Advice needed - very confused

[littleHen84]

Hello, our Toddler has recently been diagnosed with Autism he is due to start school this year, he has significant speech delay. We are also in the process of moving house we had sold last year to allow plenty of time for School admission etc but my partners industry has been hit very hard with Covid so had to take the house off the market and wait awhile. I am really confused on where to start regarding changing school applications as we have had know formal support as of yet, and are changing areas. We are moving to a rural area with very small schools, do we need to push for an EHCP in place and go from there? sorry if its rambled, everything seems like a minefield i just want too feel like i'm taking control and being proactive its been a difficult few years.

Is he in nursery at the moment? If so, they can start the ball rolling with assessment. Is he seeing SALT for his speech delay?

Thank you so much for replying, he isn't in Nursery we have had issues with him being extremely distressed if i've attempted anything like this have tried lots of ways etc, he is having SALT therapy via video consult at the minute.

Ok. You can apply for an EHCP yourself, take a look at the IPSEA website for more info. It will be super helpful if your SALT can write you a report to go in with the application. The only legal test for an EHCP assessment is that a child may have special educational needs and may require additional support via an EHCP to ensure those needs are met.

www.ipsea.org.uk/ehc-needs-assessments

As Cat posted you can apply for an EHCNA yourself.

For now though you do need to apply via the normal channels as well in case an EHCP isn't in place by September. Did you make a school application? If you didn't you need to make a late application ASAP. If you did but just named preferences in what was going to be your new area I think you can change your preferences but you will be treated as a late application. Perhaps @admission @prh47bridge or @PatricaHolm can advise.

Thank you for all the replies really appreciate it, i made an application stating preference at the top of the list for the school in the area we should of movedtoo but that sale fell through so will be potentially moving elsewhere now, its all a bit of a tangle x

If I understand the situation correctly, it sounds like you need a school place in September but you are moving to a different area. You talk about changing school applications, so it sounds like you have already applied for schools near your current address. If that is the case and you are moving within your local council's area (or within the area covered by the London eAdmissions system, i.e. the London boroughs plus Surrey), they will allow you to change the preferences on your application, but you may be treated as a late application, meaning you will be less likely to get a place at one of your preferred schools. You will need to ring or email your local council to find out how they will handle a change of address and preferences.

If you are moving to a different local council you need to find out from them when you can apply. They may insist on you actually moving before applying or they may allow an earlier application. You will, unfortunately, be treated as a late application which means your application won't be processed until all the on-time applicants have spaces. That reduces your chances of getting the school you want but you should still try.

You don't say when your son was born. If he doesn't turn 4 until after the start of the summer term, you should talk to your new LA about deferring entry for a year. That way you will be able to apply on time for September 2022 entry and, given your child's speech delay, it may be better for him.

Finally, as others have said, you can apply to the council for an EHCP yourself. If you get one you will be asked to choose the school you want your son to attend. There are only very limited grounds on which the LA can refuse to name the school you choose. Once the school is named in the EHCP they must admit your son even if they are already full.

Hello, we are changing Countys when moving. He will be 4 in April so i imagine they will advise to start this year, am i right in thinking that? Thank you all for your replies it is greatly appreciated.

No, you are not right in thinking that. Your son can start school in September this year, but he doesn't have to start school until September next year. If you want your son to start in Reception in September 2022 you need to ask your new county council if you can defer entry. Given your son's speech delay and other issues I would expect them to agree.

The first thing I am not clear about is that you talk about moving to a rural area (county). Has this move happened yet or not?
If you put in an admission entry before the cut off date of 15th January 2021, then you would presumably have expressed preferences for schools where you intended to move to but using your address where you were living at the time. The possibility is you will therefore not get any of your preferences as a school place because of the distance involved from current home to preferred school. The LA that you applied via, will give you a school place but it could be anywhere and almost certainly not in the immediate area that you are moving to.
The places will be allocated 16th April and you are in the period where some LAs will allow you to move your preferences and some will not. If you confirm which LA you are in and applied to and which LA you are moving to and when, then we should be able to advise.

You should be looking to get an EHC Plan as soon as possible. The fact that your son is currently not capable of being in a nursery suggests that he is going to struggle in a school environment in September 2021. If possible you need to be getting him used to playing with other children ASAP. Many schools will not consider EHC Plans at the start of their time in schools, so it is important that you push as much as possible to get an EHC Plan and a school that is very supportive of his special needs.