Statement query

[Emily7708]

I would be really grateful if someone could help me with a query regarding schools and statementing - I just cannot find a definite answer anywhere.

I have a four year old DS with autism who has a statement for 30 hours of 1:1. We did originally name our catchment school on the statement but had to remove him from the school in November after attending for just two months. So we are just about to have a review and I need to name another school on the statement. My question is, can I name any state school whatsoever on his statement? Say if I found a school an hour away but was willing to transport him myself, could I name that school and would they automatically have to take him? Or is the statement only for schools in our local area?

We have been offered the borough's default special school but am loathe to accept this as it seemed like more of a creche than a school, and I would rather try a mainstream school with an ASD unit first if possible. The nearest one is an hour away though.

I keep asking the key worker about this but she just says she will get back to me, and never does.

If the school is Mainstream then yes, you can and yes they must. However, if it is an ASD base, then you'd have to meet the criteria and have it named because it's a specialist unit.

Thanks very much Lougle, I can widen our search area now. Was beginning to get despondent at the thought of enrolling him at any of the local schools.

Yes you can name any other mainstream school if you are willing to transport him. Obviously whether there is a place is another thing you will have to consider.mi have 3 children -1 NT and all are out of county

you can still name a school with no space and it would be difficult for them to refuse.

Really? There are some great schools in the next borough which are rated outstanding but are completely full with waiting lists so I hadn't even considered them.

I wonder if there is any point even trying another mainstream with 1:1 support again as we did this before and the school clearly didn't want DS there. And the TA they gave him was really rubbish and seemed to be used as a resource for the rest of the class, while DS just ran around the garden area for most of the day.

I have just found out that there is a state ABA school in Thurrock, which is an hour away - I wonder if I could request that school. Sorry to ramble but I am going out of my mind with all this at the moment.

A school can only refuse to admit a child with a statement if them being there is incompatable with the education of the other children or if it will be inefficient use of resources.

There are very few situations where this can be claimed.

Infant class sizes apply for KS1 classes but children with statements can still be admitted above that number for that year. The following year, the school has to make adjustments that enable them to keep within the infant class size numbers. If you have chosen a big school, this is likely to happen simply by a child leaving at some point during the year.

It is likely that a small school will try and find reasons not admit your child however, because they will not want to hire another member of staff the following year simply to meet class size rules. However you are still entitled to the place.