Secondary school research

[KisstheTeapot14]

Here's our situation - DS is 10 and will be in Y6 by Sept. We have a very well detailed EHCP.

We have identified a school with enhanced resource provision about 6 miles away, this is the only local school we can see which would offer appropriate education - small class, extra teachers per group and not to GCSE level.

Our mainstream school is about 3 minutes walk away.

LA was guardedly positive about ERU in meeting this spring ('depends on numbers but in theory its viable').

Should we approach the mainstream with EHCP and ask them directly can you provide this level of support for complex needs (unlikely but will they be honest? One mainstream we visited said they would take him but he would have lack of peer group and not access interventions out of class due to OFSTED guidance - so sink or swim situation, SENCO basically putting us off in the nicest possible way) or should we wait until transition review where EHCP will be amended towards secondary provision?

I basically want to sound them out and get them to confirm that his needs are well above what they can provide for as this will give me ammunition if LA play silly buggers (enhanced resource has few places so could be oversubscribed, I know technically this is not a reason to refuse but could be a card played).

Or should we just leave mainstream alone, having effectively decided he would never go there anyway? It would be a set up to fail on all levels - social and academic - and I'm not willing to put him through that as his self esteem is pretty good right now.

I think you are more likely to get an honest answer from the school now than if they are put under pressure if the LA consult with them.

I would lay out all the information and evidence, don't leave anything out, highlight everything you know they can not provide and make sure to get their reply in writing.

Seperate from this make sure all your evidence and reports show MS won't work and DS needs the ERU.

Thanks @10brokengreenbottles. I'm going to push for another EP report. I will also ask paediatrician to highlight things like social - she already said he was a prime candidate for bullying in writing and supported our EHCP.

Its a bit tricky as there are so many professionals and a lot are health - dyspraxia, ADD, bladder etc and often they say 'we can't comment on education'. I will try to nudge wherever possible. EP is the key one I think as she can comment on his learning. Maybe SENCO at primary can add her voice too.

The SENCO at prospective school has already said she will support us in meetings etc so that will be a big help as she will be able to voice how the ERU will provide for his numerous overlapping needs where a mainstream couldn't.

Good plan to think about evidence now.

Push HCPs to comment on DS' education. They can and do. They certainly should care for his MH, social and emotional needs. My DS1&3 have EHCPs and also have involvement from numerous medical professionals, most of their medical teams have at some point discussed and helped with education. They have also done this for DS2 who doesn't have an EHCP.

Having lots of professionals involved can sometimes be a hindrance to DC with complex needs, lots can be keen to pass the buck. I think some see it as someone else's 'problem'. I find specialist nurses can sometimes be more willing to help with social and educational matters.

Have you got that in writing from the prospective school's SENCO?

No but I do trust her. She spoke very plainly about the LA.

Some HCP wouldn't even comment for EHCP.

Manager of OT/physio service has policy that her team do not give recommended amount of time for exercises to be carried out (by child and TA) at school. In the end LA took our advice but it was frustrating to not have this in a report. We had the kind of things to do but nothing about who should do/how many times/how long.

Can't believe NHS can have these policies which seem to obstruct the legal rights of children for appropriate ed. Of course LA could have got a private recommendation but that would cost them. They just used reports from 4 years and 2 years ago despite me reminding them that I did not find this sufficient.

We're seeing OT/Physio team again this autumn (only because pushed for a review) and wondering whether to say anything more. I don't know if they have any sort of legal duty within EHCP though, seems like a grey area. Dyspraxia is one of his main issues though, so guidance from them for school would be massively useful.

If Dyspraxia is one of DS' main issues then I would definitely be pushing for recommendations, either from the NHS teams or privately.

Physio was our biggest problem when DS1 first got his EHCP.

Yes, currently the LA went with what we and school had agreed - an hour a day on fine/gross motor. If this was ever disputed again, we'd have to pay for private report as NHS dept told me their policy is not to comment on time/frequency of interventions. Madness - NHS SALT can do this (for school and home) but physio can't