Fear I will be forced to send him there

[Junipersky]

Youngest child has one more year left at primary (special school).
He has an EHCP and complex needs meaning he can't attend mainstream.

There is one special secondary school in the catchment area that he is expected to go to. This school is under the same umbrella as the school he is at now (feeder school that they move onto in Y7).

Unfortunately this is also the school that lost my eldest son on a school trip 3 years ago (eldest son has now left the school. This happened on his very last day at the school).
For context my eldest son is very severely disabled (different disability to my youngest) is completely non verbal, developmental age of a 12 month old baby and was on a staff ratio of 1-to-1 at all times). He exited the fire escape unnoticed and was found several fields away by a farmer (after the police had been alerted).

I am now being told (my my youngest child's current school) that I should prepare to be told by the LA at his EHCP transition review next month, that the school that lost my eldest is the only school that will "meet my child's needs" within that particular council. That they are highly unlikely to consider my other two options which despite one of them actually being closer to our home in miles is under a different County Council. Therefore they would not be obliged to provide transport etc etc.

The thought of sending him to the same school that lost my eldest on the trip is filling me with fear. I still have so many emotions about what had happened and the flashbacks from that day are still very vivid in my head. My anxiety is through the roof and I feel so tearful just thinking about it.
Aside from that I just don't feel it is the right school for my youngest having been through it with my eldest. I just want a fresh start and to put it all behind me.It is hard enough my youngest being at the primary feeder school as they are very much connected.

Can they really force me to send my child there feeling the way I do?

Do you think the other schools can meet DS' needs?

Unless the school is wholly independent the LA can only refuse to name your preference if they can prove one of the following:

• The setting is unsuitable for the age, ability, aptitude or special educational needs (“SEN”) of the child or young person; or
• The attendance of the child or young person would be incompatible with the provision of efficient education for others; or
• The attendance of the child or young person would be incompatible with the efficient use of resources.

The bar is relatively high and applies whether the school is in the neighbouring LA or not.

Lots of LAs will only provide transport to the nearest suitable school. Sometimes they will name a school further away as parental preference that hey won't provide transport to. If the LA do this you can appeal. If the school in the neighbouring LA is closer it will be difficult for the LA to argue 'inefficient use of resources'.

If all else fails you can appeal the school named.