help.............I'm about to be taken to court

[devientenigma]

DS has been out of school for over 2 year, historically let down by the system. Had a home tutor for the last year which subsequently failed. Have a new plan, new tutor etc the LEA are now wanting to stipulate timelines and if it fails, as my DS can't do/won't do anything/anywhere they want to go to court to see if I have his needs at heart and if they can force resi on the family. Which if they even listen to his needs know it's the wrong thing to do by DS never mind us.

What do I do?

justaboutisnowakiwi seems to have a brilliantly use4ful pov. The idea of trusting my LA to select a resi placement for my son, fills me with horror & I expect that's how you must be feeling right now.

Cos I'm a contrary mare who dislikes being threatened on principle I'd go out of my way to find the "gold standard" residential provision that would most perfectly suit my DS, ignoring any cost implications totally. That would have to include 24/7 doctor (not a health care assistant!) back up for the coronary condition, onsite clinical dietician, OT & physio + ABA etc, etc. It would also have to allow you to have him back at weekends and unlimited visiting rights so you could ease your anxiety about giving him into someone else's care.

I'd then spend a few days with my head down creating the perfect written argument as to why ONLY my self-sourced residential option would be a great idea & anything the LA come up with is a baaaad one. Worst case scenario - LA agree with this option and cos you've sourced it yourself, it'll be somewhere YOU are comfortable with iykwim. I'd also create a seperate document listing all the things in DS's CURRENT statement he should be getting, but isn't just to strengthen my argument as to the utter lack of family & parental support you've had over the last couple of years.

Do you qualify for legal aid? Levenes seem to have a good selection of experts to call on for specialist reports if it becomes neccessary.

Yes, definitely agree with bochead that I wouldn't want the LA to choose a resi placement, the schools that our LA suggested were completely unsuitable for DS.

I can understand your concerns about resi deviant, it is a different situation when there are medical issues especially if communication is a problem.

Are the resi placements you'd consider, far away? Would it be an option at all to move closer so that DS could attend on an extended day or board on flexible basis? It sounds like he has such complex needs that there might only be a few schools in the country which are an option.

I can completely see tho why you would prefer to explore indie as day pupil rather than even indie resi.

Agreeing with justabout (not regarding uninformed tosh :o ). We're thinking that residential will be wonderful for DS1 somewhere down the line. We're getting by with several good days and several dire days each month and one or two completely refused days a term in his supportive but stressful because it's mainstream primary school. No mainstream secondary will be suitable. he has huge issues with transition and compartmentalises so extremely that it's harmful to DS2 because he won't acknowledge anyone out of school and these things would be diminished by the continuity and consistency of a (or rather the right) residential placement.

And doing the maths, I'm sure that you cnan figure out that the days which are neither good nor dire are a case of "well, at least he didn't hit anyone, today"