers various curriculum pathways including functional skills and core gcse.
Parent views seem to be very happy with the school.
Various extra curricular on offer.
Staff are very adaptable to DC needs and openly strive to better their environment for them. (We ‘know’ the school as we have a nephew who attended and they really did go out of their way to support him).
Good facilities but not very ‘modern’.

Our LA have already agreed to a possible placement here.

Cons:

Although they offer full curriculum, the school is aimed at less able children and whilst academic learners do attend, they are the minority. DC gets on well with most DC, so I don’t think this would be an issue?

Academic learning appears to happen mostly from age 14+. From 11+, there’s a more holistic approach to learning and academics are not prioritised.

The main focus is life skills, fun, outdoor play, social skills etc with learning thrown in at some point. This approach works very well for lots of children, but I worry about the “loss” of academic education in comparison to MS school.

School 2:

Out of county.
1 hour commute away.
They offer various curriculum pathways including full gcse options.
The school has a mix of both less able and more academically able children (there still appears to be less academically able DC, but more than School 1).
Lots of extra curricular on offer.
Good facilities and a modern feel.

Cons:
It is out of county and will almost certainly require a lengthy appeal to secure a place (if we are successful).
DC is already complaining about the potential commute.

Just how difficult is it to secure out of county? Do home LAs prioritise their own county children for spaces?

Is it more expensive for LAs to fund?

You may have to appeal, but it is possible. (Although you may have to appeal either way - just because the LA has agreed to a SS doesn’t mean they will actually name one on the finalised amended EHCP, unfortunately.) Have you spoken and if possible visited both schools? If your preference is school 2 I would focus on school 1 being unsuitable for DS’s academic ability. School 2 can be named even if the LA it is in object.

Much appreciated reply @KeepGoingThomas . I agree we may need to appeal school 1 but we do have it in writing that the LA are agreeing to placement at School 1 and that the school has agreed to placement. I hope this is a positive to not needing to advance to appeal.

I am almost certain school 2 will be a full appeal and DC has no chance of attending there this year. School 1 can be attended from September.

Both schools are very similar in setup in terms of what they offer academically so I’m not sure what I would be arguing against. It’s very hard to make a decision.

You say both schools are very similar in what they offer academically, but in your OP you imply school 1 doesn’t offer a full range of GCSE options (or have I misunderstood?) and doesn’t offer the same academic learning in KS3.

Don’t rule out the potential to be able to attend school 2 this year even if you have to appeal. Phase transfer appeals are prioritised especially in the summer, so while it can’t be guaranteed it may still be possible, but you should appeal as soon as you can.

Sorry @KeepGoingThomas you have understood correctly, it is my explaining that’s the problem!

Yes school 2 offer more options for gcse. School 1 may possibly allow this too (they’re very good at catering to individual needs).

Part of me thinks School 1 is better and part of me thinks school 2 is better . The commute to school 2 is a huge draw back and it’s a route which always has ongoing road works so it is possibly even longer at rush hour. Even with transport included I worry this may be too much for DC .

I would start by looking at exactly how long the journey to school 2 is at school times. I assumed you meant this would be 1hr, but if it could end up being a lot longer it may make the decision for you. If school 1 can provide a full range of GCSEs for individual students there’s a lot to be said for a shorter commute.

@KeepGoingThomas That’s a good place to start. I may even do a ‘test’ of the commute to school 2.

Do you know if LAs generally like to keep things ‘in house’? Is there more cost to the LA for out of county?

Are there any other downsides possibly?

LAs do generally prefer in area placements. Comparing costs isn’t as straightforward as in area placements are always cheaper than out of area. Although in your case that is likely to be the case due to the significant difference in transport costs.

One downside to schools further away is if DS needs collecting during the day.