Refusal of place at preferred secondary school, what next,what is there out there for HFA with severe behavioural issues??

[oliandjoesmum]

Posting this here as well as SN Ed, not sure where best place to put it..
Only after chasing the school and LEA to say that I don't have an amended statement with the high school named do I find out that the school I wanted are going to say no. They had said yes,and I had told DS1 this, and now the Head has seen his statement, and says he represents too much of a risk because he can be physically aggressive to pupils and staff. SENCO suggested I had lied about this (I didn't, it is just that it hardly ever happens any more) and that 'his statement is very negative, where is the good stuff'!! Does this sound like an experienced SENCO? I mean, do you get a level 5 statement by putting the good stuff? That he is brilliantly clever, fiercely loyal to the few friends he has,loves his dog and is great at art? That I love him so much that this is making me physically sick with panic? No, of course you don't.
Anyway, can go on about this forever but what I really need to know is what do I do now?Not sure worth fighting for a school that doesn't want him. He has a statement that allows me to consider special school, but Cheshire schools for ASD cater for 'low functioning'. Really don't want to offend anyone but this would not suit him, he is level 6 in literacy and 5a in everything else (just about to take his SATS) and on G&T for Art, Literacy and Science. His problems are all behavioural and social and emotional. But these are caused by autism so I can't seen how BESD schools would fit. What is there out there for kids like him, and how do we get the funding?

Have you looked at independant special schools?

you've had a lucky escape if that's their attitude before they've even met him. There are independent ASD schools near to and in Cheshire - start looking around.

you get the funding by finding the school that best fits ds and putting your case forward to the LEA

DS has a similar profile to your son, very bright but behavioural problems meant that mainstream wasn't suitable. He goes to an independent ASD school now but we had to appeal to get the place, as the LA wanted to place him in an independent EBD unit.

You need to push the LA to issue the amended final statement now, as it should have been issued by Feb 15. It will take months to get an appeal date so you should put in an appeal asap to get the clock ticking, but you can't appeal until the final statement is issued.

Do you know what school they will name on the final statement? It may be a school you are happy with, but if not, you will have to visit and argue why it cannot meet his needs.

Thanks for all the responses. I didn't really like/think they could meet his needs at any other local schools. As I said ASD schools don't seem right either.I haven't even begun to look at private, I have no idea what is available and I didn't know you could get LEA funding for such a thing. I do have a friend who's son has similar problems who goes to a private boarding school in staffs, but is £40,000/ year. No way we can afford that

have you been to see any independent ASD schools? You don't know unless you've seen them - they are all different.

Avoid BESD schools - ASD children learn by imitating. You don't want him copying BESD behaviour.

Look at independant schools as Cornsilk suggested. They exist and they are suitable for HFA.

Technically, they can't say no (but you and I are in similar positions in a similar area!) as he has legal right to a mainstream school unless it's incompatible with the education of others or unsuitable for his age/ ability, which the high school sounds like it's not...BUT do you want him somewhere he's not wanted?

I am in similar position but have decided yes, as my son wants to try high school with his friends.But I am looking, like you, for my backup option. There's not masses round here, I agree - down south is the place to be, but I am on the lookout too.

I would personally chase the finalised statement and see if they've put the m/s on it - if the council has named the m/s, then the m/s will have to work with you and accept it and him for now.

My thoughts are currently with small private school with small classes. My council would probably pay as there's so little else that would work if mainstream hadn't. But not ASD specific.

Thanks for all the responses, much appreciated. I would like to consider private, I just haven't thought about it before. In fact, I have no idea what is available. All I know is it will probably involve residential which I am finding very difficult to cope with. My husband spoke to to the mainstream school yesterday, they are talking to his current head, and have agreed to visit him next week in school. I am similar to 'avoid'. he is determined that he wants to go to the mainstream with his friends, he wants a bit of independence after 3 years of taxi transfers, and I can't bring myself to tell him it might not happen. I think we can get him in there if we push as the LEA aren't going to want to pay for private. But I am worried they are going to try and exclude him because they don't really want him in the first place.However, I wonder whether letting him try will give me a lot more clout when saying I want funding for private if it doesn't work for him. Avoid - if you want to PM me where you are and offer any advice I would love to chat. There seems such a black hole in education for HFA - mainstream want them to conform to their behavioural policies, which generally they can't; but 'special' schools tend to cater for low functioning only, well around here anyway. So they are stuck in mainstream schools, but pretty much taught seperately in student support. Not what I want for him, it is horrible

If you want private/independant school to be paid for by the LA you will have a huge fight to get them to fund it.

If you want private/independant residential placemnet funded by the LA you will have a HUGE fight to get them to fund it. You would need to prove social as well as educational need.

For either option you will need a Statement. For residential you would need not only a Statement but a host of other professionals reports recommending resudential which could cost approx £90K per year.

Personally I think you would be very unlikely to secure independant residential for a child who has been in mainstream so far, however it's a matter of making a compelling case and you already have evidence that one Head will not admit him.

He does have a level 5 statement which allows me to consider special school, but I am sure not independent schools. However none of the special schools locally can meet his needs IMO. The 2 I could consider don't even put the children in for GCSEs, my DS needs to be given the opportunity to meet his potential academically. He goes to a mainstream school, but it has a resourced provision for Autism. The school I want say they are concerned about the H&S issues because his statement says 'he presents a high risk of physical aggression to both staff and pupils'.I really want it to work for him in mainstream, I want nothing more. I am just saying that if it doesn't there don't seem to be any maintained special schools locally that are appropriate. So I don't know what other options I would have. I need to prepare myself for the huge fight I guess, I just don't even know at the moment what I need or want to fight for.

If there is nothing mainstream then you have a strong case for the LEA to pay for an independant.