moving to new LEA

[nahidontthinkso]

DS has been placed in an indie SS which is about 40 miles from our home.

I am looking into maybe moving nearer to his school so his travelling time is less (currently 1 hour).

If i move then i will move into a different LEA. Is the new LEA obligated to maintain my son in his indie placement or not?

I don't want to move if he could lose his placement or if it will make things difficult. I had to go through SENDIST to get the placement in the first place, i don't want to go through it all again.

We have the same dilemma as I would like to move. Does your new LA fund placements at the school? Does the new LA have any alternative provision that might be suitable for your son? We were told that they have to maintain placement until there is a review but then could change providing their suggested school met needs.

my elder son lost his special school placement when we moved to a mainstream school with a unit - I was devastated and fought through judicial review as well to try and stop it but was unsuccessful - he ended up spending just a year in the new school before I was able to move him back to a special school in secondary. they may fund it if you move but if they can meet the childs needs in county then when the LA take over the statement they can change it especially if you have an expensive placement. my younger son is now in an independent school and as much as I hate living here and him travel for over an hour each way I would not be prepared to risk it by moving so for me the battles with the LA will continue - Ive got 6 years left to stay in this area then im gone!

Often, the borough the Independent school is in has spent years fighting against their own children being placed there and built up what they argue is comparable but cheaper provision.

But these are things you can find out with Freedom of Information requests.

Thanks for the replies.

I think i will stay where i am for now because DS cannot lose this placement, its a good placement and he needs to stay there.
Tbh the travelling doesn't bother him but i don't like him being so far away. However he has only been in the placement a few weeks so i guess i need to give myself some time to adjust.
He loves where we live as well so it would be a big upheaval if we left the area.