How to find a new school for ds?

[claw4]

My appeal for SA has now be lodged. Ds has been off of school since mid June, since ds's self harming escalated. School then decided to report me to SS CP, rather than even attempt to understand ds's complex need

Ds now has to return to his previous school.

My solicitor has advised me to start looking for alternative schools and i dont know where to start.

He has so far attended two MS schools (without a statement) and his needs have not been met.

Do i look for MS, special school, Ind schools?

Yes, she should.

It isn't purely about 'what's on paper' , it can be something as simple as appropriate peers, amount of white space on the walls, length of transitions etc etc.

Thanks Star, all scribbled down for future reference.

Claw. - I think what you'll find tricky is jumping from the no provision to the SS provision, - though it isn't impossible and many here have done it.

What you'll probably get is after proving that the school can't meet his needs, the LA coming up with a bunch of as yet untried bolt-on provisions i.e. some 1:1, SALT and OT consultancy, perhaps even weekly sessions with a 'counsellor' or some kind and it will be hard for you to prove that it 'won't' work.

That isn't to say you can't do it. Just that you need to plan in advance for having to defend against this being the outcome. Make sure that it is clear your ds is far to complex for this now, and that perhaps he needs an 'inhouse' approach with onsite SALT etc. and teachers who are used to working with SALTS on a daily basis for rather than visiting professionals just for your child to a school that doesn't appear to understand or 'want' to take on board outside advice.

FWIW, I have gone from 20hours 'access' to CA with no need for SALT or OT to a SS with a class of 6, daily group SALT, weekly individual, daily OT, weekly individual plus a behavioural programme etc.

It's exhausting figuring out what evidence you will need and how to defend against bollocks, but you're neither stupid or naive, and no-one in the LA will be able to match the attention that you can give to your ds' case.

One thing you may have to bargain with is if the LA suddenly throw provision at you to avoid your choice of placement, you can cost it and possibly win on that basis. LA's underestimate their costs because they often get away with it but there are ways to show that their costs are nonsense.

That is the good thing about the school we spoke about it isnt SS, its MS, just much smaller classes, much more experience etc, im not sure about what if any provision they have in house yet. Im sure it will all become clearer after the visit.

I do have a solicitor, but i like to make sure i am on top of everything also.

Thanks Star your advice is invaluable

Smaller classes IS a SN thing that needs to be mentioned but be careful not to rest your argument on this as it will look like you are asking for a gold star education because it is highly likely ANY child would do better with smaller class sizes. You need to talk about the experience and training levels of the staff and how therapy is embedded into the curriculum for those children that need that.

I think of loads already without even having visited the school. The guy i spoke to was telling me they have over 300 children with statements, mostly supported by LA. Lots of these children sounded very similar to my ds, he said etc, etc.

So im sure after visit i will be able to think of many more.

I will have to comply a list of questions for my visit, based on what you have already said.