LA's named school want to observe DS again

[sugarcandymountain]

Background: LA has named an SEBD unit for secondary transfer, we are appealing for AS-specific placement. Appeal went in about a month ago so LA have received our bundle.

Haven't heard anything from LA at all in response, but today got a message from SEBD unit asking when they can come into school to observe DS in class. Unit says that LA has asked them to do the observation. They came in to school to observe him a few months ago when they were first consulted about placement, but DS was on his own outside the classroom (he rarely enters classroom these days). Now they say they want to observe him interacting with other pupils in a classroom situation.

Why would LA want to specifically see him in a classroom environment? I'm feeling a bit !

I'm not going to object to the visit, but they've picked a day when DS's LSA will be on a training course and he may be even more challenging than usual (doesn't cope well with change).

They are probably wanting to see what kind of support they need to put in place, or whether they can meet his needs.
Presumably if they can't meet his needs because of his AS that strengthens your case.

A bad day may work in your favour! You don't want them to see him coping, but to see what happens when he can't cope. (The teacher might not like it, but from your point of view it sounds like a good day.)

Thanks both. Unit already said they could meet his needs - I don't think they will say now that they can't (unfortunately). It would be interesting to see what kind of support they'll offer.

I think it must be because the previous visit was so brief that tribunal might say that DS wasn't assessed properly. (The AS placement had a series of visits for their assessment, they were very thorough).

mummytime, I think you're right! TBH, at the moment there are hardly any days that he can 'cope' - he rarely interacts with other children and doesn't even work in the same classroom most days. But on a day without 1:1 support, it will definitely be harder for him.