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Original poster

Applying for school- Help!

26 replies

jakbrown · 08/11/2004 17:32

Right then, you lovely lot, I need help as have been bombarded with 'school' info today. My health visitor (the one I nickname Voice Of Doom) collared me on the way out of SALT meeting (which went better than expected). All sounds hideously complicated applying for school. Apparently I have to put a 'mainstream' school down on the form when I really want the autistic unit attached to the SLD school? And I have to be referred by an ed psych? And if there isn't a place in the unit DD has to go in main part of the school? (from what I've heard, this will not be of benefit to DD). AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!
All sounds very complicated. Annual review coming up for statement too (hoping for another year of ABA but thinking they're going to try and push her into school in Sept). Any advice gratefully accepted...
On a positive note, DD charmed the new SALT by doing her sideways dance to a talking duck

OP posts:
Original poster
jakbrown · 08/11/2004 20:16

Anyone?

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maddiemo · 08/11/2004 21:23

When we got our statement ds3 school was named on it. He attends a unit attached to mainstream but was there for a year to be assessed before we got a statement.
We also had to name a mainstream school. Our LEA sent us a letter naming our most local mainstream and we were told we had to name one even though the local school knew they would not be able to meet his needs
I guess you need to know how many children are in the autistic unit and how many will be leaving at the end of the summer term before dd becomes reception age. If this is the place you want you need to make it known loud and clear to everyone involved that nowhere else will be able to meet your dd's needs. Remember there may be several parents after a tiny number of places.
Make it clear that the main SLD school is not right for her and that you will be prepared to go to tribunal for a place in the unit.

I am not sure if this will be any help to you as where I live children do not generally receive a statement before school age.

coppertop · 08/11/2004 21:38

LOL at dd's dancing to a talking duck!

Sorry but I have absolutely no idea at all. Ds1 has no statement and around here we just apply directly to the (m/s) school for a place.

Jimjams · 08/11/2004 21:46

Have a chat to the ed psych. I was told that because ds1 is now of school age the protocol was such that we wouldn't be allowed to look at the 2 SLD schools until he had been to panel and offered a place. I rang the statementing officer today (we're quite chummy now) and she suggested talking to the ed pysch again. I did this and the ed psyh has been very helpful and contacted the schools on my behalf. We've got an appointment at one next week and I'm expecting to be able to go and see the other one as well. All of which means we can express a preference apparently. Complicated isn't it! I also have someone finding out for me which of the schools has places (possibly both). But I recommend having a chat with the ed psych and your statementing officer. If you haven't already met your statementing officer I'd try and do that as well- it really helped improve our relationship and I do find her very helpful now.

JaysMum · 08/11/2004 23:47

We did the same as Jimjams and the EP arranged for us to have a look at the special school. Did this and then named it in part 4 as our preffered choice. It was refused and so we got a solicitor to write to the LEA to say we would be going to appeal.
J's papers went back to panel and hey ho he has now been awarded a placement - though not til Sept 05.
Now awaiting ammended statement listing special school as the provider and when we have it, will ask LEA why they are failing to meet our ds's needs as his statement now states he needs special school education!!!
Think its called calling their bluff!!

RnB · 09/11/2004 00:19

Message withdrawn

fio2 · 09/11/2004 07:03

we didnt name a 'mainstream' we just name the school of 'our' choice, which was a special school

Original poster
jakbrown · 09/11/2004 10:04

Ah, thanks for all your help . Blimey, how horrendously complicated. Well DD does have a statement, which at the moment funds full-time ABA. I haven't spoken to the ed psych for a year so will call her. I think the two SLD schools in the area do allow parents to look round so will arrange this. RnB, I thought statutory school age was the september after their 4th bday? Oh God, so stressed even thinking about it. Thanks for your support. Jimjams, DD's annual statement review is imminent so will make friends with the statementing officer

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Davros · 09/11/2004 17:17

I don't really have experience of this jak but when we wanted some m/s with shadow as part of ABA prog we made a private arrangement with a local private school and just carried on without informing the LEA. It just meant that some of the ABA sessions were actually at school. We then got a very nice EP who suggested a local state school for part-time m/s and organised it but it was very part-time and at nursery level so didn't appear on the Statement. When we wanted TreeHouse there wasn't any toing and froing about what they were considering, no other options suggested, but there was a distinct possibility it could have been turned down at panel, luckily it wasn't. That's very much due to the local scene here and the fact that the borough's "flagship" new autism provision opened a year later than expected and too late for us PLUS they had been funding ABA for 3 years so couldn't really say they disagreed with it being the best way to educate him and we had tried m/s. Sorry, v. long and not exactly relevant to you!
I strongly advise you to get to know all and any LEA people, I used to take things in there just to make them become familiar with me and therefore less able to treat me as a number. I am now quite friendly with a good few of them, including the EP who is chair of panel, and they don't see me as a ranty ABA nutcase (I think!). I also take in a tin of Celebrations or something every Xmas and give those I know an Xmas card and say thank you to them, something they don't often hear. They really seem to appreciate it and I DO actually mean it!

pixel · 09/11/2004 18:11

Jakbrown, are you in Brighton and Hove? We had to name a mainstream school as well but were told from the beginning that any special placement recommended when ds got his statement would over-ride it. Apparently it's so there is a place available in case you decide to exercise your right to choose a mainstream school (inclusion and all that).

