Pro Bono needed for Special Educational Needs

Towser

Hi,
I am looking for someone to do some pro bono work for us to help us get our Autistic son into the right Hertfordshire school.
It looks as if we are entering our fourth tribunal if he does not get an Autism specific school.

He needs an Autism specific school because:
1.Eating disorder
2. Absconding
3.Communication difficulties
4. Safety
5. Sensory Environment
If there is anything else you need to know let me know.

kingfisherblue

Have you tried your local Parent Partnership, IPSEA, or the NAS?

Towser

Yes thank-you but from experience we really need a lawyer.

shegirl

Have you and the local authority looked into alternatives? Just curious as my son is funded under a special placement within a SEN school but with his own room, own staff, a budget, a SafeSpace Tec and has been for years now as other SEN schools were deemed not suitable, things were seriously going wrong. He wouldn't have gone to an autism specific school either as they still wouldn't have given him what he needed - he needs what he has now.

Can you be more specific on the needs you have listed? I ask as these are things common in all SEN schools so if you could break down the differences it may help people advise better

What type of schools has he been in already?

Does he have a learning disability?

Towser

Hi shegirl,

ask as these are things common in all SEN schools

yes I know that is why I need the education lawyer because I am not good at putting my case across.

What type of schools has he been in already?

Mainstream only and has seriously dropped out.

Does he have a learning disability?

They won't do another Ed Psych test to prove otherwise as part of the EHCplan. Last tribunal they said he wouldn't sit long enough to do the test.

shegirl

Towser wrote: »

Hi shegirl,



yes I know that is why I need the education lawyer because I am not good at putting my case across.



Mainstream only and has seriously dropped out.



They won't do another Ed Psych test to prove otherwise as part of the EHCplan. Last tribunal they said he wouldn't sit long enough to do the test.

Difficult. Know nothing about Ed Psych tests as son is severe autistic with learning disability and never tested,it was just obvious, so can't help there. What other professionals do you have on board?

Have you tried a local Law Centre?

It will be very hard to find someone to go pro bono for this. Will see if I can find anything to help you

Towser

other professionals do you have on board?

SALT, OT

Have you tried a local Law Centre?

No if you get Tax Credits you are earning too much.

to go pro bono for this

Yes so I though I would just ask the question as last time did the same. And a lawyer out there helped me with getting the Statement right. Very pleased but they said next time I would have to pay, so looking for someone different.

Otherwise it will be a Generic Special school for us I suppose.

shegirl

Towser wrote: »

SALT, OT

No if you get Tax Credits you are earning too much.



Yes so I though I would just ask the question as last time did the same. And a lawyer out there helped me with getting the Statement right. Very pleased but they said next time I would have to pay, so looking for someone different.

Otherwise it will be a Generic Special school for us I suppose.

Have you not even tried a generic special school? Autism specific schools can have waiting lists and more difficult to get into, although can also be default with little learning disability.

Have you visited any 'generic' special schools? May be worth looking around as you may be pleasantly surprised. How old is your son?

Towser

How old is your son?

8

'generic' special schools?

I will be happy once they prove to me he is not intelligent hence needing an Ed Psych report.

The thing is I don't want to put him there incase he is intelligent and can learn. The Autistic way. The Health Visitor said he was intelligent because of all the ways he tries to escape out of certain situations. The neighbors call him Houdini!

If it comes to it a 'generic' special schools will be better than mainstream.

kingfisherblue

I don't know if this firm can help:


http://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/


The do have an advice line, but obviously you need more than that. They might be ale to advise though.


Also, do you have legal cover on your home insurance? I've no idea if they would over your specific needs, but it may be worth asking.


Finally, as shegirl says, have you thought about a special school? Although they accept children with a wide range of disabilities, some have autism specific groups. the school that my son attended had several classes that were autism specific. Some were for those with learning disabilities, some were for those with severe sensory issues, some were for autistic teenagers who couldn't cope in mainstream but were intelligent enough to sit GCSEs.

Towser

http://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/

may point me in the right direction

legal cover on your home insurance?

Brilliant hadn't thought.

Our LA has pushed me to near breaking point so I am ready to do same to them for the sake of my very vulnerable son.