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Independent schools refusing EHCP application

NAS85258

Hi

We have just had a draft EHCP come through in July for my autistic son. He is 10 years old and was managing fine in primary school where he was in till July 2022. He moved to Middle School in  September 2022 and he has had 3 exclusions since then. Since November he's been on a reduced timetable where he only goes into school two hours a week. 

However, the council are currently funding alternative provision for him where he is being home tutored. He is doing well with this and I have been told he is very academically able and a joy to teach.

The report by his current school in the appendices of the draft ehcp raised alot of behaviour concerns and section b has used the wording from this here. The la have agreed to fund an independent school for him as he needs a school where he can stay till 18 and a smaller setting like in primary.

The la have sent applications to 3 independent schools and all 3 have rejected saying they can't meet need due to behaviour mentioned in his current schools report.

I'm at my wits end with worry as this whole process has been exhausting.

Shall I try and challenge the ehcp so it can be changed before it's sent to any more schools? I've asked the la to remove the appendices with the schools report and to take out certain sentences from section b. They have said they can't as this affects section k. Shall I take this to tribunal?

Or shall I push for a special needs school and can they reject him too saying "they can't meet need"

Any advice would really be appreciated as I don't know who to turn to for help. 

Parents

  • Hi 

    I went through something similar with my daughter.  She had extreme school anxiety in year 6 and her attendance became very poor. She only attended part time for a few weeks and then refused to attend. Her EHCP was late and the LEA believed that she coukd attend a .manstream with one to one support. The secondary school disputed this and so did I, as she could no longer cope within mainstream. 

    The LEA then consulted with a autism unit and 3 other special schools and they all said no as they couldn't meet needs. Only one accepted her but with a one to one, which the LEA didn't want to fund as it was very high (£94,000). They tried to persuade the school to take her without one to one as there were going to be taught in small classes. But the school wouldn't agree to this. 

    Anyway a few months later. By now feeling very desperate and lost, we were offered a place at an independent school which catered for social, emotional and mental health needs specialising in autism and trauma  

    My daughter started last Easter and has been attending every day since then. 

    Sometimes due to a child's complex needs, schools including independent ones csmt cater for certain children. My daughter is very able and has never hurt anyone outside the home but due to her anxiety and sensory needs she has challenging behaviour. 

Reply

  • Hi 

    I went through something similar with my daughter.  She had extreme school anxiety in year 6 and her attendance became very poor. She only attended part time for a few weeks and then refused to attend. Her EHCP was late and the LEA believed that she coukd attend a .manstream with one to one support. The secondary school disputed this and so did I, as she could no longer cope within mainstream. 

    The LEA then consulted with a autism unit and 3 other special schools and they all said no as they couldn't meet needs. Only one accepted her but with a one to one, which the LEA didn't want to fund as it was very high (£94,000). They tried to persuade the school to take her without one to one as there were going to be taught in small classes. But the school wouldn't agree to this. 

    Anyway a few months later. By now feeling very desperate and lost, we were offered a place at an independent school which catered for social, emotional and mental health needs specialising in autism and trauma  

    My daughter started last Easter and has been attending every day since then. 

    Sometimes due to a child's complex needs, schools including independent ones csmt cater for certain children. My daughter is very able and has never hurt anyone outside the home but due to her anxiety and sensory needs she has challenging behaviour. 

Children
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