LA didn’t agree to a place in a specialist school and now after appealing are still denying it, what next?

[Lefmry]

I am sat here in tears. My 5 year old is severely affected by his autism and yet the LA think a place in a specialist school is ‘an insufficient use of funds’ in their own words.

What do we even do next?

His mainstream school are fantastic with him but he will NOT cope in year 1, he just won’t. They have said themselves they aren’t able to meet his needs, he is getting funding for full time school and isn’t even there all day because he can’t cope. He has recently upped his hours to 9-1:30pm but it’s taken this long since last September to do so.

I am absolutely sickened by this. We had a mediation meeting last week and his school SENCO completely blew us away with how well she came across, we thought they’d overturn it. I can’t believe they haven’t. Is he supposed to struggle his entire education?

Is there anything we can do next?

Appeal to SENDIST.

In the meantime, if DS attend school full time, is alternative provision in place?

I’m still new to all of this (and quite overwhelmed) if we took it to tribunal do cases usually win? I can’t imagine how gutted and devastated I’ll be if we didn’t but I am willing to keep fighting.

Yes, the majority of appeals are upheld.

Take it to tribunal. We did and we won our specialist school place. Ipsea website is fantastic for free help. You can do this!!!