Starting school in 2017 support thread

[Frogandbear]

This thread is inspired by another thread where I was sharing my concerns about my DS starting school next year. Wouldn't it be great if those in the same boat could have a place to share their concerns and ask questions.

So let's introduce ourselves:

1. Tell us about your child
2. What type of school are you looking at for next year?
3. Have you applied for an EHCP? What stage of the process are you at?
4. Any concerns/questions you have

I'll go first

1. DS is 3 and a half - gorgeous, easy going and with a giggle that would fail to make anybody smile . He also has asd, is non verbal but his struggles outside of communication/interaction are relatively few. He is happy and marches to the beat of his own drum and that makes me happy too .

1. Having looked at what seems like every type of school possible, we have pretty much decided on a ms primary, although I would be open to home educating if that was required at the time.

1. Applied back in September....decision on whether to assess is LATE. Will be phoning SEN helpline tonight for advice on how to proceed.

1. EVERYTHING

Your turn

Our preferred school is 5 mins walk, which is lucky as it's the only school we're not the bottom of the oversubscription criteria for. We hope we might get one of the 13 places that are up for grabs! The school has a lovely feel to it, all the kids play together from R up to Yr6. We met the head and SENCO last week and they were very inclusive and supportive. I've done the admission form today with our preferences, so just have to wait until mid April to find out now.

Hi can I join please?

Have one reception aged child in a Sen unit and a DD due to start reception next September. We don't currently have a diagnosis ( likely ASD with PDA traits) and put in EHCP application few weeks ago.

Am I right in thinking currently that limits us to applying for mainstream schools only?

Without an EHCP all you can apply for is ms through the normal application process. Do that anyway. If you get an EHCP you can then name a different school if you want. But better to at least have a ms school place so she's got something to go to in September.

My preferred school is about 15mins drive away. There are loads nearer but I'm in a different situation because DS has an EHCP. The SEN officer actually called me yesterday to say she'd made a mistake! She'd told me that I name a school at DS's review in April. Turns out that the deadline is actually in Feb. So I need to name a school by then giving them enough time to consult with the school before the deadline. She asked me to name one there and then. I told her I hadn't decided and she'd have to wait til after Christmas They take ages and ages to do anything and return my calls and emails. But expect me to do things immediately I've actually got a couple more schools to look at so she'll just have to wait!

Looked at a mainstream school this week- it is a forest school and they spend 2 days a week going on trips to national trust places, museums, the woods etc. They were so lovely and didn't run a mile when they met my DD, instead they talked about how they could include her and all the sensory type equipment they would get for her. They actually didn't think she was that far behind (she is but it was refreshing to hear them say that as I was worried they would think I was having a laugh trying to send her MS). They have a lot of English as a 2nd language children which can work well for my DD for interactions with children and from teachers as they also have little language but for different reasons. They do a lot of activities like writing their letters in the mud with a stick rather than sitting at a desk holding a pen - my DD is a long way off either but the bigger gross movements would certainly be better for her.

Only problem is logistics as it is 20 minutes away, I have a 6 year old at the local school and I work 3 days a week. And my husband prefers the special needs school as they are more experienced with SN children. They also provide transport.

Does anyone know if we can ask for transport to this school even though it is MS? I'm guessing not but I can much more see her in that school than the other MS schools near us which are fairly academic and can be quite pushy. And that would be cheaper for the LA than the SN school.

LadyDH It's interesting what you say about gross motor movements for writing. Our preferred ms school say they do lots of that in reception as those are the muscles you need to develop to be able to write properly.

As for transport, presumably you don't have an EHCP. Do you have DLA for DD? Just wondering if that would cover transport costs to school. Otherwise have a look on your council website, ours has info on when free transport is provided: www.eastsussex.gov.uk/educationandlearning/schools/transport/free/qualify/walking/

Lots of practice of gross motor skills apparently help with speech as well. Can't link to anything because I've never had a look. But that's what a nursery that specialise is speech and language told me.

That's really interesting about the writing and the gross motor linked to speech.

We are getting an EHCP as we will be applying to SN school. But as I understand it that can be used if we choose to go down the mainstream route. We do get DLA, at the moment that and more is used for ABA each week. I'll have a look on the council website, thanks for the link to your LA one.

