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Post by larsti on Mar 28, 2014 23:04:55 GMT
If a special school has a waiting list, will a child adopted from care be entitled to be admitted (as in mainstream)?
Dash is only year 4 but thinking ahead.
As of now he has no statement and no diagnosis (that is in the pipeline).
We gather the school which is currently top of our wishlist has a waiting list. It is an academy, don't know if that makes any difference?
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Post by moo on Mar 29, 2014 6:34:44 GMT
Hey larsti....
Yep academies are different ( in house acceptance of applicants not county ~ in this county anyway ) but I think adoptive status or in care both mean that the child leapfrogs to the top of the list & must be admitted...
If they go only to the top of the waiting list I think if one takes it to appeal you are 90% likely to gain your place immediately ....
hth.....not sure about Scotland or Wales tho....
xx. moo. Xx
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Post by twoplustwo on Mar 29, 2014 9:37:32 GMT
Not sure about academies but this is what I was given to understand re LA special schools (it may not be correct but Stig's primary school told me this when I was applying for a place at a special school)
Special school's admission criteria are different. If there is competition for places then the paramount criterion is how much the child NEEEDS that provision. Adoption/ fostering only comes into it IF two children have equal need for the place. This is the 'order of priority' list I was given to understand:
1. Children for whom no other provision can meet ANY of their needs (if there are two such children with equal needs then the fostered/adopted child will take priority)
2. Children for whom no other provison could meet MOST of their needs.(if there are two such children with equal needs then the fostered/adopted child will take priority)
3. Children whose needs would be best met in the special school (if there are two such children with equal needs then the fostered/adopted child will take priority)
I was told that the admission team make a list of the eligible children in the order in which they'd most benefit from the provision and that's the order in which they are offered places.
I think that academies are different though. Have you contacted your local parent partnership? They should be able to help you.
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Post by larsti on Mar 29, 2014 10:26:39 GMT
thank you both.
after the hols I will get on to it.
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Post by bagpuss72 on Mar 29, 2014 12:27:18 GMT
Hi Larsti, I have asked the very same question of parent partnership this week. I was told pretty much the same as two plus two's reply however they stressed that academies can and often do have their own additional terms that make gaining a place difficult, even if you seem to fit the criteria on paper. The only way to guarantee a place, and that may not mean an immediate start, is to get a statement naming that school (The statement should have identified and confirmed the level of need to be at chosen school rather than somewhere else). Hope that makes sense, sounds like you already think the statement is the way to go any way.
Good Luckx |
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Post by twoplustwo on Mar 29, 2014 12:39:54 GMT
Oh yes bagpuss is right, getting the school named on the statement is the best way to ensure your child's place. From Stig's year group at primary school there were 3 children seeking placements at the local special school. I managed to get the school named on his statement and he was the only one of the 3 that got in as of right. The other two were forced to go through the appeal process.
hope it goes well.
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Post by moo on Mar 29, 2014 13:23:46 GMT
Thanx all for the up to date info.... It really helps to ' know what rules apply'
xx. moo. Xx
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Post by larsti on Mar 29, 2014 18:45:12 GMT
Thank you bagpuss. Another question!!  Statements are being replaced aren't they...from September? Doubt if we'd have one in place by then so need to do the new process. Doesn't help that we home ed (although I've known for a long time that its perfectly possible to get a statement for a home educated child. You just need to pay for assessments yourself). The other day DD said to us 'why would you want to send Dash to school? He's doing great at home.' which he is..... All food for thought |
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Post by moo on Mar 29, 2014 18:54:30 GMT
Well said dd!!!
Good Luck Larsti....
Didn't know they were replacing statements... Seems they replace everything!!!
xx. moo. Xx
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Post by milly on Mar 29, 2014 19:14:36 GMT
Yes they will be 'education, health and care plans' and education, health and social care all need to work jointly on them. They can go up to age 25.
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Post by donatella on Mar 29, 2014 19:20:50 GMT
We're in a similar position with middly who's currently in a PRU/EBD school in y5. With comp looming we've started the statementing process and it's close to being finalised. I know the unit I want for him for comp so the whole statementing thing has been geared towards that end.
Middly has a fab ed psych and so her report strongly advocated his need to be in an asd unit, rather than where he currently us. His EBD school is brilliant but if he doesn't move this year to an asd unit then his primary need at secondary level will be considered to be EBD not asd. Consequently the statement has been written to reflect that need.
The unit he will be moving to for y6 is full however EP, her head and statementing officer have named the unit we want, have been to panel with this and have agreed funding for an additional member of staff for the unit to accommodate him. School were then presented with a fait accompli!
The key was the right wording in the statement. It had to reflect his particular need.
we're in Wales so the priority for adopted children doesn't exist here!
Message me if you'd like specifics!!
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Statements are being replaced aren't they...from September? Doubt if we'd have one in place by then so need to do the new process.
