Biggest battle yet, secondary placement

[Sallya]

The LEA have accepted my son will need a specialist placement for secondary,

 

disagreeing over which which school.

 

I 've found a MLD school with 5 autistic units-from nursery -secondary

 

they are pushing for generic secondary special school, (which if I wanted him to go to they would say no because he's needs are not 'severe' enough)

 

all over transport , I would be responsible for transport if he went to the MLD school as it's about 16 miles away.

 

Case worker is being very helpful with advice. Have offered to contribute towards costs, told it doesn't work like that.

 

Any thoughts on the best way to handle this????

[av16]

Hi Sallya, I can't help but I hope things go well for you and you get the best.

<'> AV

[smiley]

hiya hun <'>

 

Great news about the LEA at least agreeing he needs specialist placement

 

Transport - Do you mean the LEA will pay for transport to the school they want him to go to.............. but not the one you want him to go to????? Why!!??? Other than to put you off that placement *cynical old me... *. I'm guessing the one you want is further away from your home? Either way - if that school is the best one for him - i can't see how they can wiggle out of it.

 

Sure they'll try though...........

 

<'> <'> <'>

[pumpkinpie]

I thought this link might interest you.

http://www.ipsea.org.uk/transport.htm

Iam trying to get transport for little p the school is 30 miles away. Why are leas so awkward? How far do other kids have to travel to school?

[oxgirl]

Sallya, we were told by the LEA that when we got a placement at the ASD Unit (14 miles away) that it would be on the understanding that we were not eligible for transport. We were so relieved to get the place, and weren't sure he'd cope with transport anyway at first, that we agreed. After a year of me doing the driving (2.5 hours a day) the staff at the Unit told me it was unheard of for pupils not to be eligible. One of the TA's rang up the LEA and she told me they said we were eligible and there would be no problem. Guess what? She spoke to the SAME person who originally told me we would NOT get it! If the Unit staff hadn't rung I never would have found out we could have had transport all this time! We still haven't taken up the transport, but at least now we know we COULD if we felt he was able to cope.

 

~ Mel ~

[Sallya]

Yes Smiley, if he goes to the generic special school, which is 4 miles to travel- the transport is provided, if he goes to the MLD school, I am responsible for the transport.

 

They asked for him to be assessed by the LEA EP, (who is lovely) who said 'there are elements of his functioning which scored at a 5 year old age equivalent , and the large chaotic nature of a large main stream secondary would be likely to cause him to become very anxious and be more negative in nature.'

 

I visited the generic special school last summer, and thought they'd never agree to send him there- all the very severest disabled children go there, from epilepsy, very profoundly Autistic children, Cerebral Palsy, Downs Syndrome..... I left there thinking there wasn't a school available that would fit him, and to get him into this one would be a massive fight- it's just so ironic that now I've found a school more suitable, they're agreeing that he could have a place . I thought the fight would be trying to get them to agree a special school instead of mainstream. It's just crazy.

 

Thankyou for the link PP, and thanks Av and Oxgirl.

[witsend]

Hi Sal - right this is my understanding of it all (but could be wrong 'cos I do get befuddled with it all myself ) - I think LEA have to provide transport to the nearest school that will meet your sons needs so if you are arguing that the special school is not going to meet your sons needs but the scholl further away does, then that's your battle! Once you get LEA to agree to this school you want and it's named in the statement then I'm sure they would have to provide transport.

We were in a similar position to yourself a year ago, LEA agreed to specialist placement but pushed for local special school very similar to the one your describing, when we visited it it was glaringly obvious ds would not fit in there and the head agreed with us, so that was kind of hard for LEA to argue with (though believe me they tried!). We wanted a (special/independant) school 30 miles away and eventually after a lot of shouting (threats of media and MP involvement) they said yes, they set up transport without any arguments (an hour each way in taxi every day) I presumed that this was becaue they named this school in the statement.

Unfortunately all went pear shaped anyway at this special school and ds is transffering to a differant one (non specail independant! ) but is is still as far away and LEA are still providing transport.

Good Luck - don't let them bamboozle you!

Luv Witsend.

[Kazzen161]

I agree with witsend - the LEA will provide transport to the nearest school that can meet your child's needs. You need to prove that the school you want can meet your child's (educational, behavioural, social) needs and the other school can't.

[baddad]

Hmmmm- sniffs a bit to me too...

My guess is there's some sort of silly 'internal policy' here that wouldn't stand up to real scrutiny... Go for the school you want, then start fighting for the transport - once he's there there would (I guess) be far less 'policy' and far more 'legal requirement' coming into play, with the onus on them rather than you...

