advice on how to get dd into special school not mainstream.

[herewegoagain02]

Hello all, new to this. Our dd is on the Autistic spectrum and has a Statement. She is not due for the transition into secondary until 2010 but we do not want her to go to the mainstream in our catchment area. Does anybody have advice on the best way to get the LEA to agree on a special school, probably outside our area, necessary paperwork ect? Thanks in advance.

You have to get the ed psych and the school to agree with you that her needs can be met more effectively through a special school placement, eg that she would receive provision that the mainstream school cannot give, that socially she would be disadvantaged in a huge mainstream secondary.
At her annual review in Y5, this is when you can ask for the statement to be amended to reflect the differetn provision she will need in Y7.

Hi catrin, thank you so much, need to get to know the new ed psych in that case as our lady who dealt with dd has gone up the ladder though we still keep in touch which is great.

Hi

They will do ANYTHING not to send your child to a special school because it is much more expensive. The Ed Psychs report is critical as is the existing schools viewpoint - although they are fairly powerless. If you decide to oppose their viewpoint (as is your right) then you will have to appeal (which will get turned down as a matter of course) and then go to SENDIST trbunal. You will need to collect evidence as to why the LEAs choice (hightly likely to be the local mainstream secondary) is not suitable. BUT do have an open mind because it might be OK and in my experience children change hugely between year 5 and end of year 6.

You need to have visited the schools and have talked to head teachers. Be aware also that there are private special schools as well.

Ipsea or SOS SEN can give you advice.

Good luck (sorry if this sounds a bit negative just that have been through the mill a bit . . .)

Hi flyingmum,
Thanks for info, I have absolutely no doubt that we will have to fight the whole way, hence my username, here we go again 02 as in round 2 No worries thats also why I'm getting everything I need to know now, two years before dd makes the transition.

Hi there

My daughter recently got her place in special needs primary and really all i did was put my foot down and said that i would not be sending her to mainstream and that if need be i would home tutor which is not common in northern ireland

anyway they agreed with me said that she would not be suitably laced in mainstream and we got her into a great school, i think there r a lot of parents the opposite they would rather their child go to mainstream first well this is what we were told , but I think you have to remain positive and fight your corner all the way, this is just the way it works and sometimes the more you shout the more you get what u need.

i wsnt pusy or nasty i just said exactly what i thought and i always thanked whomever i spoke to so it didnt leave any negative feelings with the,.

good luck and i hope you get her in

god sorry my spelling is awful i meant to say placed

then pushy

I would highly recommend that you read "Surviving the special educational needs system" by Sandy Row. link here
As well as describing the struggle to have her children educated at the school of her choice, she provides the contact details of many useful organisations and groups at the end of her book.
Good luck.

I would highly recommend that you read "Surviving the special educational needs system" by Sandy Row. link here
As well as describing the struggle to have her children educated at the school of her choice, she provides the contact details of many useful organisations and groups at the end of her book.
Good luck.

We started this battle 18 months ago and my Daughter moves in 2009. It is really important to visit any schools the LEA may suggest and then prepare a list of reasons why you consider them unsuitable. Even better is a letter from the school as to why they could not meet her needs. It may also be worth getting an independent EP report which you will need if you go to tribunal.

We have looked at lots of school even in the next LEAs and although it is exhausting we have a really clear idea of the provision we want. Our case will end in a tribunal but I feel we have really given it our best shot.

Good Luck.

Thank you all so much for your advice, we have a meeting with the SENCO at the mainstream school in our area and I've written up a long list of questions for her as to dd's safety, classroom assistance (she is Statemented) etc etc. We will go from there, whilst I have my doubts about the school I have to see them just to be able to prove that they are either capable or not of not only educating dd but keeping her safe too.