Funding for specialist school fees - ideas please!!

[CheekyGirl]

I have a son going in to year 3 who is severely dyslexic/dyscalculic/mild ADD. He has been having what help the school is able to provide (he's at school action plus) but it is becoming increasingly apparant that a mainstream classroom may well not be right for him.

I have visited a specialist dyslexia school which I feel would really suit him (small classes, specialist teachers, daily one to one...) but it's £5,000 a term. There is absolutely no way we could afford this. Our county is notoriously stingy when it comes to statementing, apparantly, and even if we could get him statemented, it seems extremely remote that they would agree to fund him to attend this school.

Does anyone have any experience/ideas/advice on obtaining funding for specialist school fees at all?????

Thank you all in advance!

Statement via tribunal - timescale = 18 months probably by the time it's all done & dusted. If the school is an all-through to 16-18 then go for it! Make the application today as you have absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain iykwim. IPSEA has model letters on their website to help you take that first shot in the battle for a decent start in life for your child. If you don't fight for em noone else will

Thanks Bochead. Trouble is, although he seems to meet many of the criteria for statement, I have been told categorically that the LEA will not statement him. This was the LEA ed psych, by the way!

Also, the specialist school only takes children up to the age of 13. It's aim is to be able to reintegrate them into mainstream within a couple of years. If he needs a specialist school at secondary level, the only option would be for him to board

Is your la a pathfinder?

Have you evidence that shows his lack of progress, that needs can't be met by current arrangements? Would the school support this?

Fwiw, most LAs tell most parents that their children won't get a statement. I don't think there are many statemented children on this board who have parents that were told any different.

...although he seems to meet many of the criteria for statement, I have been told categorically that the LEA will not statement him. This was the LEA ed psych, by the way!

Ignore that - it's lies designed to stop you applying.

You have absolutely no chance of a specialist placement without a Statement and will probably also have to fight for one even with a Statement.

So ignore the LA's lies and apply today.

Trouble is, he is making some progress, albeit slow and well below the expected level for his age (in literacy and numeracy only; he is average in all other subjects). I am afraid that the LEA will use this 'progress' as an excuse not to statement him/fund him to attend another school.

Starlight - sorry to be ignorand, but what's a pathfinder la?

Just wanted to say that statements aren't just about academics and academic progress but about emotional/communication/personal needs etc as well. My dd 13 has just got a statement and been placed in a special school and she's academically the top end of average despite all her other difficulties.

CG

Would still suggest you apply for the statement and ignore any naysayers. You are fast learning that you are your child's best - and only advocate here.

If I had £1 for every time I have seen parents told similar I'd have enough money for a ticket to New York!.

LEA Ed Pysch actively lied to you; these people are under pressure not to readily statement children even if they desperately need extra support (SA plus to my mind is not worth the paper its written on as its not legally binding and support can be too easily curtailed or even withdrawn). Your son is being failed here because his additional needs are simply not being met.

Link to Pathfinder LEA's and tells you which LEAs are pathfinders BUT do not get bogged down in such detail as your main priority should be obtaining the statement for your DS.

www.education.gov.uk/inthenews/inthenews/a00198359/20-pathfinders-to-test-out-proposals-in-the-special-educational-needs-and-disabilities-green-paper

Our LEA is not a pathfinder la, having checked out your useful link, Attila. Is this bad news? Our LEA is Oxfordshire, so if anyone has had any experience with this particular LEA, I would welcome any info!

It's neither a good thing or bad OP but the rules 'can' be slightly different with a pathfinder LA, although the law remains the same.