LEA school choice

[english1]

We have just received a letter from the LEA asking about our school choice for our DC who is in year 5. we got the final statement in March this year and now they have asked for our preference - i thought it was in the autumn term of year 5 not spring term. am i missing something here - do i have to respond in the 15 days. i had already spoken to the ed psch and the case worker from the LEA about our preferred school. i have also visited the local and prefered school. In the letter , the LEA has mentioned our local school not our preference. are they trying to rush the process or are they trying to get things right - forward planning so we have enough time to negotiate. i dont know what to think. i know the school we prefer but should i be cautious of the timing. our prefered school is usually oversubscribed and for SEN kids - they prioritised their needs - give 15 places only. now i am worried.

its usual to give 15 days for this but if you need more time ask for it , i did and asked for an extra two weeks to visit schools again and they agreed straight away, however most lEAs try to place them at the local school nearest to your home so be ready for a fight! have your sendist appeal papers at the ready to be filed the minuted the named statment drops on your lap. no point argueing with the lea they make theier choice and stick with it hoping you will just go along with it they will often give in ywo weeks before appeal or else you go to appeal but all this takes time so dont dally if you want a differnet school other than the catchment one.

well, i have sent LEA our preferred school choice but did not mention (omitted in error) that my DC will be sitting a selective test for grammar school.
The problem, i have is that the preferred school choice has dedicated SEN unit that will suit my DC and the selective grammar do not have a unit but can provide care. However the nearest school the LEA has suggested prior - we dont want our DC to go there can provide care.
Now how can i prove to LEA that our prefered is all or nothing, if i am considering entry into a grammar school without the SEN unit. as the level of SEN provided by the grammar is the same as the closest school.

Or do i wait until i am sure that my DC passes the selective then say to the LEA that he sat this as well - wont it be too late for LEA consultation - the grammar school is in a different borough. - feb 2011

just received news that our parental chioce has been turned down by school- school can only take 2 out of 9 for the sen unit. we dont want the unit we said and now says we are too far away.
waiting for the official letter to appeal.

Definitely appeal. They cannot refuse to admit him simply because he has SENs and that too many other children also have.

They can only refuse to admit because they cannot provide the support stated in his Statement. Even then you can appeal if you think they are not trying hard enough to find that suport.

IPSEA can help you

Thanks SausageMonster, yes still waiting for the reasons from the LEA.