Has anybody managed to get the LA to pay private school fees via ehcp if you are already at the school?

[BinToucher]

Hello, DD is in y5 and has been out of school a lot this year, reduced timetable now, ASD+ additional sensory needs and my hunch is also that we will discover audhd.

Her ehcp is about to be sent through in draft- it will say she needs v small classes sizes, an academically challenging curriculum, low arousal environment and lots of flexibility. The ed psych report also said she responds badly to change and shouldn't change school!

Her current independent primary school is not perfect. But they have come on the journey with us and have put in place lots of changes and we could bump along for another year consolidating her getting back in after burnout.

The difficulty is because of the need for total flex in the timetable I've given up work and we can no longer afford the school.

Has anyone had success making the case that the current fee-paid school is the only one which can meet need? I have seen lots of examples of people moving from state to private on the basis of e.g. small class sizes. But I would need the LA to pay for some or all of the bills.

Has your DD ever been in a state school or only ever her current private?

Yes BUT it's different as it is an EOTAS package. So not named school due to EOTAS although other parents have it named. It's also an online school. And I did pursue this aggressively. Also Yr10 at the time so harder to argue.

Yes, it is possible to get the independent school already being attended named in the EHCP. Although many have to appeal. You would need the school to agree to be named in the EHCP. Just because DC is on roll currently doesn’t mean the school will agree to be named. Particularly if DC isn’t attending full time. You will need to show the LA’s proposed school(s) can’t meet needs &/or it isn’t unreasonable public expenditure.

Where this bar isn’t proven (or where LAs refuse and parents decide not to pursue an appeal), occasionally, some LAs will come to an agreement whereby the parents pay the fees and the LA fund the special educational provision. However, LAs don’t have to. Many will say you are making suitable alternative arrangements thereby relieving them of their duty. Such arrangements are less common than they once were.

Very small class sizes needs to be defined in F. It isn’t sufficient to only say very small. That is too vague.

Do you have any thoughts about year 7?

If this is a primary school and she doesn’t respond well to change, you could argue that moving her now and again for year 7 would affect her negatively.

Planning for secondary is important to consider now, bearing in mind the need for a small environment. Small needs defining.

Thank you everyone so far - you are brilliant and this is all helpful.

Is it a through school or a prep school?

This is answer is based on a prep school as you said independent primary.

You can but it will take a tribunal (over a year away) and about £8k for professional evidence (which some say you can get for free but private people go more in depth) but you will need an offer from the school (if she’s off a lot then people will say that the school isn’t meeting her needs are they prepared to keep her on roll)

11 plus is absolutely brutal - is she able to do it if she has missed lots of school? You could always do a free 5 day trial on atom. Is she up for that - it’s not a pleasant experience for the child or the mum to try and get a place. But it’s quite taxing on the kids.

Not many IM will do bespoke lessons to be honest and I’m surprised they haven’t off rolled her if she’s out so much.

Id be concentrating on finding a secondary school. Where do you live? Or which county? You will need a more gentle school. EBSA is due to the school so if nothing else can be changed there maybe you need to be looking at a different school.

Pay private if you can to get her tested for adhd that’s a quick process then you will know.

Maybe an online school might be better for her

Good luck it’s really hard

It is possible to get independent reports without paying £8k.