Info on suitable schools for friend's son wanted

[judetheobscure]

I've a friend with a son with global development delay. He's been at a special needs unit up till now but has been told he has to move on to a more suitable school in September. The problem is my friend doesn't think any of the schools in the borough are suitable for him; there are a couple in neighbouring boroughs which could be better for him but she's being told by the LEA that he has to go within the borough. What are her rights? And is there a national organisation/charity she could approach who might be able to help her? Would be grateful for any help as she seems to be fighting a lone battle here.

She needs to contact IPSEA for advice. Probably www.ipsea.co.uk but google to check.

is it a special school? We go out of borough for mainstream with no problems. Agree about ipsea

what kind of places have they found for him? How old is he btw. My dd has a moderate global development delay and she will be placed in a physically disabled unit attached to a mainstream primary school. I havent yet been to look round, but on paper it sounds ideal. I have other options to consider aswell.

Taxi/escorts can be provided up to a 22 mile radius (I think) and I know my dd's special school, which she is at at present does take children from out of the area. Does she have an educational pyschologist assigned to her son? Maybe she could have a chat with him/her about her options.

He's currently at a mainstream school with a unit which was originally intended for a variety of special needs children but is now being dedicated to autistic spectrum disorders. he's 6 years old, has no speech, limited communication, not toilet trained, physically he's pretty good - there are a few things he's not great at (eg.going down steps) but he's fully mobile. She's been offered a place at a school where all the other children are in wheelchairs which she's not happy about. Also another school which she doesn't like (I can't remember why). I don't know about the educational psychologist - I'll ask. Thanks for the ipsea website; I'll trot along there now.

The ipsea website (www.ipsea.org.uk) was just what was needed. I'll pass on the info. Thanks.