Special school funding from LEA, advice please

[Carrera74]

Hi All

 

My 11 yr old DS was diagnosed with ASD back in March just at the same time as he was permanently excluded from mainstream. He had been to a short stay school last year and was integrated back to mainstream in October but the anxiety and bad behaviour came back as he was struggling. He has been back at short stay since his permanent exclusion and the LEA have agreed to change his statement to name a special school and also changed his statement from BESD to ASD. This has only happened in the last week or so and we have been to see 2 special schools. One a BESD school which is a community school and another one more local to us which is independant. When my OH and me went to see the Community School I was so dissapointed with what we saw. The Headteacher seemed very disinterested in us. He didn't even know my DS's name. I had a list of questions to ask him and when I asked about if there are other children at the school with ASD he said he thought perhaps 1 or 2. When I asked if there were any teachers with experience and expertise of working with ASD children his answer was no and then he went off on one saying that he would need to apply for funding for an ASD child and he definately wouldn't get any money until April!!! He really didn't seem that interested in taking in another child especially not a ASD one. He also commented that a school for BESD/ASD children should be built nearer to where we live for children in our area and leave that school for children who live in the vicinity. Anyway we then had the visit round the school and it was awful. A real dark and dingy depressing building and from what I saw in the 10/15 mins we went round there was not much structure in the secondary unit. Not much respect for the teachers and not the nuturing environment my DS thrives in. I could see my DS lasting a week or two there and then going back to how he was at mainstream. He needs a nurturing highly structured environment and from what I saw that school isn't the right one for him. Our lovely parent partnership chap made another appointment for us yesterday to view a new local independant school. I have had a fair few meetings with the short stay, Camhs etc and was warned that I wouldn't find a perfect school but I'd have to find a school that the good points outway the bad. Well yesterday I couldn't believe what I was seeing or hearing from the Head as the local school seems perfect. At least a 1000x better than the other school we went to see. We have got another appointment next week to let my DS have a look round too.

 

Now my worry. I know that the LEA aren't going to say, oh yes it's a lovely school please let us pay.... (if only!). So I am trying to prepare myself for what will happen next. I am going to ring the LEA on Monday and say under no circumstances do I want that first school naming on my son's amended proposed statement (not sure i can say that?) but what chance to I have of getting them to fund this fab school? The only positive thing I came away from the community school with was that the classes are small (6-8 to a class) but that was literally it.

 

Has anyone got any experience of getting funding that they would be happy to share with me?

 

My son and the family have been through hell over these last 3 years or so and I just want to get my DS's secondary placement right first time for his sake and the sanity of everyone else at home! He is a lovely little boy and so settled at the moment. His confidence is growing because of the environment he is in. I would hate for all the hard work to be undone because he is put in a school which seemed not fit for purpose

[madme]

My son attends an independent school and is funded by the LEA. It was a struggle and involved us applying to SENDIST. I would recommend that you seek help from IPSEA asap. Ace do a very good book about the law regarding SEN provision. Gabbitas has an excellent book about SEN schools. Have you considered boarding? Would you do the transport- if you can then that will cut down the cost- also boarding if weekly can reduce the daily transport costs. Do try and see if there are other schools out there that may be appropriate- look at schools that specialise in SPLD as they often also take Aspergers children. You need to try and get the HT of the other school to say that he couldnt take your child and why- we did that with a few schools that the LEA approached that we didn't think were suitable. They eventually ran out of options. Its a battle but worth it. Good luck

[Carrera74]

Thanks for your reply.

 

The independent school is less than a mile from home so not sure whether we would need transport too as he's quite a young 11 and I'm not sure I'd be comfortable letting him walk home (I work full time). I'd be happy to pay for the taxi myself though.

 

The HT of the school really didn't seem that keen so maybe ringing him would be a good idea especially as I got the feeling he didn't seem keen to have another child added to his growing list for September.

 

I'll google IPSEA too, many thanks.

[lynne]

Dear Carrera,

 

We looked at an independent school but the LEA put a local school on ours sons statement. Like your son our son has had extrem difficulties of trying to fit into the school.

 

We were all ready to go to tribunel with the papers photocopied in preparation.

 

But we wrote a letter to the LEA stating why the school they had named on the provisonal statement for secondary school was not suitable and why the dependent school was.

