Changing school

[Violet22]

To cut a long story short my son started at a special school in September, year 7, but sadly it has not worked, he doesn't want to be there and they have said they don't want him. We are looking for a new school, and likely mainstream because the other special schools are full and he wants to be in a mainstream. I have just had his annual review. Under the social bit his current school have put in red font so it stands out that he is disruptive, he has sworn at teachers, he has refused to do work. Yes this is true but if this then goes into his EHCP and onto the schools we consult with they are surely all going to say no. He has behaved this way as he is unhappy, he feels the school have treated him like a litle child not a year 7. He was in mainstream primary and didn't swear at his teachers. Academically he may struggle in mainstream , but he will be happy as he will feel like he's a proper secondary student which is what he wants so they may well not see this behaviour. They don't list the positives like the friendships he's formed. It feels like they have just ruined his hopes of getting into a mainstream and we will be left with nothing in September. I don't really know what I can do about it.

Are these behaviours arising from underlying unmet SEN needs or disabilities?
If so, would suggest you consider challenging the use of language as shaming and (if a disability is involved) potentially discriminatory. There are ways to describe disengagement from learning and distressed behaviours without sounding pejorative about the child.

What does the plan say about the provision needed to meet his needs, and could that be provided in a mainstream setting?

DS has a legal right to a mainstream education unless the LA can prove it would be incompatible with the efficient education of others, and there are no reasonable steps which could avoid that.

I would make your comments known about the AR paperwork now. Email the LA. As part of that email I would reiterate you want a change of placement to MS, so there can be no misunderstanding.

Thank you. His needs probably could be met in a mainstream, he falls between the two - low academically for mainstream, but more capable than most the children in the special schools. Last year the mainstream schools said no, we were advised we could appeal but we're then offered this special school and we thought it would be better. Sadly didn't work out. I will send an email to the school asking if they will change it and speak to his caseworker as well.

What would DS think about a mainstream with a nurture group or an ARP? Would that acceptable to DS?

That would be ideal and I think he would. Trouble is we have already exhausted those possibilities when we were looking last year. Most of them are full. A few of them will only accept if they have an ASD diagnosis. He doesn't. We liked one that was for language needs but it is in a neighbouring LEA and so will only take from that LEA ( even though we are within walking distance, we live right on a border). We are going to look round one that is in our LEA ( yet further away) that said they were full last year but have said yes to a visit and am pinning some hopes on them. I do feel vif I can get him into a school with a unit even if he is not in the unit he may access some of the resources/ help!

You may have to appeal but being in a different LA doesn’t have to be a barrier. It is your LA (or SENDIST!) who has the final say, not the other LA or school. Similarly, being full on its own isn’t always a barrier if the LA can’t prove they are so full placing DS there is incompatible with the provision of efficient education for others or efficient use of resources.

Yes I realise all that and have the right to appeal but the reality is trickier than that. Have been told there is a 12-13 month waiting list for tribunals.

There is a long wait, but it is still an option. The wait is shorter if just appealing section I, which if you want to move to MS may be an option if B&F aren’t in a terrible state. And if DS becomes out of full-time education (you mention a worry about not having a school for September) you can request an expedited hearing which would be much quicker.