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Applying for a secondary place on the basis of exceptional medical or social need

2 replies

GoodluckJonathan76 · 25/12/2017 16:14

oes anyone have any examples of when this can be used? DS1 has additional needs at school we are currently trying to work through (ruled out autism last year through an assessment) and now thinking possible ADHD but does not have a statement and very unlikely to get one. The school has flagged up several times that they think DS1 has additional needs, is different, and we have the psychologist and psychiatrist reports from earlier this year, as well as a letter from CAMHs, which all state that he has unusual quirks/ additional needs but does not have autism. We are now picking things up again with CAMBs after the school flagged further issues this term as he moved into year 5. In the words of the SENCO, she thinks it would be a disaster if DS went to the local comprehensive (very mixed and quite rough) and there is a far better school with a better SENCO and pastoral care system further away where we think he would fare much better. The school is about 2.5 miles but is very oversubscribed (catchment is 0.5) so we don't stand a chance on distance. Do we have a chance if we rely on the exceptional medical/social ground? Interestingly, I checked the admissions policy and it doesn't have a separate category for kids with statements of special educational needs, it just goes 1) children in care, 2) children with exceptional medical or social needs, 2) children of teachers. Wonder if this will make it easier.

OP posts:
EeAicheCeePee · 28/12/2017 07:41

Not easy to comfort you here I am afraid. Unless the local school is unable to meet the needs of your ds it will be greatly impossible to request a different provision. If both are local maintained schools, then on paper their provision will be very similar.

With an EHCP it may be possible to request that the other school is named, but bear in mind the transport cost may be an issue.

If your current senco can draft a request for statutory assessment which emphasises the social and pastoral need you may have a chance. Has this been suggested?

EeAicheCeePee · 28/12/2017 07:42

Greatly impossible should be 'nearly impossible', apologies.

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