Choosing school prior to EHCP

[Lovemedo345]

Hello asking for advice. Our Yr 4 autistic child has been refusing mainstream school despite adaptations such as 5x daily movement and reading breaks; ELSA support and socially dealing group. They are currently under CAMHS due to poor mental health and are very anxious about school. They are now on a part time timetable but I thibk it will be a real struggle to continue getting them in daily even just till lunchtimeWe are waiting on the local authority Educational Pyschology team to assess so that EHCP report can be completed however this is likely to take months. We have found a private school which specialises for academic children who are either anxious or autistic which sounds just right with much smaller class sizes The school is expanding to secondary level.They have told us that they are confident that an EHCP naming their school wld be granted on appeal and as long as we can pay fees initially they wld refund us when EHCP granted. We are anyway Commissioning a private EP as think we will prob need to go to tribunal but still need to wait for local authority EP also. Is there anything we need to be particularly aware of in this situation? Our child has become deregulated at times but never at school and there have never been any behavioural issues at school
We cld afford fees although it wld be a real push. However I feel anxious! But then current situation also unsustainable in terms of stress, impact on my work and childs mental health and poss relapse into autistic burnout. We are fairly confident we will get EHCP at least on appeal but not sure about setting? The school have orher children on LA RHCP there. I am just not sure what else we may need to consider before entering such an arrangement. Many thanks for help in advance.

Hi OP, sorry, no advice except to say that the setting sounds ideal. My DD sounds very similar to yours and is academic. I can't find a school like this though. Which part of the country are you in out of interest? Best of luck to you!

It would be a risky strategy. There is no guarantee the LA will name the school, especially if it is wholly independent where you will need to show the LA’s proposed school(s) can’t meet DC’s needs &/or it isn’t unreasonable public expenditure. You would be able to appeal, but there’s still no guarantee and it would be extra time you would need to fund the fees. Even if the school is named, there is no guarantee the school would refund the fees, because the LA won’t be under an obligation to fund retrospectively. If the fees would be a real push, you need to make sure the figure quoted includes everything. There are often additional fees for extras/additional support. You also need to think about how DC would potentially cope with 2 moves in quick succession.

If DC can’t attend school full-time, the LA has a duty to ensure they still receive a suitable, full-time education. Have you requested alternative provision?

You mention the LA EP taking months, if the LA isn’t complying with the statutory timescales, you should email the Director of Children’s Services. IPSEA has a model letter you can use. Post back if that doesn’t work.

If you get an independent EP report that can be used if you, the LA, and the report writer agree it is sufficient. If all agree it is, new evidence should not be sought. Although LAs often disagree it is sufficient.

@addies there are schools who cater for academically able DC. If you post where you are, someone may have a suggestion.

Hi @BrumToTheRescue I am in south glos. Have looked at all schools (on paper) that I could find online, but I found issue with all of them, things like my DDs care needs aren't great enough, did not offer full suite of GCSEs, etc. Felt like MS with reasonable adjustments would be the best fit of anything local (there are some lovely independents but too far out etc).
However, could definitely be something local hidden away.

@addies there’s not a lot of choice in that area for academically able DC needing SS. If you do need to look at SS in the future, depending on DD’s needs and where you live within South Gloucestershire Bredon in Gloucestershire may be just about doable (max recommended travel time for secondary is 1hr15 but many do travel further). They offer a range of GCSEs and other qualifications, and while their results overall don’t compare to a MS they can cater to those sitting aiming for higher tier GCSEs. If it is within travelling distance and DD can cope in that type of provision, you could also look at Fosse Way’s satellite provision in a mainstream school.

@BrumToTheRescue thanks, you've confirmed what I've found. My DD will really struggle to travel that distance due to anxiety, amongst other things. She is also exhausted at the end of a relatively short day as it is, I just don't think she'd cope with travelling at all. I had heard that even grammar might be a better fit for her than MS (in terms of small classes etc) and she would pass the 11+ quite easily, but even those are too far out at around an hour.

If MS doesn’t work and DD can’t travel an hour there are some good alternative provisions closer.

@BrumToTheRescue sorry for my ignorance, what is an alternative provision? If MS didn't work I pretty much thought we were out of options to be honest and I'd have to go back full time to pay for something like Minerva, if my daughter would get on with that!

@addies an alternative provision (AP) is somewhere who can provide education outside of a normal school. There are lots of different types. If it is inappropriate for provision to be made in a school you can look at EOTAS, you don’t have to pay for an online school yourself.

@BrumToTheRescue thank you. I'll research

My understanding is that if you take her out of the state system and self-fund an independent place the LA will wash their hands of you and say that you are making suitable provision. I would check and double check this point before going ahead.

We considered similar so DS could start at a section 41 school at the start of the year as the appeal was going to take ages. The school (which he now attends as the LA backed down just before his tribunal hearing) advised strongly against us self funding in the interim period.