 

The LEA agreed to fund the private independent school. No questions, no fuss, no hassle.

 

My friends son who is also ASD requested a residental school outside our area for her son. The LEA refused that but asked her to look at the private independent school that my son is going to. She went to look and was happy with what she saw. Now the LEA are funding her son as well. Both children will have a full time support assistance.

 

But I must say both these children do not fit into a mainstream school due to sensory issues and both are too bright to fit in a special school.

 

Hope you get what you want

 

lyn

[hassleabe]

Dear Carrera,

 

We looked at an independent school but the LEA put a local school on ours sons statement. Like your son our son has had extrem difficulties of trying to fit into the school.

 

We were all ready to go to tribunel with the papers photocopied in preparation.

 

But we wrote a letter to the LEA stating why the school they had named on the provisonal statement for secondary school was not suitable and why the dependent school was.

 

The LEA agreed to fund the private independent school. No questions, no fuss, no hassle.

 

My friends son who is also ASD requested a residental school outside our area for her son. The LEA refused that but asked her to look at the private independent school that my son is going to. She went to look and was happy with what she saw. Now the LEA are funding her son as well. Both children will have a full time support assistance.

 

But I must say both these children do not fit into a mainstream school due to sensory issues and both are too bright to fit in a special school.

 

Hope you get what you want

 

lyn

my son as just started at an independant autsic residentail school and the LEA are funding it

[Carrera74]

Dear Carrera,

 

We looked at an independent school but the LEA put a local school on ours sons statement. Like your son our son has had extrem difficulties of trying to fit into the school.

 

We were all ready to go to tribunel with the papers photocopied in preparation.

 

But we wrote a letter to the LEA stating why the school they had named on the provisonal statement for secondary school was not suitable and why the dependent school was.

 

The LEA agreed to fund the private independent school. No questions, no fuss, no hassle.

 

My friends son who is also ASD requested a residental school outside our area for her son. The LEA refused that but asked her to look at the private independent school that my son is going to. She went to look and was happy with what she saw. Now the LEA are funding her son as well. Both children will have a full time support assistance.

 

But I must say both these children do not fit into a mainstream school due to sensory issues and both are too bright to fit in a special school.

 

Hope you get what you want

 

lyn

 

The list of schools the LEA first came up with for us to visit for our son was for special schools that had physically and/or severe learning disability children attending. He is high functioning and quite bright so none of these were any good. The HT at the short stay then mentioned this BESD school that we went to view first (the one we didn't like) as she said she did panic at the thought of him going to an unsuitable school.

 

I guess I will have to contact the LEA on Monday and say which school I would like to be put on his statement and go from there. I think it's going to be a tough ride and I just hope that the system doesn't let him down. He's been through enough

[Carrera74]

Thanks to those that have responded too. It really does help to hear other people's stories.

[allsetuk]

Hello its interesting reading what you say here. I am a single parent and i fund my sons private school with his DLA, he is in a small class of 15 and he has known them all since he was three but in one years time the fees go way beyond my affordability. He cannot cope with change at all , if one new person comes into the group he doesnt cope with them at all. He is diagnosed severe ASD & ADHD and very bright for his age with an amazing memory. I have no clue how to start on this road of approaching LEA, who do you approach first?

[Kazzen161]

Your child would need to have a Statement, then when discussing school placements, an independent school may be an option if it is the only school that can meet your child's needs.

[Carrera74]

Over the last couple of weeks I have visited both schools with my DS at the Parent Partnerships advice in case we go to tribunal....

 

My Named Officer at the LEA has just been on the phone to tell me that the school I don't want him to attend have agreed they can meet his needs ?!!! The head told me the other day that they can meet his behavioural needs but I doubt that as I asked him 3 times when we met how they dealt with badly behaved kids and his reply was 'we don't have kids like that here' - it's a BESD school!

 

She also said that the independent school (that is perfect for him and who told me they have looked through his paperwork and the head there said he was confident they could meet his needs) is not able to be funded by them until a visit is arranged by the LEA's 2 senior officers who will check if it is an appropriate school to send children in the area to. Why they hell did they let me go round and then advise me to take my DS round too. I feel so angry. I wouldn't have even looked there if I knew this? I feel like a carrot has been dangled and I am so upset and angry. I had to get off the phone as I was blubbering like a baby. I told the officer that I cannot send my DS to a school where I know he would fail so she said that perhaps him going back to mainstream would be an option - he can't cope in mainstream which was the whole point of having his statement changed to state special school.

