Named school on statement - can it be changed? - help desperately needed.

[potentialJP]

My ds is due to start school in September and has been given a full statement. We identified a school thinking it would be apropriate and it was named on the statement.

Now however the school is not playing ball, has shown no interest in a transition plan for ds and will not allow his specialist teacher in to advise. They have refused help from DS's nursery (who offered to go in and take him in for visits and provide information on what he is like.)

I feel we have made a massive massive mistake and I don't want ds to attend the school. As they have been named on the statement, what can I do? Can I look for an alternative school or will I have to start from the beginning?

DS's vulnerable enough without being thrust into a setting where they have no interest in preparing him or in him as a person.

Someone, anyone - any advise please?

Contact case worker at LEA and ask if there are any other places available in the County. They may all be taken if it's for September.

It is worth asking LEA- and if you'repreapred to wait for a place to come up simply tell them that you will wait until a place comes up in a suitable environment.

The LEA has to rpovide a suitable eductaion: clearly this school is not that. Stick to your guns.

Am trying very hard not to panic but I have a horrible feeling that the named school is not going to work out.

As my friend advised - I intend to put my cards on the table and ask them to explain their actions. If I haven't got a suitable answer then I intend to go elsewhere even if it means home ed in the short term ( a very scary thought at the moment.)

Thanks for responding. x

Have you thogught about calling SOS!SEN? they would giveyou great advice-always handyn to ahve al the legal info

No but will definitely give them a try tomorrow morning. Now I have started looking at alternatives, I am panicking slightly less.

...and I thought getting a statement was going to be the hardest bit for us!

I know in my LEA, a Statement trumps everything else, so even if a school is full, they will take the child. If that is the case, the LEA is the key.

You'll find criteria for allocation in your paperwork somewhere

here, statement is after children who are looked after, but before other stuff (though our village school is funded very strangley so not within LEA admissions anyway.... basicallyn live in about 3 streets or suck up to Vicar. We;re in the streets and we Still ahd to tak to vicar, though he was my lecturer anyway)