Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
SEN

Here you'll find advice from parents and teachers on special needs education.

Original poster

Please advice Sen secondary nightmare

27 replies

asdbaybeeee · 24/04/2026 10:32

My son who is in y6 is autistic . He’s in mainstream with full time 1:1, he works at greater depth. Last October we had his EHCP review where we asked LA to consult with 3 mainstream secondary schools. Two said no and one didn’t respond so was chosen as default, they were named in February on his echp for September.
We had a meeting with the senco at the new school this week, they have said they can not meet need, he can’t have 1:1 and they want us to ask LA to consult with Sen schools. To be fair to them his behaviour has deteriorated since October and he currently is taught outside of the classroom. Their argument is if he can’t access the classroom he can’t attend their school.
We have looked around the only suitable Sen school in our town and we were not keen due to high levels of violence on the school. (It is also full) All other Sen schools don’t offer GCSES we are keen that he has access to academic options. We found an independent school that may work, they only opened in September though so it would be a risk but they do currently have 8 places but have had a lot of interest.
I’ve spoken to sendiass, apparently our options are-
Try the mainstream and see
Log a tribunal (apparently it would be fast tracked)
appeal the EHCP (we are slightly out the eight weeks)
call a emergency review

Our concern is if we go to appeal/ consultation again we could end up with a school we wanted less than the one we have.

can anyone advise on any of these processes ? what are the chances of us getting the independent school?

OP posts:
scoopofmintchocchipicecream · Yesterday 13:31

will the tribunal decision be to consult with school or to choose one? Will we get a say in what school if we haven’t stated a preference?

You don’t appeal just to get the LA to consult. You appeal the placement/type of placement named in section I. The Tribunal decision won’t just be for the LA to consult. They will rule on what should be section I (and B&F if you have appealed those, which hopefully you have).

Although, if the LA won’t consult, you can ask SENDIST to direct the LA to consult. You don’t wait until the HD to do that though.

If you don’t state a preference and just ask SENDIST to name a type of placement, there is a) SENDIST may not agree to only name a type of placement, and b) if they do agree to, you risk the LA then deciding on a specific placement that isn’t your preference.

Thegladstonebag · Yesterday 18:24

asdbaybeeee · 24/04/2026 21:12

Thank you so much this is so helpful.
We ideally want him to go to mainstream as it give him more options academically but he would likely need significant support and the school named isn’t willing to do that.

The current EHCP states in section f - 5.5 hours of support per day, some of that is stated as 1:1. Some are 1:3 or 1:6 . But his current school do give him support all day and the majority of that is 1:1 apart from interventions which is small group.

The independent school we like is wholly independent. Sendias said we can ask LA to consult with an independent but if they say no there’s no appeal option so I’m guessing we can’t go to tribunal for the independent?
Can we go to tribunal for a 1:1 support in mainstream secondary or does it not worklike that?

im going to look at out of area too.

again thank you. I will look at those websites

Show quote history

The school cannot refuse to deliver what’s in the EHCP if they are named, so if it sats 1:1, that’s what they have to provide.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page