How to get a place in Indie SS when the LA are dragging their feet?!

[Barefootgirl]

My DD is currently being educated at a special unit, from 9am-12pm. In terms of the education she is receiving, its pretty good, as its 1-2-1 with a variety of teachers every morning. It means, however, that I can't work mornings any more, as I have to take her and collect her. She then stays at home in the afternoon, and i go to work. My hours have dropped to 7.5/week and I frankly can't afford this! The Head has told me that P can attend 'full-time' after half-term, from 9am-2.30pm. This will mean that I have to give up work. I don't want to give up work. I love my job.

There is no suitable school available. The LA can so far only suggest placing her in a mainstream middle school 12 miles away, with TA support. WE TRIED THIS, IT DOESNT WORK FOR DD. She is already on the verge of permanent exclusion from a m/s middle school with TA support, so I failto see why the LA is suggesting the same thing and simply hoping for a new result. I am NOT setting her up to fail yet again. Reluctantly, I have started looking at independent special schools for children with BESD. I have found two, one in Kent, one in Sussex, and both offer weekly boarding. I spoke to the Admissions lady at one of the schools this morning and she said the process of getting into one of these schools was likely to take until the summer! I can't not work until summer! I am seeing one school on the 8th November, and one on 15th November. They are both eye-wateringly expensive, and the LA is not going to agree to pay for either school without a big fight.

If i took P out of education and home-schooled her for a bit, i think i'd be on dodgy ground morally, as it would be for my benefit and not hers. However, having a roof over her head and food in the cupboards could be considered as being to DD's benefit, wouldn't it? Its so frustrating, I don't want to rush into anything, but i feel I deperately need advice and cannot find anyone at all to ask. Parent Partnership are useless, IPSEA never answer the phone, SOS-SEN ditto.

Does the process of getting a child into an indoe SS really take months and months? Is it worth getting legal counsel for my daughter (and since she is under 18, with no independent means, do we have to pay for it, or can she get Legal Aid)?

Does she have a statement of special educational needs? If so then you need to ask them to name the indi school in part 4. What is the unit she is at currently, is it a long term unit for children or a short term placement type unit until something more suited is agreed and sorted? If some kids are there long term and she is doing well then they should name that unit as she is doing well there, and if more than a certain distance away from you they should provide transport too. If however as I suspect that this is a short term place only then they need to look at her needs properly, review her statement (thus triggering you the right of appeal) and hopefully name the school you request. You will need to prove there is a space available at the indi school and that an offer is open to her to join as a minimum. If they won't do it then if her statement is changed (it needs to be wherever they name on the statement I believe) then you have the right to appeal to tribunal. That can take a while yes and you may need to decide what to do whilst waiting for a hearing in the mean time. Personally I would send to school even if not an ideal choice rather than home ed but continue to let this provide evidence of the lack of suitability of the placement for the hearing. Of course that depends how hard things are for her at school too and you need to balance that up. Keep pushing for what you want and make it clear you will fight them all the way if they don't listen and find her a suitable placement. You may have a harder time justifying a residential placement, but also be guided by the current placement for their recommendations as well as the indi schools who will have experience of such cases and can probably advise you how to proceed further too.

Is she eligible for free home to school transport which may extend her day e.g. she may be picked up at 8.30 for a 9.30 start and dropped back at 3.30. Most children at SS do get free transport.

Are you claiming everything eg DLA, Carers allowance, tax credits or getting direct payments from social care you could use to fund some childcare?

Yes generally the process of getting into indi SS takes months and you won't succeed if her needs are being met where she is and that is a cheaper option.

Can she attend more hours spread over fewer days?