Blossom House school- I think I've found the school!

[adrianna22]

I've just been to see Blossom House!

I loved it!

But still not sure if DS should be placed in a specialist setting full time or not, I wonder if DS can do part time, while his young until maybe year 1, so that I can decide.

But I'm so happy! I've looked at so many special schools and I think this school would be perfect.

I just wish I started the statement process sooner as I saw kids who were two there.

Looks like a lovely school
I don't want to put a downer on it but you may have to go all the way to tribunal as it's an indie ss and your LA have offered a SALT unit.
I really don't think the LA will allow you part time place in a indie ss for the reasons i said last time.
I've just been through SENDIST for a indie ss place against an LA unit and it's a very difficult fight. I had a solicitor and it was still tough!
If you're still not sure then maybe try the LA unit as there is likely to be more flexibility re him attending ms as well.

(Sigh).

Yep I thought I would most probably go through tribunal if I really want DS to go to that school.

I did talk to the school about split placements- and they did tell me that some of the kids have split placements at the school, but are either in a full time education setting by year 2.

I have spoken to IPSEA about split placements, and they told me this is possible- including if I want DS to go to an indie SS.

They will most likely say no, for the reasons you said last time, but I'll give it a go anyway and see what the outcome is.

Thanks for your post.

I guess they might go for it if they see it as a way of your DS moving back in state schools as it will save them money in the long term.
My LA would not do a split indie ss placement, they would argue that if the can manage part time in mainstream then they don't need an indie placement. They don't even do state ss split placements!

I think they will push for the SALT unit though. What is the cost difference?
I was a bit that blossom house charge you for the assessment though!

I'm not sure about the cost difference. Though I know Blossom House charge around £8 grand a term .

The assessment cost isn't too bad, it's around £300, but can be funded if you get certain benefits. ( I think!)

That's 24k per year which seems very cheap for a indie ss.
I'm up north and indie ss are around 40-50k per year, i thought it would be much higher in London.

Ofsted confirms 25-34k per year for day pupils, it's very well priced!! Does that price include all therapies?
You might be in with a chance depending on how the LA figure out the cost of the provision they offer.
My LA put their ASD unit at £33k per year plus transport. They cost their special schools at around £30k per year plus transport as well.

Yes the price includes all therapies.

£40k! Yikes

The ICAN Meath school is £20 grand a year.

Oh wow an ASD unit round you is £33k! Come to think of it, units around here are £10 grand a year or a term (I'm not sure).

I wonder why there is a such a difference in price. DS's school place is 41k per year, it's discounted from 50k due to the number of children the LA have placed there.
The NAS school is 50k per year. The Steiner EBSD school is 57k per year and the SENAD school is around 50k per year.
I thought it would have been loads more in London but maybe there is less competition up here so they can charge more.

Now you need to wait for the statement to come through. You need to make sure that ALL of DS's needs are in the statement. Then you need to prove that the LA's option cannot meet DS's needs and that your choice is the only option that can meet ALL of his needs set out in the statement.
If both placements can meet DS's needs then the tribunal may go along with parental preference if the cost difference isn't too great.

I've heard wonderful things about Blossom House from a friend who wanted to send one of her DSs there. She didn't put him there in the end (long, painful story), but she would have dearly liked to....

The price thing - difficult to say, because there's so many different factors floating around. The indie SS my kids use in the Home Counties comes in at around £30k for a standard place, but nudging £40k if extra SALT & TA resources are needed.

The school keeps the costs down with some decent economies of scale (200+ kids from early years to 6th form), some extra services that generate revenue, and a fearsomely active fundraising & PTA setup.

On the flip side, the Victorian-era buildings cost a fortune to heat and maintain, most staff are expensive specialists, and the school's senior leadership team is top-heavy - in large part so that they can both run the school and attend several dozen SENDIST tribunals each year.