Moving to new area with child in sen school

[RiRi25]

Hi all,

I am wondering if anyone has a severely autistic child, with severe learning disabilities, non verbal, very challenging (self injurious behaviours) and in a special needs school?

The borough i am in are absolutely rubbish and don't offer my daughter adequate respite services or 1 to 1 in school which she needs to keep her safe.

I am thinking of moving to another London borough where the services may be a bit better but its so hard to do any research beforehand as councils will advise they can only confirm the process once moved into borough and they have seen the child's whole file.

I have also heard of horror stories of people moving different boroughs and the child not being able to get special needs school places meaning they are out of school for 2 - 5 years! I will not be able to cope for that long and will have a breakdown and it will also be incredibly bad for my daughter's mental health too.

Has anyone in a similar situation moved within London and had a positive experience with schools and Children's Disability Team respite services? If so, where are you based please?

TIA

@TapRab do you mean why do LAs refuse and force parents to appeal? If that is what you mean, it is because LAs know some parents won’t appeal and even if parents do successfully appeal, it kicks the can down the road and saves money in the immediate.

@RiRi25 I support parents who have disabled DC, and it is what I have seen/heard from supporting them. If you want statistics, you can see various one by playing around on the government’s website here.

I think it all comes down to funding. Forcing parents to go through the appeals process delays the LA having to pay for special school/extra provision by about a year. Not to mention those who don’t bother appealing.

The LA know exactly what they are doing as they only win less than 2% of tribunals, but they face no penalty for making bad decisions so they continue to do it.

My son was out ot school for over a year and regressed significantly as a result, the whole thing makes my blood boil!

@perpetualplatespinning thank you this is really helpful

@PeaHen99 yes absolutely down to saving money!

They waste public funds knowing full well they won't win but they also know the process takes about 1 year so in that year they have saved thousands by not paying for anything in that time. To them it's worth it.

They know exactly what they are doing to the detriment of our disabled/vulnerable children. I don't know how the people in charge of these decisions sleep at night! And if it was their own children it would be a whole different story. Absolutely disgusting!

@PeaHen99 and also yes some parents won't bother with tribunal and the LA's use coersion and scare tactics to make some parents back out of tribunal procedures. I've seen and heard some stories!

@perpetualplatespinning Sorry if I was not clear, I did ask why do LA’s prefer parents to go through to tribunal?
Last year my youngest son had his EHC plan awarded and sent him to a mainstream with additional hours. We appealed straight away and had our tribunal case for this November. It was taken to first-tier SEND tribunal and settled there. DS will attend this September. He did attend mainstream school for a year while we waited. It was strange because they first rejected him because of the school being full. However, after the panel took place this week they offered him a space. Absolutely shocked but very happy. We just wondered why did we have to go through all that hassle. The tribunal proceedings in November have been cancelled because they have agreed on placement.

@PeaHen99 I kept my son in mainstream but it was unsuitable for him. DS was part of a small group but he was just being baby sitting him.
I do worry if we move he will be without a special needs setting for a year like he was this year.

why did we have to go through all that hassle.

@TapRab because it saves money in the short term. Some parents wouldn’t appeal and when they do, like you, it kicks the can down the road.

BTW, the appeal is being conceded by the LA and settled via a Consent Order, isn’t it? You aren’t withdrawing it?

@perpetualplatespinning Yes we just signed the consent order this week. We appealed around November 2024. We were told Tribunal would be November 2025. So we are relieved it has been confirmed a lot earlier than expected.