We just phoned the special schools direct and made an appointment to look round. They were very welcoming and were happy for us to see classes in progress and all the facilities. When we got the parents' form to fill in for the statement I seem to remember that there was a place where you could express a preference. When the panel met to decide the best placement for ds they recommended a school and then we had the opportunity to say if we agreed with it or not. Luckily for us they chose the same school we did so it was all very straightforward.

At the time it seemed quite stressful simply because we hadn't done it before and didn't know what to expect but everyone we spoke to was very helpful and approachable. I don't know if it helped that ds had already spent time at an early intervention nursery for assessment though.

I hope it all goes well for you.

Original poster
jakbrown · 09/11/2004 18:54

Ah! Well, Davros, if there was a Treehouse in my area I would definitely be going for that. However, the unit attached to the local SLD school is meant to be remarkably good and they do use some ABA principles and they're very big on PECS. I agree about getting to know everybody and I too am genuinely grateful for funding. I think it's amazing. I am concerned about DD having spent no time with peers before school. Also, DD will only have done two years by the time she is 'school age' but am going to try and argue for another term before she starts. And that's if she gets a place. Pixel, are you in Brighton and Hove too? Have made an appointment to be showed round by Bob Wall at Hillside next Wednesday and left a message with Downs View. BTW, Davros, do you know Lucy Mottram? (her son is called Oscar and is at Treehouse?)

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Original poster
jakbrown · 09/11/2004 19:08

Just been on Treehouse website (not been on for a while). It just looks so fantastic. Maybe I should move back to London!

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pixel · 09/11/2004 19:46

We didn't see Hillside but my mum worked there for a while many years ago! We visited Downs Park which is the next one up the hill and liked it very much. Ended up choosing Downs view because it is newer and has better facilities. You can look at their website www.downsview.brighton-hove.sch.uk

Don't worry too much about making the 'wrong' decision as we were told (by headmaster at Downs view) that the schools are very closely linked and it isn't unusual for a child to be moved at a later date if it's felt that they would do better elsewhere. He said that as it is so hard to tell how asd children are likely to progress, our choice would be a 'starting point' and not set in stone. After all ds is only 4.

Original poster
jakbrown · 09/11/2004 20:03

Pixel, that's really interesting, thanks! How long has DS been at Downs View? Sorry for ignorance, is he in the autistic unit?

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RnB · 09/11/2004 20:05

Message withdrawn

pixel · 09/11/2004 20:06

Btw we do feel that we made the right choice. Ds has settled in much more quickly than we could have hoped and goes off quite happily in the minibus each morning. As he's only been there part time for half a term it's a bit soon to judge his 'progress' but the improvement in his confidence is plain to see.

pixel · 09/11/2004 20:12

Sorry crossed posts, yes he is in autistic unit because his problems are quite severe but there are other asd children in mixed classes within the school. There are six in his class including him, with one teacher and four assistants.

Original poster
jakbrown · 09/11/2004 20:20

Pixel, my DD's difficulties are very severe and she would definitely need the unit. My problem is getting a place!!
RnB, very interesting about school age.

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Davros · 09/11/2004 23:21

Jak, yes I know Lucy very well! She made me breakfast a couple of weeks ago and she and S came here for dinner a couple of weekends ago. She's got family in Brighton, is that how you know her?

Original poster
jakbrown · 10/11/2004 09:36

Ah, it's such a small world!!!! L is my good friend, Jules' sister-in-law. I was living with J when the whole diagnosis emerged with O. L camed to see me when DD was first diagnosed with gorgeous O. I've been meaning to call her but you know what it's like...

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pixel · 10/11/2004 11:56

I used to know a J mottram years ago. Does her brother's name begin with D?

Original poster
jakbrown · 10/11/2004 15:09

Heh pixel, the plot thicken!! Well, I know she has two brothers but am embarrassed to say I can't remember the name of the other one who now lives in Hong Kong? Ring a bell?

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pixel · 10/11/2004 16:14

Wouldn't know I'm afraid, I'm talking about 20 years ago. I don't suppose they'd even remember me! I kept my pony at the same yard as the J and D I'm thinking about but I do remember there was a little brother, a lot younger because they bought a black shetland pony for him.

I only thought I'd mention it because of what you were saying about a small world!

Davros · 10/11/2004 17:17

Can't remember the brother's name (thought there was only 1) but they grew up in Putney if that helps.... strange thread this has become!

pixel · 10/11/2004 17:39

Sorry, perhaps I should have kept my nose out! J used to turn up with an oriental boyfriend-link with HongKong!!! He had a nice red sports car.

I will go away now and mind my own business!