Help urgently needed! Writing parents' report for annual review & we want to change schools

[litdog]

Hello,

Our DD is 8 and we want to move her from mainstream primary to special school. Her current school agrees it's time to move on, and we've looked at all the special schools within a million miles and have found one that will suit her (she has v unusual disabilities) but of course it is private.

So we need to get the council to pay her fees there as we can't afford it.

What do I write in our report to boost our case? We have been asked to submit our report sooner than we expected so need to get cracking.

ANY advice would be vvvv gratefully received - thank you!

Also, the council want her to go to one of their schools which is really not suitable - we've looked round it three times, and got our OT and SLT to do the same - and it's just not right. Because she's a bit of a one-off, they want to lump her in to a school that will not be right for her, and I think we need to say that.

Thanks

Legally its not about which school is the best fit its about whether the LAs choice will meet need. See this barrister's guide. Its about what is reasonably necessary / appropriate.
So you will need to prove any other school the LA could possibly name cannot meet her needs.

Thanks so much Agnes. I have had a look at that and will make sure our report is relevant.

V helpful - thank you.

Wow agnes! That's exactly what I'm needing, at the moment (it also highlights how not great DS2's statement is, but he's doing OK and getting worthwhile provision and, more to the point, happy at school).

litdog - we're slightly further down the same process (and have hit the refusal to amend brick wall after chasing up the LA - we're also wanting independent!). You need to make clear how her current provision is inadequate and not meeting need and, while you can't formally name a school at this age, when you say what you want to happen next, you need to emphasise the things that she needs from a new school that the school you want for her is uniquely able to provide.

Thanks Ouryve. I've spent all evening writing the report in the light of the advice from you both.

What a bloody trial this is…..

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