Just to complicte matters ...

[LimboLil]

.... I have discovered there is a special school in the neighbouring county to us, so only about 10 miles up the road (if that). Would it be very difficult to get a place agreed in a neighbouring county on statement, if there are already special schools in the county we live in?

It would depend on the funding arrangements and whether or nit your child's needs coukd be met in-borough.

Have you seen it?

Hi Limbo

You would first need to be able to prove that there is no-provision that can meet your ds's needs within your own area and also have ascertained that they would be willing to take him.

In our case we were lucky. Not only is there zero provision for HFA/AS in our area, but there were already quite a few pupils at the school in question, already being funded by our LEA. That on top of the academy saying that they couldn't meet his needs (as explained on your other thread) meant we had a very strong case. The other thing that helped was getting the Specialist Inclusion Team on board. They were very keen to get ds into the independent school and were adamant he wouldn't cope in a big mainstream secondary. The LEA told us that the head of the inclusion team is their go-to person for advice about individual ASD placements so her support was vital.

I would give them a call, have a chat and arrange a visit asap. You'll then be able to get a better feel for the likelihood of a) them offering him a place and b) your LEA agreeing to fund.

Hi I think it would be unlikely I could do that as we live in an area with quite a few special schools and schools with units. I think I need to calm down a bit, haven't even got the statement yet but it is imminent and I am getting very twitchy now. I usually know exactly what I want out of situations, I think this is probably the first time in my life I have been SO undecided.

Limbo, You won't have to prove that there is no provision in-borough if the placement you are seeking is either cheaper than the one they are offering (and can still meet needs) or (and this will be a complex legal case where you'll need expert advice) it isn't cheaper but you are prepared to 'do a deal' of some kind.

However, it is really important to note that a placement isn't always 'better' simply because it isn't in your LA. Though you might develop a sense that nowhere can be quite as incompetent or as down-right ignorant and arrogant as your own LA there are probably just as many parents in the desired LA thinking exactly the same about theirs.

However, what you have going for you potentially is that this placement might be closer than the one they offer, and therefore could be more cost-effective if you consider the transport issue.