Problems naming a school on part 4 statement

[sazale]

We have asked for the only special school in our town that teaches at gcse levels to be named on DD's statement. They are a physical and medical difficulties school. The SEN dept sent papers to them and current mainstream secondary school. They have both come back with major concerns about meeting her needs which are to be presented to the next panel.

We don't believe either of them are the perfect fit for dd but mainstream is not working and she's too vulnerable to be there. We chose the special school as Hobsons choice as don't want to send her out of area. She is 13 with a dx mild/moderate ASD but profiles PDA with SPD, poss ADHD, motor difficulties and auditory processing difficulties. The SS are also saying ASD/ADHD is not their remit.

Does anyone have any experience of what happens when cases like this go to panel? I think I may just have to face the fact that she's going to have to go out of area. Thanks in advance.

Are there any nearer independent SEN schools that could meet all her needs?

The closest one is 45 miles away and she's not a good traveller. We have a NAS school here but she's too academic to go there. A new one has opened about 15 miles away but it has the Steiner/Waldorf curriculum (as well as the national curriculum) and some of their beliefs (and controversy) don't quite sit right with me.

Well, to be blunt about it, a physical and medical needs school is going to be no better for her than a school which specialises in ASD would be for a child with severe Cerebral Palsy. They just do different things.

In fact, I'm surprised they were even sent the papers, tbh.

If there are no suitable MS or SS provisions for her, then they may have to consider independent.

Be as blunt as you want, Lougle. It's the best way! They have been taking children that are too vulnerable for MS but we do have concerns of it being the right environment but mainstream certainly isn't! She's just accommodated there, her levels have regressed and she is going stir crazy in the same room all day. She's in the inclusion unit but not taught, just does work set by teachers, and the kids change constantly. She needs significant input socially and emotionally and her demand avoidance can be very challenging. the proposed statement is low level needs 25 hours.

We weren't convinced that the SS would work but wanted to try it on the chance it did so as not to have to be residential. I think we're going to have to be more realistic.

There are a lot of similarities in our situations. My dd was meant to be starting at an ld special school in September but a taster day showed that they would not be able to cope with dd's needs and also academically dd would be ahead of the girls there, we did think this would be manageable but apparently not.
Have you looked at the priory group schools? We are now at the stage where we have a statement being written but no school named.

We are looking at residential now, just need to find somewhere and get the la to pay for it

Could be though that the smaller scale setting/ smaller class sizes could be the main most helpful adjustment that dd needs certainly from the sensory and anxiety point of view. i wouldn't rule it out just because it's not asd specialist especially if having to travel for a more appropriate setting would be intoducing a further stress for her to cope with. Presumably autism advisory teachers could come into the physical disabilities school to train staff there?

That's what I'm thinking, pinkorkid and I'm going to push for. If they name mainstream I will appeal. The environment right now is the most important aspect. She needs to be somewhere where she can be independent and safe not babysat in a school of 1300! By allocating her 1to1 (which still won't enable her to access the classroom) its reinforcing a reliance on adults which she needs encouraging away at nearly 14! Academically she's average age 15 but functionally at around age 6 and that's why nowhere fits!

I really didn't want residential but the hour commute (when no traffic) each way would be an issue for her. I want to know where all the other kids like my dd are as they must go to school somewhere!

Pumpster I hope you manage to find somewhere. I'm just wondering wether to contact some independent schools or wether to wait and see what happens. When I saw the SS it was lovely and she responded well to the environment but I was concerned about the peer group as the majority have moderate learning disabilities. I'm wondering if not considering residential is for our be edit and not DD's! Aaarrrrrgggghhhhh! Why does it have to be so hard.

I know.
Transport should be provided though, when dd was going to the ss they were going to provide taxis.
I would start looking at independent Schools if I were you, I am seeing what's out there online and will then have a look at some. My dd now has a social worker so I'm hoping she will be helpful

Sorry just realized what you meant about the travel.

I've spoke to parent partnership at length today and decided that it would be of benefit to look at Independent. The one I'm considering looking at has several pupils attending as day pupils from here so may be worth trying dd with the journey. I spoke to the head office of the group and emailed them the proposed statement. They're going to get back to me as the woman wasn't sure wether the school in question are able to deal with demand avoidance!

Fingers crossed the social worker can help, Pumpster. I've got the manager from soial services coming tomorrow as I complained about their refusal to assess DD's needs and the attitude of the social worker. The social worker told me dd can't possibly have any care needs as she "only" has a diagnosis of mild/moderate ASD and goes to an ASD specific youth club once a week! How little she knows!!

Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

I just looked up demand avoidance, sounds like my dd! I hadn't heard of it.

It's very interesting, PDA. It explains why my dd doesn't always respond to ASD strategies. She isn't diagnosed as would mean out of area referral as CAMHS here only starting their training in September but it is acknowledged that she profiles that way and it's written in her statement about staff needing training and understanding of demand avoidance etc so shouldn't need it. She refuses every demand ATM which includes self care (sigh)!

Fortunately she's not violent and doesn't even share but he is very challenging with the avoidance (fake injurys, outright refusal) and can argue for ever. We must have a min of 6 meltdowns a day!

I'll update later!

That should say she doesn't swear not share lol!

Just had phonecall to say social services manager can't make it due to an urgent child protection issue at court. Gonna ring when she gets back to reschedule.