Could I secure independent school without going to tribunal???

[constantworrier]

Hi There,

Im just in the process of getting my Draft Statement finalised with Lea.

In a nutshell my daughter aged 9 has (and this has been officially diagnosed with dyslexia, severe dyspraxia and severe discalculia and these diagnoses were made by O.T'S and Ed Pysch's (we had an independent ones too!)our view is that she cannot cope in mainstream and our independent O.T and Ed Pysh have also written this in their reports.
We are trying to secure an indpendent day school for her in the next county.

The interesting thing is the school- she attends a local primary- has been appalling. We are even at this stage, in receipt of no IEP'S since she started there in Sept 07 and they have consistently lied about how much support she is getting. For example, in the Parents Information bundle they submitted a report from may 08 where they said she was receiving 12 hrs support when they sent us a letter in july 08 saying she had 3hours!

We had to launch an appeal through SENDIST to even get our LEA to assess so they know we will go to Sendist again.

I have been tactical and discussed this in a meeting with the LEA saying at some point I'm going launch complaint/investigation and said calmly that this was possibly a matter of Public Interest. They know that I have a whole paper trail documenting the schools lack of action. The LEA woman looked terrified and how can they name her current school on the statement as there is no trust. The LEA woman acknowledged that school is indefensible and said she couldn't name it. I said that I had visited three other schools within the area which is true and the headteachers said they couldn't meet her needs.

I mentioned that we had visited school X which is for children with my daughter needs and asked if she wanted me to explain why we thought it could meet her needs. She looked a liitle weary and said - no its okay we know the school other children from our borough have been there. I need to take this back to our Sen panel, I will be in touch......

I just wondered if any of you have been in this sort of situation and how do you think I should interpret LEA woman's response?

I've not been in your situation but I wouldn't try to read too much into her comment right now. Whether she was hopeful of your dd getting a place; doubted there was a chance or simply had no idea she would still have to take it back to the panel. Did she give you a time frame for getting back to you?

No- draft statement is due to be finalised by end of Dec . Their panel is every Thursday.
You are right - can't let myself get too hopeful.

Good luck with it all The waiting sucks doesn't it!

I think you've got a chance, it depends what the extra will be in cost for the independent school compared with a special school within the LEA. There is also the issue of transport, would you like them to provide this. You will need to be very active in showing no LEA schools could meet her needs.

We are in a similar position, the LEA have said they may fund a place at a non-maintained school but wil not pay for the transport.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

hi vig13, Afraid we can't afford transport would end up costing same as school and we wouldn't be able to keep our jobs. The school we want says that it has another statemented child from our LEA with transport paid.

So if they said yes to school no to transport we would still have to go to Tribunal.

What stage are you at? Have you had any legal help? Exhausting isn't it!

We also can't do the transport due to work or pay due to the cost. Our LEA have a child who is residential at the school but totally different family situation.

Your LEA may share transport with the other child so that may give you an even better chance.

We are at the stage of waiting for a final statement (promised 2 weeks ago) and will then appeal. Have also asked LEA for the cost at the special school they would like my daughter to go to. She is in year 6 at the moment which complicates it further. We do have legal advice but still feel totally drained by this process which has been going for over 18 months. We are just getting more independent reports as the previous ones are nearly 1 year old now. She has just seen the independent SALT today. We had her year 6 review a few weeks ago and now they have said they may fund it I feel a bit of hope.

When they say 'panel' is it actually a panel or just 1 person?

No I met with the SEN Manager and I think-am hoping that she is quite influential but the panel I believe is some board room scenario that takes place every Thursday.

All I can do- (as you know only too well!) is wait.
It seems so unfair that you have got to have re-assessments are these Independent?

What are your daughter's difficulties- are they similar to ours?

It would be good to stay in touch as seems we currently have a fair bit in common.

I always get the feeling they want you to think 'panel' is a grand town hall board room event but is actually one person sat at a desk!

The new reports are updated independent ones to show her lack of progress in the last year, our advocate advised that we would need them. We are very lucky but the school we would like her to attend are paying.

My daughter is 10 and has global developmental delay with severe learning difficulties. Staying in touch sounds great, we are both in a very similar situation.

My DC goes to a private special school for dyslexia/dyspraxia, there are children who are funded with statements by their LEA, but I think most if not all of them had to go to tribunal to get the school named on the statement.
I don't know if the LEA pay for the transport or not, but my DC goes on a private minibus which costs £750 a term.
It may be that you may have to go all the way to tribunal, but if you can get a specialist school it would be really worthwhile as it makes such a difference going to this type of school.