Independent school

[JenRose]

im sorry i know im asking a lot of questions at the moment, but theres so much going on both with DS and DD.

 

i telephoned the independent ASD school this morning to let them know we are going to tribunal, im surprised by what the assistant head teacher said to me.

 

She said they cant get involved with tribunals-fair enough, but she also said she cant guarantee there being a place for M, so how am i supposed to tell the tribunal there IS a place for him?

 

i thought schools would hold a place in a tribunal situation.

 

She said that in the last 4 years no one has won a tribunal, but with M being out of school for so long and not being able to cope in mainstream that will work in our favour.

 

Both IPSEA and our independent psych have told us that we have a good case against our LEA especially as the LEA are not accepting the dx of PDD/AS that M has.

 

Oh i dont know what to think now, im very confused.

 

he cant go into a mainstream school, he had a breakdown 2 years ago and was suicidal and i refuse to put him back into mainstream, he needs a specialist environment, but i dont know how we are going to get him into one.

[oxgirl]

Oh, I'm so sorry JenRose, you sound so desperate, I know exactly how you feel, we are going through rough school stuff at the moment as well. Our children are let down, aren't they. <'> <'>

 

Sorry, don't know much about the ins and outs of tribunals, but might it be possible that if you win the tribunal then a place might be created for your lad at the school you're asking for? I only say this because the Unit where my son is only usually take two new children each year, as two leave, and when we applied we were told no places were available. However, we did get a place and it turned out that that year the Unit accepted three new children and we wondered if an extra place had been created for our son. Could be wrong though. If I were you I'd still go ahead with the tribunal and see what they decide.

 

Very, very best of luck. <'> <'> <'> <'>

 

~ Mel ~

[witsend]

Hiya - we're going through major school probs too, I know how you feel. <'> I tend to agree with what Oxgirl has said about there probably being a place (created place) at the school you want following tribunal. It's a shame the school are coming across as so negative when you need reassurance right now, but sounds like you do have a good case from what Ipsea have said and they deal with this stuff all the time. From the sounds of the situation you're already in I don't think you have anything to lose by going to tribunal. Do you have a date for it yet?

I wish you all the luck in the world with it, Take Care.

Luv Witsend.

[Kazzen161]

If the independent school agree that it would be suitable for your child, then you can name it in your appeal and as long as there is still a place available at the time of the Tribunal hearing, then you are OK. If the place is lost, then the Tribunal cannot go ahead - they cannot force an independent school to take an extra child (though they can force an LEA school to take an extra child).

 

Someone else suggested that you go for "an independent/specialist school" which keeps your options open - though if there are no other local independent schools, you could end up then having to consider a residential school if you win at Tribunal.

 

Independent schools cannot keep places open just in case someone might win at Tribunal - they coudl end up with no children, if all of them lose at Tribunal. It is usually first come, first served. Did you ask the school how many places are available currently and how many parents are appealing for a place?

 

Being cynical, I woudl not be surprised if the LEAs drag things out as long as possible, just so all the places are gone. I am sure that was the case with my son.

 

Karen

[JenRose]

There is another school which i believe has an ASD unit in a neighbouring LEA, we are going to have a look at it.

 

If we went for independent/specialist would this cover special schools in LEA,s?

[Kazzen161]

>>If we went for independent/specialist would this cover special schools in LEA,s?

 

I'm not sure - possibly not.

 

The LEA may agree to the unit more easily than to the independent school (as is likely to be cheaper), but I would imagine that the unit woudl be full (as children from that LEA would get priority).

 

Karen