Having an EHCP means, if you decide against ss, you can name a ms school of your choice. They will have to admit your DD unless they can prove they can't meet her needs or it will have a detrimental affect on the other children.

Not sure about transport. I think you'd have to prove there isn't a school nearer that can meet her needs. Although it would be significantly cheaper for the LA to pay for transport than it would for a ss place. But don't quote me on any of that as I'm not 100% sure.

Thanks HHH3. You are right, I'm sure I read on here it was £60k for SS. The issue is that the independent forest school is not distinguishable from other MS schools so we would be unlikely to be successful in arguing for transport as in the LA eyes there are nearer schools which would meet DD's needs.

I didn't realise it's independent. Does that mean it's fee paying?

Our preferred school is about 20 mins walk away. I say preferred but tbh no school has jumped out at me. If I could afford to home school with aba for the next 2 years then that would be ideal.

Ah sorry I think I have the wrong term there. It is actually a 'free school' in the sense:

A free school in England is a type of academy, a non-profit-making, independent, State-funded school which is free to attend but which is not controlled by a local authority.

Ah ok. I'm not sure how it works with free schools tbh. There aren't any around here so I haven't had to look into it.

Mater If you homeschool could you still get ABA funded through the EHCP?

I'm afraid not frog Our LA are not exactly aba friendly. If I asked for aba and home schooling I'd be burned at the stake

I only ask because I've thought of doing the same with DS but...I guess not . Out of interest...why 2 years? and (hypothetically) what would have been your plan for schooling be after that time?

I should have said 3 years as that would take them up to age 7 and at the end of key stage 1. I think I'd need to re-evaluate whether it would benefit them to stay at home at that time.
Tbh I'm pretty much flailing around in the dark most of the time and change my mind about things on a daily basis

Happy New Year! How's everyone doing?

I've been in touch with my favourite school and arranged to go and meet the headteacher next week. I've already looked around and had a long chat with the senco and was really happy with that. Just want to meet the head to make sure she's also on the same page. Also waiting on a call back from the senco as I have a couple of things to ask her.

Had a bit of a wobble the other day when I looked at their results for the first time. They're really not good. Results are really not what I'm interested in DS will probably be the one pulling them down in a few years time! but I still wobbled because it feels so counterintuitive to send him somewhere with results like that. Then I gave myself a kick up the arse, realised there are a couple of reasons the results look like that, and reminded myself I'm looking for somewhere that's supportive and inclusive and results are way down my list of priorities

Honestly...I'm panicked. Completely freaking out. Dd3 still non verbal and I'm not sure whether she'll cope in mainstream. But it feels like our only option as we don't have any Sen provisions locally and my other dd who has asd and ADHD is getting on well and has made a lot of progress. Senco isn't brilliantly but I feel choice is a bit limited in where I send her. She'll go into school with kids whose parents I know which might make the social side a bit either as senco brought up deferring though she isn't summer born. But in all honesty I'm dreading it. Other dd goes to juniors then so another change.

HHH3, I've long given up being so bothered by results. I've reached a point where pastoral care and social and emotional well being is my main focus. But it's the way you tend to think to start off with I think as it's the "normal" thing to look at.

Try to remember this isn't forever. If it's not right or she's not coping then she doesn't have to stay there. That's what I keep reminding myself!

When I was looking at primary schools for DS1 I looked at ofsted and results. This time I haven't because being small/inclusive/supportive etc is so much more important (I'm definitely a different parent to the one I was then, even without DS2's SNs). But for a little while there I reverted back! I honestly believe that if he's happy he'll reach his potential - whatever that may be.

That's what I think. As long as they reach their potential that's the main thing.

I keep telling myself we need to give mainstream a try for a year or two to see how we go and go from there. I never thought my other dd would be able to cope and the first year was rocky but she's doing well. I just wish more TAs and teachers etc understood more something as common as autism. Her current teacher is fab but most don't seem to get it. Even the senco seems to want to normalise herself as much as possible and whilst I agree she has to function in the world I'm not bothered if she doesn't make dead on eye contact.

May I ask what stage everyone is at in the EHCP process? We're currently stuck in the assessment process but finger crossed it should be finished in the next few weeks. I'm very aware that we stand no chance of getting our chosen school without it.

*The assessment stage finished I mean, not the entire EHCP.

We have an EHCP - was finalised last October.