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Post by runmum on Nov 5, 2016 14:09:35 GMT
We've just had a letter about monkey boys secondary school which makes a mockery of parental choice. We put our choice of secondary school on MB's EHCP. We then get a letter to say that as it's not the nearest school that can meet his needs we have to sign a form to say we will pay for transport or he will be allocated the nearest school. Who decided which schools could meet his needs. No one discussed it with us. MBs brother is at our choice of school, it has strong pastoral care which the nearest school certainly does not, and it is a faith school which is very important to us. How dare they just write an say they have decided it's not the nearest appropriate school. Surely what should at least happen is they should contact us to say they think x school can meet his needs. Indeed they have not even named a school. So cross. Can they do this?
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Post by esty on Nov 5, 2016 17:28:23 GMT
I'm surprised if he has an Ehcp? I thought they would all be working with you to decide the best placement and then the transport would have to be provided. I fully get your anger at not being consulted.
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Post by esty on Nov 5, 2016 17:29:20 GMT
And is his brother at the same school you want him to go to? Does he get transport?
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Post by rosie on Nov 6, 2016 1:21:12 GMT
This does sound unusual. Parents of children with EHCP usually have first choice even if the school is out of area and with transport; though it may differ between areas.I would definately question which nearer school supposedly meets his needs, and fight for the one you feels does.
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Post by leo on Nov 6, 2016 8:58:12 GMT
Unfortunately they can say this, our LA does this as standard. Sadly it's now up to you to fight the decision by making it clear why this particular school is the only one that meets his needs. Letters of support from any professionals involved would help.
Sorry you are in this position.
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Post by runmum on Nov 6, 2016 15:00:38 GMT
I am sure they can say there is another school that they think meets his needs that is closer but what I am super cross about is that there was no liaison. We went round every school in the area making notes against criteria and made a choice and as requested noted that choice on the EHCP. If as they say the new system is much more family centred then surely rather than just asking us to write the name of the school on a form with no rationale and no meeting they should ask us to make a case or have a meeting with us so we can explain our view and they can explain their view. They have not even had the courtesy to name the school they believe meets Monkey Boys needs never mind setting out their rationale. This is yet more evidence that the whole system is a farce. Monkey Boys brother is at the school of our choice and we have a strong relationship with the staff and it is well known for supporting resilience and giving the best pastoral care for miles. I am sure any old school can stick in a TA and do 13 hours a week support to help Monkey Boy access the curriculum but academic attainment is only 1 outcome on his EHCP. They are just useless. To be honest he is going to the school of our choice come hell or high water even if we pay for the transport as we do for his brother who has additional needs but is not needy enough to have an EHCP. But it's the flipping principle of the thing I just hate when systems are disingenuous and just political spin grrrrrrrrr
Leo we will fight. We have already got a full case together with letters from
Chief Exec and Chair of a high profile national children's charity
Our pastor - given the school of our choice is a faith school
The education advisor from the Virtual School
Our social worker
I did all this months ago because I just did not trust the system given what I have seen to date. However I intend to start by asking them to send me their written rationale for the school they have chosen linking with each outcome on his EHCP - that should be a laugh - I am quite sure no rationale exists.
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Post by twoplustwo on Nov 10, 2016 21:24:29 GMT
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Post by sooz on Nov 11, 2016 15:28:42 GMT
Hi there
Sorry this is happening.
My understanding, at least in this area, is that if they accept your school of choice is the nearest suitable school then transport is provided.
If they decide your school of choice is not the nearest suitable one you can still apply for that school without transport.
Decision on what school has been allocated to be confirmed on 15th February.
La have identified school of choice for snooz as nearest suitable so if he gets in he will get transport.
I won't know if he's got in until February.
So, I'm assuming that maybe what they are saying is that school of choice is not nearest suitable.....but you can still apply for that school?
They can't advise on your nearest suitable school as that decision is up to the parents.
Does that make sense? Xx
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Post by runmum on Dec 2, 2016 12:41:28 GMT
Thanks Sooz yes you are right - my point is that they do not have any rationale for saying that there is another equally suitable school. What they have actually done is said - which is the nearest school that can bang in a TA - i.e. any school so just our nearest. They actually have not even been able to name the school they have chosen which shows what a farce it is. The truth is in our area that they deem SEN to simply be a need for a school that can have a TA i.e. any school. They only think differently for physical disability. They do not take self esteem and psycho-emotional issues into account even if these are clear outcomes in the EHCP. They are basically stuck in the days of statements there is nothing here that integrates education with health and social care. I would care less if they were honest about this but they spout all this rhetoric and its just rubbish. That's the bit that makes me incandescent. Thanks anyway - my rant has helped me feel better although they remain too dim to understand my concerns at the LA.
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Post by sooz on Dec 2, 2016 19:15:20 GMT
Yeah, I'd be furious too with that.
Hope it all gets sorted xxx
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