Special school refused my child because he is verbal

[Aeris1]

My little boy could have started school this September as he was 4 in July. He has his EHC plan finalised but with no school on. He has ASC, SPD and high anxiety amongst other things.
He has been refused a really good special school because he can talk, he only started when he was over two and is doing well with his speech. We also use makaton and now and next for when he is shut down.
Does every special school require a child to be none verbal? ASC affects children in a lot of different ways so it does not make sense that they could refuse him for those reasons.
His plan is really good and is what he needs, I have been told it might be next September before he starts a school with him being a summer baby which is fine but I don't understand why he can be refused because he can speak.
His early years support worker is going to stay on with home visits until he gets a school and she has said they can look at home teaching once he turns 5. I just think it would be nice for him to be around children like him and for him to get the right care he needs.
Has anybody else had this happen too? It would be nice to know what happened. Thank you

What is ASC ?

I would advise you to speak to the SENCO from ur LA.

Good luck

I assume ASC means autism spectrum condition?

Are they suggesting that he goes to a mainstream school? Look carefully at what is available in terms of support in mainstream and how it can work.

It is called Autistic spectrum condition now, that is what they put in my little boys reports. He can't go to a mainstream school and his Ehc plan says he needs a special primary. I have tried him in private nursery at quiet times but when all the children came back after holidays he could not cope and does need small groups as part of his ehc plan along with sensory things.
A lot of children that start mainstream do end up having to go to special school or excluded so I feel lucky that my little boys diagnosis has been early enough to get him where he needs to be without any upset for him

I have been referred for something called CAT CHOOS which is the communication and autism team for children out of school. So I will see what happens there. He is not 5 until July next year so I can wait another year for a place to come up, he might be verbal but he never spoke until he was over 2 and he does a lot of echolalia. There are a few more schools that are going to be looked at so I am going to wait.

Does every special school require a child to be none verbal?

No, my son goes to a special school for children with severe learning difficulties and he (and many of the other children) is verbal.

If your son's EHCP says he needs a SN school but are refusing the one you want, have they come up with an alternative school offer?

The IPSEA website has lots of useful advice so it might be worth looking there.

Thank you Friolero.

I spoke to my sons principal officer yesterday and she said she has contacted at least 3 other schools. I just thought it was an odd reason to reject him but I did try to get the best school where everyone wants a place. My little boy does have severe learning difficulties too so it is nice to hear that verbal children get places.
I am probably worrying too much with him being refused for my first choice.

Maybe it's the schools way of saying he is too 'able' for their school and feel it will not benefit him to be with a more complex cohort?

I hope you get your next choice, school placing is hard enough but when your choice is even more limited it must be a nightmare!

If your ehcp does not have a school named you can appeal to Tribunal. Also appeal sections b and f at the same time - this will increase your chances of success. What happened to the school you requested? The LA must name it unless there is a very good reason (and can only be for certain reasons in law). Parental choice is incredibly powerful. Home education must be ELECTIVE. Do not agree to this unless it is your choice. It’s time to look at this with a fresh set of eyes, and see what he is entitled to rather than what they are offering him.

The reason they gave (that he is verbal) is an unlawful reason. I would expect you to win at Tribunal on this basis.

Thank you Docfartin, I am hoping so too.

Thank you Buscake. I am not going to go to a tribunal with there being other choices and I would not want to send him somewhere that didn't want him. Hopefully we get our next choice :)

I see what you’re saying, but you could appeal the ehcp at Tribunal and get your preferred school named on the plan instead. The school won’t treat your child any differently, it is often the LA making the decision, not the school.