 

I told the Officer that my DS has been through so much and I want to get his placement right first time but she then went on again to say there is no funding, they can apply for funding at the next panel, then he'll go on a waiting list and then he can't be placed at the independant school anyway cause it's not one that's on their list?! ARGGGGHHH!!!!!

 

I just needed to get this off my chest as DS is at home and I don't want to talk to my partner until he's snoring! (DS that is!).

[Kazzen161]

First you need to prove that the BESD school cannot meet your son's need, then you need to prove that your preferred school can. I wouldn't worry too much about them saying they can't fund it - they always say things like that to try and put you off. If the school is named on his Statement, then they would have to fund it.

 

Some schools are not approved by the Secretary of State, but even then you can get permission from him to let your child go to it, if it meets his needs.

 

Have you asked your preferred school whether they have any other children from your LEA there?

[Flora]

Hiya,

 

As Kazzen said you will need to prove that the LEA school can't meet your son's needs, especially as now the HT of the school has said they can.

 

The fact that during your conversation with the LEA officer they were batting the ball back and forward between their choice of special school and mainstream illustrates to me that they are not going to agree to your choice without a fight.

 

In order to prove that this school can't meet your son's needs you will need hard evidence of an educational nature. Ideally, an EP who has assessed your son should visit the school to assess it's suitability and make a report on their findings. But this is hugely expensive because it would have to be someone idenpendent from your LEA as their own EP will very likely say it is fine. Alternatively you could go through your son's statement and his EP report and visit the school again going through each of your son's needs and finding out how they can be met (or in this case can't!) and what resources are available or lacking. You could also ask the HT if he has done a risk assessment bearing in mind your son's needs and the school's provision.

 

I went to tribunal in February for a very similar issue; firstly the LEA wanted my son to go back into his mainstream secondary school, they then realised that this wasn't a viable option so they offered him a place in one of their own special schools for ESD (without the B!). At tribunal we had to prove that their special school couldn't meet his needs; the panel were convinced and as this was the best the LEA could offer in terms of meeting any of his needs they named my choice of school on his statement. It can be done, but you have to cross all the T's and dot all the i's, because at tribunal they deal with facts and specifics.

 

Flora

[Carrera74]

Thanks for your replies.

 

I have been trying to contact the HT at their preferred special school to go through my questions again so i have clear answers but there is no reply. School is now closed and I don't know what to do. I want to know how the HT thinks the school can meet his social and communication needs as if these aren't dealt with right then the bad behaviour comes through. I don't understand how he can be so adamant that they have no resources for ASD children then a week later change his mind.

 

I have half given up already as I know they don't want to fund him and I'm not sure I have the fight in me. But then on the other hand I don't want to let my son down but it's hard to fight a losing battle.

[Carrera74]

Hi again everyone. Hope you're all enjoying the summer hols!

 

Well I finally received the final statement on Monday (had to chase it again!). It lists the school I do not want so with the help of my parent partnership chap I have written to the LEA today stating my reasoning for not wanting their named school and why I want mine. The letter should go to the moderating panel next week for a request for funding. We also have a date for the disagreement panel which is mid September. I've sent off the tribunal papers too. I'm really annoyed at the LEA for taking so long to send the final statement out as it's put a hold on everything but back on track now, hopefully!

 

We are on holiday next week so going to chill out and prepare ourselves for who knows what will happen the week after. I'm adamant I don't want my DS to go to their named school but not sure what to do with him whilst waiting for the tribunal. It could be December before it is heard and I don't know what to do in the meantime. I don't want to send him there but I am worried that if he does end up going there after the hearing that I have made it worse for him as he'll be the new boy. It's never simple is it!

