Need something explaining re EHCP and Secondary placement.

[KriticalSoul]

DS is in yr 6, he has ASD, ADHD, SPD, Dyspraxia, Anxiety, ARFID and a sleeping disorder.

He currently is in MS education with 25hrs EHCP and a whole shit ton of adjustments.

We recently did his EHCP review and made a request for him to go into the local Specialist autism school as he just will not cope in the local MS secondary for a myriad of reasons, including his safety during meltdowns/absconding risk

I got the draft of the amendments today and the letter read that they agreed with them and it quite clearly states he will be in specialist provision from September, and the school is in the relevant box on the EHCP. it even states the funding top up would alter from September as he'll be in specialist provision.

The thing is, they don't release the placements for secondary until march, and I know there are 50 applicants for 6 places at this school.

Does it mean he's in? That they agree that's where he needs to go but we have to wait and see or what?

The decision well depend on the school. If they are named as the preferred placement then the EHCP will be sent to them for consultation, in other words asking if they can meet his needs. They can say yes or no.

In general, there are only two reasons a school can refuse:

1. they can not meet the needs.
2. they can meet the needs, but doing so would be detrimental to the education of other students.

If the school says no, the authority has committed to specialist education. At this point you can insist on another, including one which is out of county or a private provider.

If there is a transport cost due to distance you will probably be asked to contribute a sum towards this, in my county that is approximately £700 per year.

You say you have a letter with the amendments and then refer to a draft EHCP. Placements are not usually named on a draft but other amendments are recorded. If you have a final EHCP with the school named it means that's where a place is allocated. Local authorities must name the secondary setting on a final EHCP by February 14th, ahead of the March date when all other secondary placements are issued.

its the amendments to his official EHCP arising from the review we did a couple of months ago.

I've got 21 days to approve them or request edits, then they'll go into his EHCP for the next 12 months.

One of the edits/amendments is his placement, which quite clearly states he'll be in specialist provision, then section I mentions his placement, which is his Primary, then from September 2018 has the Special School named.

If the school is named on the final EHCP you have a place allocated at that setting.

I don't understand how a maintained special school can "release" Year 7 places in March when LAs have to issue amended EHCPs naming secondary placements by 15th February. However, irrespective of that, if the LA issues an EHCP naming the school they will have to accept your child.

If they don't name that school but accept your child needs a specialist placement, they will have to find an alternative, even if that means a school in a neighbouring borough or an independent school. If they can't name a nearer school, they will have to provide transport.