Quick question regarding independant schools!!!!

[lyns]

Hi

 

Does anyones children go to an independant school that is funded by the LEA. Just interested really as our LEA said they would never fund an independant school. Did you have to go to tribuneral? If so what reason did you give that your child would benefit more from an independant school.

 

Just wondering really as I am thinking of doing this. Our LEA dont have specific autistic provision just special schools that have children with autism in them although there is an independant school in the area just for autism.

 

Thanks

 

Lyns

xxxxx

[Canopus]

I went to an independent school that was funded by an LEA. I noticed that most of the kids came from only a handful of LEAs and was informed by the school that the attitude towards sending SEN kids to independent schools varies from LEA to LEA. Some are quite enthusiastic whereas others will not fund independent schools under any circumstances whatsoever.

[mossgrove]

Our LEA area has no special school provision in the 11-18 age group for children with Autism but does curently fund places at an independent Special School in the area and sometimes out of area as well.

 

Some LEA's appear to have an informal policy whereby they will not fund any out of area or independant provision unless they lose a tribunal hearing, in which case it will come down to wheether you can convince the panel that the LEA is unable to meet your childs needs with it's existing in-house provision.

 

Simon

[jen]

my friends ASD daughter goes to an independent school funded by the LEA with 32.5 hours of LSA support. They had to go to tribunal to get this.

 

Jen

[nellie]

Lyns,

 

To get a child into an independent school you would have to prove that a maintained school could not meet the child's needs. LEA's have to use their resources to the best. If there isn't provision for the child in county they would have to fund out of county.

 

Some LEA's appear to have an informal policy whereby they will not fund any out of area or independant provision unless they lose a tribunal hearing, in which case it will come down to wheether you can convince the panel that the LEA is unable to meet your childs needs with it's existing in-house provision.

 

This is a blanket policy, the Code of Practice says LEA's must not have blanket policies.

 

Hope this helps.

[bid]

Hi Lyns,

 

My son goes to an independent residential special school for AS, funded by our LEA. I didn't have to go to tribunal, in fact all the funding went through straight away.

 

BUT...same LEA, but a different quadrant team, told Kathryn that they never send children out of county!!

 

So, don't believe what you're told! Earlier on, I had been told that my son would never get a Statement! It is very helpful if you have expert evidence from specialists (consultants, EPs, etc) agreeing that the provision your child needs cannot be found in county in an LEA school.

 

Good luck.

 

Bid

[madme]

Our child attends independent school for SPLD- complex dx including aspergers. We won at tribunal. He gets SALT and Ot in school. Have a look at your leas budget. We were shocked as they were spending a huge amount on out of lea placements presumably mainly in the independent sector but that is becuase there is limited provision for autism in borough. You can succeed if you can ho that it is no more expensive - just consider whether you could transport the child there yourself - if so that might be worth offering as our experience was then the cost of mainstream with in school ot and salt and lsa was the same. Transport can be the crunch factor. If looking for a school we found gabbitas guide very helpful. Good luck

Edited March 25, 2006 by madme

[Kazzen161]

My LEA says it does not fund independent school placements - but they do - I know 20+ that they do (including my son), some through Tribunal, some not. They just want to put you off!

 

Karen