Approaching MS private schools re y7 with EBSA and SEN

[GaleforceWinds]

DD 11 in y7 with ASD, ADHD, SPD, lasted about 4 weeks at start of local state MS secondary then completely stopped going. She can’t do being self managing, loud noise, crowds, socially she can’t handle it at all. She was masking in school and getting beside herself with anxiety and rage at home. Still very stressed and usually doesn’t want to leave the house. But better for not being in school.

She is very bright but her SEN hold her back
at school. Middle/high achiever. Her secondary posts some tasks up online for her to do, which she usually refuses to do and gets very angry about if I push it (demand avoidance?). The SENCOs will ring up occasionally to see how she’s doing but only if I really nag them to. They are still drafting the ECHNA form that they have been working on since Sept. I can’t go on like this. I need to work. I don’t think DD will ever go back.

She would consider a smaller quieter private school with smaller classes and better calmer facilities that’s in reach geographically. I would need LA to pay for it though. Is this at all realistic given by time the EHCP goes through she will have been off school for months? Is it going to be a huge and lengthy struggle with LA to get funding? Would a MS private school even look at a kid like mine with this EBSA and an EHCP anyway? How would I even approach them to ask about this messy situation?

Alternatives could be to fight fot EOTAS funded by LA or that we would have to move somewhere else for another school which I can’t afford and would rather avoid. I also worry that she might not attend if we move for a new school anyway.

Please be kind,I feel completely broken by this. Primary was hard with some EBSA, but never this bad.

You could ask this question on the EHCP thread? Personally, I would work on the assumption you are likely to have to go to an appeal to get either of your options, but perhaps that's just how things play out in my LA.

I do think you need to request an EHC assessment yourself, ideally today/this week. It sounds like you'll have plenty of evidence to meet the two initial tests from assessment reports and her attendance data? IPSEA has a standard letter. You'll have more control - it's too important to leave in the hands of a school that is not making it a priority. They'll have to feed in their evidence/views in due course in any case.

You can get independent mainstream schools named in EHCPs. Because they are wholly independent, you need an offer of a place and to prove the LA’s proposed school(s) can’t meet needs &/or it isn’t unreasonable public expenditure. You may have to appeal too.

Having said that, do you think DD would cope? From the limited information in your post, I suspect DD would still be overwhelmed. Not all independent schools are supportive of SEN, so if you go down that route, choose carefully.

I second requesting an EHCNA yourself.

Is the LA providing alternative provision? They should be. It doesn’t have to be traditional educational work. The school putting some work online is sufficient, especially if it isn’t suitable for DD.

Thank you both. I was told that it’s more successful with the school applying so I have hung in there but I could try. I feel very intimidated about messing it up but maybe there’s nothing to lose if the school are already messing it up by not getting it ready. It’s really hard to get any head space though when she’s home all day and needing a lot of attention.

I have no idea how I prove that other MS schools in the LA won’t meet her needs.

I’m worried you could be right about not coping even in a small private quieter school, but the tutoring at home option seems so full of pitfalls and I want her to make some friends. She can be quite social on her own terms sometimes if she wants to be.

Don’t worry about provinh other MS couldn’t meet needs. That comes later and the assessments in the EHCNA can help. For now, focus on submitting the EHCNA. Then on the LA agreeing to assess.

Don’t listen to the LA or school trying to put you off applying yourself. The threshold for an EHCNA is relatively low - a) has or may have SEN, and b) may need SEN provision to be made via an EHCP. If you use IPSEA’s model letter it sets it all out for you and you just amend the relevant sections.

EOTAS doesn’t have to involve home tuition. Even in packages which do have home tuition there can be other provision as well for socialising/interaction/accessing the community etc. It would be a poor package that only had home tuition.

thank you very much Searching that’s very helpful.