Don't quote me on it, but that's my take. meanwhile, it wouldn't hurt to ask for a letter indicating in writing the parts of the code of practice/sen 'law' they are referencing to validate their claims, so you can check it out yourself... IF there are considerations like 'nearest suitable school', you'll know exactly what you need to demonstrate to the panel, and will be able to legitimately ask why they feel the nearer school can/will meet those needs...

 

Very best

 

L&P

 

BD

[Cariad]

I smell a rat here. If the LEA agree to this school for your child they should provide transport. I bet it's a money thing going on here, they are always on the look out to cut costs. I was under the impression that if your childs school is more than 2 miles away you can have transport.

 

It looks like you will have a fight on your hands, i'd get onto IPSEA for advice as they are brilliant and get the transport your child needs. Good luck.

[Kazzen161]

The LEA may agree that the other school can meet your child's needs (and therefore agree to name it), but at the same time say that, as it is not the NEAREST school that *can* meet his needs, then you have to pay for the transport. Basically, they feel they are doing you a favour by naming it (LOL!).

 

I accepted the place, and then argued that I could not get T there as well as get his brothers to local mainstream - the LEA then said they had re-looked at his case and decided that the school I named WAS the most suitable school after all, and provided transport!

[Sallya]

thanks all

s

xxx

[pumpkinpie]

Kazzen

If you agree to transport and then request transport are you in a difficult position legally? Ie youve agreed to it so you cant change your mind?

[Sallya]

Update......just before christmas the LEA had changed their minds about special school and were trying to get him into the local mainstream secondary....so I visited the SENCO there, and she agreed to say that they couldn't meet his needs and contacted the LEA THAT DAY.......had a letter this morning....he has been offered a placement at both schools....IS DOWN TO TRANSPORT...we will be responsible for transport if he goes to the MLD school and cost will be �83 a term, but if another child nearer moves into the area he will lose the transport place....am very relieved that he's got a specialist placement..... need to make a decision...the generic school has a small ASD class and the transport will be free

s

xxx

Edited January 10, 2008 by Sallya

[justamum]

Update......just before christmas the LEA had changed their minds about special school and were trying to get him into the local mainstream secondary....so I visited the SENCO there, and she agreed to say that they couldn't meet his needs and contacted the LEA THAT DAY.......had a letter this morning....he has been offered a placement at both schools....IS DOWN TO TRANSPORT...we will be responsible for transport if he goes to the MLD school and cost will be �83 a term, but if another child nearer moves into the area he will lose the transport place....am very relieved that he's got a specialist placement..... need to make a decision...the generic school has a small ASD class and the transport will be free

s

xxx

 

 

I would actually query the transportation cost because if they have offered a place in a special school then they have recognised a need for the school and given YOU the option for your child to attend main stream education. To my mind they should be paying for the cost.

[Sallya]

...sorry...should be clearer..just worked a night..didn't word that very well...the LEA have agreed that he needs a specialist placement, and both the MLD and generic special school have said that they can meet his needs...because the generic special school is the local specialist provision...the transport will be provided there, but if we accept the place at the MLD school...we will have to be responsible for the transport..the transport place will be concessionary and will be reviewed each term

Edited January 10, 2008 by Sallya

[Karen A]

Sounds like good news on the school place.I hope you are able to resolve the issue of transport.Karen.

[Kathryn]

First of all, good news on the placement, Sallyanne!

 

The transport issue is a headache - and it will be a difficult one to resolve, as the LEA are saying that the nearer school can meet his needs, and the school has offered a place. But take advice on it from IPSEA , you may be able to fight it and it's certainly worth a try.

 

K x

[Sallya]

Hi Kathryn and Karen, thank you...yes it's good news about him getting a special school placement....I've arranged to visit both schools on Monday with my other half and son, I've spoken to the LEA and they are giving us some extra time to decide...we only had until the 21 jan to make a decision, and it's now been extended until 15 Feb...I will contact IPSEA...because the generic school have said that they can meet his needs, that makes it his nearest suitable school, but if we can find something that they can't meet his needs with, then it changes to the MLD school being nearest suitable school and that will change the whole situation and we won't be responsible for the transport.

 

They are asking us to sign a form which says if we accept the MLD placement, then we are responsible for transport, they can offer us a consessionary seat for him which will incur a cost and the seat will will be reviewed on a termly basis...which I'm not happy about signing...feels like blackmail....so that's what I will be asking IPSEA about. If we feel unable to sign for responsibility then they will proceed with the generic school. The lea is writing back to say what circumstances tranport would stopped if we took the concessionary seat.

 

(ps sorry it took me so long to reply, just worked 2 nights, very tired, and was on the phone all of Friday)

s

xxx

[Karen A]

<'> No need at all to apologise....it is not a requirement that people reply at all.

I hope you are able to resolve the transport issue in a way that you are happy with.Karen.