[eal-bilingual] New Arrival EAL with AEN needs

I have been in the middle of dealing with just such a case. You're right, it's tricky and really the school has to be willing to put in some of their own resources to make things happen.

  We took on a year 7 Turkish speaking new arrival in February. 
  I paid for a bilingual assistant part time for the first 6 weeks in order to collect enough evidence for an Education Psychologist's assessment. This was finally done [with interpreter] about 10 weeks after the boy started school. The statement request goes to panel this week [ 8 months now..] meanwhile we have tried to manage as best we can to accomodate the boys's needs, using existing LSA and EAL support.
  The poor boy is not still not making much progress with learning english and is socially isolated, and a mainstream school is probably not the best setting for him. However, I still feel that he is better off in this situation than sitting at home with his mother watching TV all day, and getting no nearer to having his needs met.

  Catharine

  Murphyandjazz at aol.com wrote:
  Some advice/suggestions please.

Recently there have been a number of new arrival EAL pupils (new to UK, not 
previously attended any UK school) who present with complex AEN.eg 
hearing/visual impairment, on ASD spectrum, Downs Syndrome etc. It is difficult to 
find appropriate placements for these children in local schools due to 
bureaucracy of placing students in special schools when available - need statement 
from UK professionals which cannot be put in place until schools can prove that 
the resources/strategies they have used cannot meet the need of the student 
and significant outside help is required. These professionals will assess 
when the student is placed in a school for approx. 6 weeks, but schools (already 
stretched with needy pupils) are generally reluctant to take a student who 
obviously is not suited to mainstream placement. A vicious circle!!

Is this something colleagues have come up against in other areas? Have you 
managed to come up with a solution which suits everyone without disciminating 
against English students waiting for placements in special settings?

Any ideas/suggestions gratefully received.
Many Thanks
Una