[senco-forum] Advice needed urgently. Statemented pupil placement at our school.

Hi Claire

  The relevant section of the Code of Practice is 8:62
  Where an LEA proposes to issue a statement or amend part 4 of an existing statement
  they must name the maintained school – mainstream or special – that is preferred by the
  parents, providing that:
  the school is suitable for the child’s age, ability and aptitude and the special educational needs set out in part 2 of the statement
  the child’s attendance is not incompatible with the efficient education of other children
  in the school, and
  the placement is an efficient use of the LEA’s resources.

Like others who have replied, I have tried to argue that a placement does not meet these criteria with little success.   I think I'd try to get the resources the pupil needs funded centrally.  
  However, if your year 3 is full, how come you are being asked to accept another pupil?  We are being asked if our Year 10 is full before we are asked to take a pupil with a statement at the moment.

  Amanda
  Secondary SENCO
  Cornwall
Clare Bailey <c.bailey100 at cobweb.uk.com> wrote:
  Hello everyone, I need you advice as to how best to explain that a requested
placement at our school for a statemented pupil will be to the detriment of
the other pupils.

The request is from parents who feel that no progress has been made in the
previous primary school. They want the child to join our Year 3 in
September. We have a fixed number of 60 in the Year group and an additional
entry would make this number 61. We have very small classrooms which are
really only suitable for 30 children and there really isn't space for work
stations etc. and still have space for the other children to sit on the
carpet etc. The pupil is entitled to 15 hours of support, which we would
have to fund as it is a 'high incident' need (ADHD, traits of autism and
sensory modulation difficulties). Additionally three sessions of OT with a
Teaching assistant is needed per week. We can not afford this, we are a
small school and already fund individual support for another child without a
statement but with similarly challenging needs. I have full sympathy for
the parents, but the impact on our other children would be great. How is it
best to word our response which has to be in on Friday?

Thanks, bailey100

Amanda
Secondary SENCO
Cornwall