Ofsted/SEN school expansion

[silverliningsomewherehot]

If a SEN school is expanding creating a limited number of new places, already with planning permission granted how long do you think it would take to get approval from ofsted?

Estimated build completion is in the summer holidays.

And would you wait for a place, on the basis of missing out on other options? Especially when SEN schools are oversubscribed and places limited everywhere.

This is a case of how long is a piece of string, I’m afraid.

Is it a wholly independent school? The answer would influence what I would do.

Yes independent, but perfect for what we would need. But it would mean waiting to start. The school said 6-12 weeks after new classrooms are built. They're midway through building, and estimate August.

Wholly independent or section 41 independent?

If wholly independent, has the school already offered a provisional place or will they not make a decision until nearer the time they are ready to admit?

Do you currently have the right of appeal? And is the EHCP otherwise good? How receptive have the LA been to an independent placement? If you need to appeal or even if the EHCP is otherwise good but the LA is making noises of not agreeing to an independent school, I would submit an appeal to get in the queue now rather than waiting.

Ehcp in agreement as class sizes less than 5, only school in the vicinity with such low numbers. But we are at the consultation stage. Its my first choice. Wholly independent.

There is a s41 school but they are full until September 27 intake and not offering viewings until Jan 27.

Other schools are too big in class size, or full.

If schools are being consulted now, then when you shortly have the finalised EHCP, I would be tempted to submit an appeal. I would do this even if the LA is making supportive noises. Just to protect yourself. If the LA finalise just naming a type of placement, name another placement that isn’t your preference or leaves sI blank, don’t let your right of appeal lapse. Even if the LA say they will then amend at a later date. It is common for LAs to say one thing and do another. They may not amend, then you would be left either requesting an early review which the LA may not agree to or waiting for the AR.

If you waited, what would the plan be for between now and what could potentially be Christmas time?

A s41 school (or other non-wholly independent school) being ‘full’, which is not defined in law, is not enough of a reason to refuse to name it. The LA has to prove the school is so full admitting DS is incompatible with the provision of efficient education for others or use of resources. The bar for this is higher than LAs and many schools admit. It has to be something tangible and specific and is more than an “adverse effect”, “impact on” or “prejudicial to”. Even if one of the other schools isn’t your preference, you may find the LA direct them to admit.

I would be happy with the s41 school, but its the school that won't let me visit, not the LA.

Current plan is 30 hours AP split between 2x providers funded by LA so they would need to continue funding until ofsted approve the independent school for more pupils.

The s41 school may well still be named even if they won’t let you visit now. The LA doesn’t need the school’s agreement.

I would check whether the LA will agree to fund 30hrs AP. You may find they don’t. They would be responsible for ensuring everything detailed, specified and quantified in F is provided and for ensuring a full-time education is provided, but that doesn’t mean 30hrs of AP will continue to be provided.