Fairley House School ECHP

[ByDorisDay]

Hi has anyone managed to gain fees and Sen support for London Independent secondary schools that are not 41 listed? Moving to south London and need to move DD with SpLD ( Dyspraxia). We have a one to one at current school, overseas at the moment. Will need to apply for ECHP with local council. any insight greatly appreciated

It is possible to get wholly independent schools named in EHCPs. You will need an offer of a place and to show the LA’s proposed school(s) can’t meet needs &/or it isn’t unreasonable public expenditure. However, some have to appeal. And without an existing EHCP you also have the potential added steps of needing to appeal refusal to assess and refusal to issue.

Thanks for the insight, the thought of being rejected for EHCP hadn't occurred to me, lots of ducks to get in a row. Would I be right if I thought the LA would offer me no assistance if I enrolled her, and then asked for a EHCP? She's used to small classes and an TA, with OT and SALT twice a week at school. Have had all the tests, and she has made massive improvements since her global delay call at three, but she's still a year behind peers and I am not sure that will change now she's ten. I could do half the fees, if I get the EHCP does it go to horse trading with the LA? I'm heading to South London and the options seem stark. Any suggestions most welcome

If you enrolled DD in an independent school, the LA wouldn’t pay the fees until when and if the school is named in an EHCP. But enrolling DD wouldn’t prevent you pursuing an EHCP.

Where the LA claim the threshold in my pp isn’t met, some LAs will occasionally come to an arrangement whereby parents pay the fees and the LA pays the SEN support. However, LAs don’t have to do this and many will not. Many will say you are making suitable alternative arrangements thereby relieving them of their duty. Such arrangements are less common than they once were.

Depending on where in South London, you could look at Brown’s, Burlington House and Moon Hall. Whether they are suitable will depend on DD’s precise needs. If DD’s needs are more complex, you could look at Blossom House.

I would be very wary of moving back unless you have to.

Trying to get an EHCP nowadays is a very long and stressful process. I would calculate needing around 2 years to potentially have something decent in place.

The majority of applications are rejected almost as a matter of course - not even because there is anything rejection worthy. It just kicks into into the long grass and saves money in the short term for the council.