[Carrera74]

Well the panel that sat on Friday have agreed that my DS should go to the school that isn't suitable! I have rang the LEA today to find out the outcome and spoke again in length as to why the school is not suitable. They are going to risk assess the transport as I am not happy that he should travel that distance with no escort. Also I said they can get the ball rolling but I am adamant that he will not go to their named school until I am 100% sure that they can meet his needs and understand them too. The LEA officer has said they'll set up a meeting asap between me and the school so the Headteacher can answer my queries. I am so angry. He didn't answer my questions the three times I have asked them (all separate occasions) so I don't know how he'll be able to answer them now! I am concerned that he will now have answers to the questions as the LEA will want him to but how can I trust them to follow these strategies through when he didn't have any for bad behaved kids 6 weeks ago when I first questioned him about how they would deal with bad behaviour. I am going to send the letter I sent to the panel to my MP. How the heck do the LEA think they can name a school I do not see as fit for purpose and especially so when I have shouted loud that I don't want it naming. Sorry for the waffle. It's just so frustrating that I have rung today to find out what's happening and it takes me to ring to kick them up the behind into moving to the next stage!

 

Rant over, for now!

[Karen A]

Hi.I am afraid I am becoming more cynical in my old age.I think that there is a very good chance that the HT will be able to answer your questions....because he/she will have had six weeks to consider appropraite answers and some help from the LEA along the way.

Do stick to your guns if you are not happy that the school is able to meet your child's needs and I hope the disagreement resolution panel provides a way forward.Karen.

[Carrera74]

My thoughts exactly!

 

I have spoken to a senior SEN person at LEA today and she advised in more detail about the moderating panel that sat last Friday. She advised that they upheld their school because of a comment that the HT at Short Stay made that she felt this school would suit my DS because of the nurturing environment they will have in place (this is a new thing they are going to be trying from September). The Head of this new department is the young teacher I saw flit from class to class and not respond appropriately to bad behaviour that we witnessed whilst visiting.

 

I contacted the HT at Short Stay after my first visit as I was so shocked at what I saw (the HT at Short Stay had sung it's praises and thought it was a good school to send him too). She did say when I told her what I had saw that she had panicked when the LEA had said they were going to set up visits to special schools as the ones they first mentioned were for children with moderate to severe learning disabilities and physical disabilities. My DS is very bright boy and she said she panicked and felt the named school would be more suited to him. It seems her trying to help may have caused more damage

 

The LEA today said that if I go to appeal it would stand me in good stead sending my DS to the named school as it would give me more evidence but I don't think I can risk putting him through this just to prove more points that it isn't good enough.

 

DS has just asked me if I had heard anything back from the Education people and I have told him the outcome of the meeting and he looks so sad. He said so I can't go to the nice school then. Why is everything such a battle

 

I am now waiting for the LEA to arrange a meeting between us and then when the Head answers with the 'right answers' I'll certainly be asking why did he act the way he did at our first meeting, why he made the comments to my DS at the second meeting and why all of a sudden (after 6 weeks) did he find the 'correct' answers. Grrr!

 

I AM SO FED UP! (sory for ranting!)

[stressedmumto2]

Carerra, it's amazing just what school's can put in place to save the Local Authority money. In my son's school the Local Authority put in place SaLT 2 sessions a week when originally they said he never needed it, they put Occupational Therapy in place again something they initally said he didn't need and they made a sensory room plus an outside area which was initally meant to be just for him for his sensory needs, to say this school has put everything in place is an understatement but the provision at times still doesn't work and he's not accessing the curriculum, but I also have to add this is mostly due to his difficulties and that he gets a sensory over-load from the enviroment which at times can be unsettled. His school is an EBD.

 

The Local Authority will probably write the reply from the head or they may even get one of their legal bod's to do it if they think they could end up tribunal (we've had this). When my son was first expected to go to his EBD school I questioned the head about provision, staffing levels, teacher training, restraints, how they manage situations, if there are children there who are on the spectrum, how many, staffing turnover as our children do not cope well with change..the list was endless. They did respond but there were some lies in it. It's so unhelpful that schools are forced into accepting children whom they think they will not be able to manage and I think the local authority's hope that parents will give up the fight because of costing and not having support, when you think about it we are trying to do it by ourselfs but they have a whole team preparing different reports, seeing the child and the money for it doesn't come out of anyone's pocket but the budget, where as when we do it we we are doing it on our own.

 

Whatever you do from now make sure all meetings are minuted, and you keep records of all e-mails, letters and telephone conversations as this may be used as evidence if it does go to tribunal.

 

Just want to send you a hug and hope eveything goes ok for you. <'>

[soraya]

Just a thought, how far away is the special school? I have heard that " The SEN childs journey to school must be as stess free as posible and no more than 45mins each way. This info could help you.