Naming a school- ABA

[sammythemummy]

Hi

Our local mainstream are s discussing amongst themselves regarding ABA, so it's unclear if they will accommodate it in their school.

We're amending the statement and we've namedour local school.

Would it be wiser to not name it?

Bump...

The La have given us a proposed statement which we are amending.

My dd is still in nursery, reception in September2014... No appeal

At this stage we are just talking to school and LA

The proposed statement does not include any ABA, just states that she needs support that can be met by school

If you want ABA + mainstream then ask for a type of placement to be named "Ed wise (ABA)+mainstream". If you name a particular school the first thing the LA will do will lean on that school to refuse to have ABA come in. If you don't name a school they can't do this. Once you have ABA +mainstream on a statement the LA then has to find a mainstream school to accept ABA - easier if they haven't already been round and convinced them not to.

You can still apply for your choice via normal admissions process as until you have a statement thats the only way to get a school place.

We found leaving the actual school we wanted out of the picture meant the LA couldn't line up another opponent

Once a LA or tribunal orders ABA there is very little objection from schools, every one we approached said yes - and while we were in time for normal admissions DS would have been an excepted pupil and got a place at any school even if on paper they were 'full'

The LA will guess the school you've applied for is the one you want but if you are laid back about it - push that ABA is the key part and once that is in place you will find / name a school which is positive about ABA, it may stop the LA dragging the school into any battle.

I would try and get ABA approved in principle first.

A plus point if ABA support in school is going to be private / funded by LA direct is that school will not have to meet the first £6k of statement. DS ABA 1:1 is all paid direct and so school does not have to fund £6k, it is cheaper for school to have private ABA come in than use one of their own TAs.

The way we got around LA-school influence problem is to go for a school in a neighbouring borough. That way the school is happy to say what they actually think without regard to paymaster looking over their shoulder.

However, the chances are stacked against us, it seems. Of the 12 schools I visited (including a number out of borough schools), only one (!) was willing to work with.

So at the moment I have a school that is fully supportive of ABA, and a LA that is having none of it...

Thanks everyone,

Right now I have chosen a school through the normal system.

I think I'm not going to name it on the statement and focus on the ABA part.

kakty I really don't want a school outside the borough as it'll be too difficult for me (I know they can arrange transport but I would rather take her myself)

FS is amending my statement and she will represent me