Child with autism not allowed to stay at school full time - help please

[RueDeWakening]

Hi,

(x-post from Primary education, I was pointed here by the responses I got there.)

My friend's daughter has autism, and has recently started Reception. She has already turned 5.

Her school has said she can only remain in class until the afternoon break each day until she is of statutory school age as they don't have money to fund the 1-to-1 TA that her statement outlines, apparently her funding doesn't start until January.

Questions really are: does this sound right? If not, where can I point my friend towards to gather some information and fight it?

English is not my friend's first language, and I've offered to give her a hand to work what she needs to do next to ensure her & her DD aren't missing out/being fobbed off.

Thanks.

She can force the issue with a threat of Judicial Review to the LA for which she can get legal aid in her child's name.

She (or you) must contact IPSEA or SOSSEN for details or visit their websites for a list of legal aid solicitors. One will write a letter which should pretty much fix it however, I would not personally want to remain at a school this awful and uncaring.

Thanks, will let her know. The school has actually been really good with her DD, which is why everyone is annoyed that they're being idiots now. She was at the school nursery last year and they were fantastic

I'm off to Google IPSEA and SOSSEN, thanks.

Is sen4u a free service, manishkmehta, and do you gain anything if people use it? Advertising is not allowed on MN unless you pay them £30. I'll wait for your response before I decide whether to report your post.

Update: current provision in the statement is for 20 hours 1-2-1. The school have said they cannot meet her needs for the remaining hours, hence her leaving school early. My friend knows that she can refuse to remove her DD early, and is considering that for the future depending on what happens next.

She has now met with Parent Partnership and has an appointment to speak to IPSEA, they seem to be on the ball and are challenging the LA decision not to increase the statemented support (even though this apparently hasn't changed since she was at nursery).

The school are actually supporting her appeal to the LA, they are also reassessing her daughter (not sure who is doing this?). And she's preparing to go to a tribunal if nothing happens in the next few weeks, with IPSEA's support.

Thanks for all the responses, they've been really helpful.