No suitable school

[TheHumancatapult]

We and even the LEA are stuggling to find a school for ds3 .He is fuly statemented is in y3 atm.He is in a speech unit but as they can not cure the condition and can not improve any more he no longer meets the crtera .as well as the fact they are struggling with his physical needs and ds3 struggles in ms class of thirty in afternoon with a helper for the four of them from the unit

He has several dx
MLD has been ruled out as in lot ways ignoring his pd he is mentally able
we tried for a
PD ss but after two days assessment there they said no as e s to far mentally than either of her primary classes but secondary would be ok as they on split site

But LEA have approached lots of Ms schools three times now and they refused saying that it would then be at detriment of other dc and his needs are to complex

so come September nothng in place

They just haven't bribed the schools heavily enough. Attach £20-30k extra funding to your ds3's book-bag, and the headteachers will find lots of creative ways around any effects on other children's education

Email to the LA suggesting that since it's their legal responsibility to find him a school, they might want to try a bit harder you fully expect them to meet it, and unless they name another school, you will be turning up at on Sept 1st

Have you looked at indis?

Just how complex are his pd?

they have offered 40 hours of 1-1 funding 34 hours contact 6 hours non contact time .LEA caseworker is trying hard to force them

ironic thing is ds has no real behavioral issues other than in lot of ways he is only 5/6 emotionally 9 likes peppa pig but does also like pokemon/mario

his dx are
EDS type 6 so rare and has extra complications not seen in most EDS
Hearing loss
Verbal and oral dyspraxia
extreme low muscle tone so walking is slow and painful cant hold pen other than scrawl name but can use a computer use wheelchair for distance wears splints
social and communication disorder
Seizures
automic dysfunction(prone to passing out and staying passed out for few hours)nothing to do other than let him sleep
fatigue
restricted growth( he only 112cm)

suspected chromosome disorder

The but being he is relatively bright in his own way Reads above his age , spells well on computer etc

You know if you named one they'd most likely have to take him and it would be up to them to negotiate for funding with the LA.

he needs help dressing button wise and getting clothes on can do with help but is very slow

can walk but at his own pace and spend lot time hitting the floor but he is pretty good about it.has wheelchair for distance
Has supportive seating but thats fine comes with him
can barley hold pen but pretty good on computer
we are considering speech device

in his statement he has 20-30 mins of OT at least 4 times a week
60 mins of speech therapy to

starlight I did and they batted straight back not suitable to LEA and so far have been able prove detrimental to other Dc as have the other 11 schools approached by LEA they have tried 3 times now

ironic is the funding is there he comes with 40 hours attached so not a small amount

and has support of specialist speech teachers and the Physical disability teachers , as well as OT/Physio and Speech therapists

Does he need any help with toileting? Some people seem to have an exaggerated and irrational fear of poo.

hmm as long as they can unbend enough to let him wear track suit bottoms instead of trousers .he sort of wipes as best as he can occasionaly you may need tell him he needs get changed

Poo phobias aside (and it's worth ringing the schools yourself to ask if it is a disabled toilet access problem) ask the various HT what would need to be provided to make accommodating your ds do-able.

40 hours standard 1-1 probably isn't enough. Normally the 1-1 isn't really a 1-1, it's a BOGOF (buy-one-ASD-dc-get-an-extra-classroom-TA-free) offer. They'll be worrying about the epilepsy and that he'll need 2 staff for lifting as he grows. Plus he'll need teacher time too, and sadly for the head, the outside input cost (EP, ASD teacher, ToD etc) is going to be clawed back from schools, if it isn't already.

Suggest you see if the case officer can try for 40h of HLTA, plus 10 hours of ordinary TA (to allow for the times he needs to be doubled-up) plus 6 hours of EP/ specialist teacher and perhaps garnish with 6 hours of ordinary teacher. And get an extortionate quote from an out-of-area residential school just in case they baulk

as skid marks can be large .But is hard to wipe properly as his fingers bend so far back they pop out

Has packed lunches as he uses special cutlery or fingers for eating personally i don't care which long as he eats but he has been picked on for it so hence packed lunch

Alternatively, turn up with him for a look around; they might just be scared off by the list of needs and have forgotten that they're good at teaching ordinary dc and there's actually a fairly ordinary little lad here.

skid mark solutions

nope he does not need lifting is mobile so can do things for himself abet in odd fashion and slow but he does them as well as the toilet its just if catch a whiff that need to intervene

ah no the 1-1 is specified case of quantified and qualified in his statement as is his OT and speech .Physio and OT is written in for them to come in hour a term and to be available for contact in between .Not seen EP since year 1 has half termly visits from specialist teacher team

His chair in statement but fine that just come with him .Also has equipment eg computer and scissors etc written into

And no asd diagnosis at all or no input from them

Hearing loss
social and communication disorder

There'll be units for both in your LA (probably several)

oh good idea but the trouble lies in the grip /pressure in his hands its not very often especially as he much prefers to poo at home

ah thats the problem the hearing loss not severe enough for a unit plus they take pure hearing loss not PD and rest of extras

and social and communication a lot is down to his lack of language rather than asd.so not suitable either

and e being booted out of speech unit as they aimed at children with curable condions

MD is much better at this than me.

Hearing loss unit schools would be my first choice tbh. Behaviour is less of an issue nor do they have lower expectations.

As far as I'm aware, they can't amend Part 4 without having an alternative.

I'd look at all available independents, take him along, and tell the LA that unless there is an alternative, he will present for school on September 2nd as usual at his current named provision.

Cross posted. I was right then, specified and quantified is probably putting them off then, cos they can't just nick his funded TA for the other dc . The funding is probably still a big issue. It's almost certainly given with one hand and then partly clawed back with the other.

What else are the mainstreams scared of, I wonder? Could it be the fits? the autonomic episodes? being sued blamed if they help him with something and he dislocates a limb?

trouble is I do not want him going back there either as its been a disaster on so many levels he gone from loving school to hating it

Starlight the hearing loss is only mild hence no hearing unit .Its not to much of a factor long as you use his name or touch him first and tell him to adjust his volume as he can be loud without knowing

yes i took advice from mn right from when i applied in playschool and always had it like that

fits are not that often its more day dreamy style in school .autonomic ones while scary looking at first you get blase and don't even call ambulance any more

yes there is a protocol about don't grab hence supervision is in a break and lunch time be careful if ever lift him and if something pops out call me before ambulance as often goes back and sub laxes and loud cracks are normal ignore them he does .No plasters as his skin may come of with them ( i provide special tape etc)

School that HAS a hearing unit?

obviously if spine or neck suspected then by all means call ambulance first as they are the dangerous ones