Waiting for LA to make a decision on a special school. It's torture

[Nowanextraone]

Our year 6 autistic and selectively mute daughter had an autism hub in a mainstream school named on her EHCP for her year 7 placement. We objected as it is entirely unsuitable for her, not least because I used to teach there and it's dire - ofsted even talk about how much bullying goes on at the school. She carries a doll round with her 24/7 and would be expected to join mainstream lessons with support. She literally wouldn't do it and if she did, she'd be destroyed by bullies 😪 something that she has so far never had to experiencr. She has never ever spoken at school and is so vulnerable. She is at constant risk of school refusal and often won't go in when it's sports days etc. Her current school and SENCO also say the hub is the wrong setting for her. Our daughter point blank refused to even look round.

So we objected to the LA about her placement who agreed to consult at an independent special school. Lots of children from our area are funded tongo to this school, so she's not the only one. She was asked to attend a weeks trial. She LOVED it. She made 2 friends, she accessed SLT and OT, and for the first time in her life, she was excited to go to school each day. Her current year 6 teacher visited her at the specialist school each day and said how smiley she was and that she'd never seen her so relaxed.

The school wrote to the LA and said that they can offer her a place and can meet her needs. They have extensive specialist support for her and said she was a delight to teach. They really believe they can lower her anxiety enough to help with her selective mutism.

This was a week ago and we are still waiting to hear if the LA will agree to fund her. All professionals that work with her agree it is the right setting and she needs all these therapies they can offer. The school shuts for the summer early July.

I literally feel panic stricken that the LA will say no and ruin her chance at actually enjoying school and having a proper transition 😪 It also makes me very angry that people in the LA who have never met my daughter can make these decisions.

We do have an appeal date in place for October should they not agree. But that's October, we work full time and she needs to be able to look forward to joining a new school just like the rest of her class.

I'm sorry for the rant, I'm so anxious right now. She deserves something good to happen for her

I hope not all goes well for you.

I was in a similar position three years ago when my DS was going into year 9. A specialist independent had agreed to offer him a place and we had a appeal booked for October.
initially the LA declined the school place when they responded to the appeal. Within a week ( this was all in July) they had changed their minds and DS was offered his school place and transport. It was so stressful!

Good luck x

Oh wow, how strange that it was so similar!
So glad your son got his place 💙

It's awful isn't it, that these nameless people can make these decisions for our children 😪

A few things in our favour are that they know I worked at the school with the hub and know there is no convincing me. Also, actual local mainstream schools said they could not meet her needs when consulted with.

I'm going to keep hounding them on a daily basis. Last thing they said was 'they don't let have a timescale for their decision' 🙄
X

It does sound positive as the mainstreams have said no.
Have you had the LA response to your appeal yet?

No nothing yet.
I did tell them the appeal for in for if we don't get it resolved but that hopefully it won't need to go that far.

As the SENCO said, the appeal would 100% say it's the right place for her, so what's the point in delaying her start at this school for a month.

I'm just permanently anxious and shaky.

It also makes me very angry that people in the LA who have never met my daughter can make these decisions.
^ my feelings exactly.

I am also waiting on news for September. Hoping it goes your way, it sounds like the perfect school for your dd.

Unfortunately, this isn’t uncommon. It’s all about money and the political landscape, I’m afraid. Delaying saves money (if the LA takes it all the way to a hearing in October it will save more than 1 months fees). There’s a political move to limit placements in independent specialists, particularly if you are in some of the safety valve LAs. However, try to remember in terms of LAs agreeing placements there is still time before September.