Confused about secondary school admissions process when dd has a statement

[JessePinkmansBitch]

Reposting here also posted in SN education.

DD got her statement back in July. Before it was issued it asked us to name the secondary school we want her to go to. Which we did - special ASD school. It was the same school that the LEA recommended for her too, so figured they're on the same page as us there. She's currently in year 6 in a mainstream primary.

The statement currently names her primary school. I was told that the statement would be reviewed early in the autumn term and would then name the special school we want her to go to.

I had a phone call from the SENCO at her primary school today asking about our secondary school choice and then she said that after speaking to the contact who issues statements at the LEA that the review will take place in the Spring term but, there is no guarantee that dd will actually get in to the chosen special school and a decision will be made in the summer term next year. And that I should still apply online in the mainstream admissions process making 3 choices in case she doesn't get in.

Yet when I registered on the council website after dd came home with a letter and unique reference number to apply online, the website says that if your child has a statement then you don't apply through the mainstream admissions process, and to contact the special educational needs department.

I'm totally confused now. I thought that with the LEA stating that she should go to the special school in the proposed statement and then us saying we also thought she should go there, pretty much guaranteed her a place. I spoke to PP briefly today and although they're normally very helpful he just left me feeling more confused. Told me to speak to X who issued the statement, so I did, he mentioned I could apply for a mainstream school through the normal admissions process "if I wanted too also". Yet PP said I don't apply through the main admissions. Then I read this which says I "you will be sent a list of mainstream, special and approved independent schools by your local authority with a letter telling you of your right to state a preference for a state maintained school and the deadline for this." Also Nerfmother replied to one of my other threads (thanks btw) and she said that you can't apply through mainstream admissions if you have a statement.

I need help.

I'm seriously considering homeschooling her from next September if she doesn't get in to the special school as I think she will just completely get lost in a mainstream secondary. Even if they do have a special ASD unit, their reputations are pretty bad, awful in fact and I really don't want her going there.

Look at <a class="break-all" href="http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130401151715/www.education.gov.uk/publications/eOrderingDownload/DfES%200581%20200mig2228.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SEN Code of Practice 8.132 phase transfers. The LA must do transition review in good time and must name a school for a statemented pupil by Feb 2014 so that you have time to appeal before sept 2014. Tribunals prioritise secondary appeals. So the statement should be changed to name both the current school and the new school with the start date
The only situation where you would go through the mainstream application is if the statement is going to be removed - is this a possibility? Because it is very odd for a SEN officer not to know about the Feb deadline so it makes me suspicious. I would ask for a transition review to be called asap to get a feel for what is going on. Its not impossible faced with paying for a ASD school the LA will argue for mainstream secondary with no statement. If they do cease the statement you still have a right of appeal but clearly don't want to be in that situation next summer with no school place.

I had all this nonsense but earlier on when transferring from Infants to Junior school.

How long has DD had the statement in place?. Transfers to secondary should be done by February of the year in which the child starts secondary school. When was the annual review last carried out?.

Re your comment:-
"Yet when I registered on the council website after dd came home with a letter and unique reference number to apply online, the website says that if your child has a statement then you don't apply through the mainstream admissions process, and to contact the special educational needs department"

Exactly my experience. I never had to actually apply for a place through county's website because I already had the statement in place. I was also given duff info by the school who made me fill in county forms unnecessarily. His transfer to Juniors was solely dealt with by SENAPS at the LEA in question and he got into Juniors without any fuss.

Think SENCO has given you some duff information but I would directly clarify the situation with the SEN Department in question.

Another suggestion is to speak to IPSEA www.ipsea.org.uk and see what they have to say about the matter.

Did your DD only receive the statement in July of this year?.

I would talk to your preferred school to see if the LEA have made any approaches to them with regards to her having a place there.

PP are not always impartial so would suggest speaking to IPSEA (or SOSSEN).

This is generally used as a fall back if the move to special asd school falls through, it is also used to keep children with statements within the pan by applying for a place within the general admission if the transition is not already sorted. schools would rather hold a place and reallocate than children with statements being added to the roll after the admission process. As you stand MS is not suitable so there is no point in having a fall back when it is not appropriate.

Thanks for replying.

AgnesDiPesto I hope they're not about to remove the statement, she only got in July!

Thanks for the link AttilaTheMeerkat I'll have a look at that site. Yes she only got it in July.

Yes Weller DH was saying we should apply for MS as a fallback, but I really don't think MS will be good for her at all, she's struggling massively now in year 6. The differences between her and peers are painful to see, not just academically but socially too. She's very lonely and down since going back after the summer.

I emailed the named officer today and mentioned the February deadline. He said that there is no date in place for the Transitional Review, but if I have concerns (?) and want it brought forward before the new year I should arrange it with the SENCO for after half term and he will attend.

Is that were they will then start to look at schools? He did say that our preferred school is full but she's on the waiting list, and there's no guarantees she will get in. What's bugging me is that I've had no information whatsoever. No list of schools, no advice about what will happen, I only know about the review and February deadline through being on here and googling. Seriously shouldn't they have sent me some information?

Also the SENCO did say back when dd was still in year 5 and we stated we wanted her to go to a special school that she didn't think it was good idea and she would be better in MS. So possible she's got her own agenda with telling me to apply through the MS admissions?

The thing that's bugging me is when we applied for the statement the process was really smooth. There was no knockback, no hurdles they were very helpful and it was done quite quickly. And the school, have always been really on the ball with dd. Pushed for her to get her diagnosis, asking an Ed Psych to come in and see her several times, getting her as much as help as possible, getting advice from different organisations. Then as soon as she's gotten her statement it's like the LEA have gone cold, no more information, and the school aren't interested. She hasn't had any 1 to 1 since going back, hardly any help etc. I'm baffled.

Yes I would ask for the review sooner rather than later and ask the SEN officer to send you a list of all schools including special schools and independent special schools. You should also yourself try and find out whats available eg contact any local support groups and ask other parents.

I would ring the Head at the ASC school you want and explain what is happening and ask if they really are already full for Sept 2014.

And start keeping notes of every call in case you do end up at tribunal.

You can also start a thread asking about schools in a particular area on here.

If I were you I would go to the review with a list of very expensive indep SS as your back up and you might find a place becomes available

And if the school are not meeting the contents of the statement look at IPSEA which has info on what to do / who to complain to.

I'd be very sceptical whether the school really is full if you're applying for a place next September. By that time the current batch of 16 and/or 18 year olds will have left and they'll have a new Year 7, so unless the school is unusually popular AND all the other local authorities are making placement decisions very early, it seems unlikely that they really will be full.

Just wanted give an update; Spoke to the SENCO and she is arranging for the Annual Review to take place ASAP, she said it'll probably be after half term. And we've got an appointment to see her on Monday to discuss what help dd is getting and we can raise any concerns we have. So fingers crossed it goes smoothly.

sounds like a good start