Post 16 SEN education

Frith

Son 2 is in year 11 and I'm just starting to think about what he'll do when he leaves school. He's in a mainstream high school in an autism base built on the side. He hasn't been in a purely mainstream setting since he was 8. Should pass all his GCSEs but won't due to his anxiety and general attitude towards work (or lack thereof).


He could do A levels but no one is enthusiastic about that idea because he won't do additional reading or homework.


So now he's thinking about a computer course at the local college (where my other son is) and I'm looking at private specialised provision at one of the branches of Ruskinmill where he can do maths, English, catering, animal studies and rural type studies generally.


My question is - what happens to his funding? The specialist college is in the next county, though not far away. He has an EHCP with taxi provided at the moment as he is at school quite a distance away (not as far away as his special primary school which was a 65 mile round trip!)


The transition from primary to high school was quite easy as there was so little choice but open evenings are coming up for all colleges and no one has mentioned anything to me....

poppy12345

Frith wrote: »

My question is - what happens to his funding? The specialist college is in the next county, though not far away. He has an EHCP with taxi provided at the moment as he is at school quite a distance away (not as far away as his special primary school which was a 65 mile round trip!)


The transition from primary to high school was quite easy as there was so little choice but open evenings are coming up for all colleges and no one has mentioned anything to me....

The funding should continue through the college that he will be attending because he has a EHCP but of course you'll need to visit some colleges before deciding which one is best. Once this is done and one has been chosen they will sort the funding. This is what happened with my daughter.


Does he claim DLA or PIP?

Frith

Morning! Yes, he gets DLA.

kingfisherblue

So Year 11 is his final year before sixth form? (I think!). The school really should have been discussing options with you and your son before now. I would make an appointment with his SENCO and ask her what different options are available. There may be provision that you are unaware of.

I would then make arrangements to see as many places as possible. I ignored one college after listening to another parent. How wrong I was! I made a decision about another college, with reservations. The first term wasn't a disaster, but it wasn't great either. My son transferred to the college that I hadn't considered, and settled in straight away.

Regarding funding, the SENCO should be able to reassure you. You can also contact the local Education Authority for clarification.

In my area, there are numerous students who are educated out of borough because there is nothing suitable for them within the borough. My son could have gone out of borough, and would have been fully funded with transport, in at least two places - neither of which I thought appropriate. However, some young people have funded places in different authorities, but no transport.

poppy12345

My daughter is fully funded and taxied and her college is outside of our borough.

kingfisherblue

poppy12345 wrote: »

My daughter is fully funded and taxied and her college is outside of our borough.

A friend who lives in the same education authority as me has a son whose educational needs cannot be met locally, so he is now at a school in the next borough. Although his education is funded, his transport is not (parents are fighting this).

poppy12345

kingfisherblue wrote: »

Although his education is funded, his transport is not (parents are fighting this).

I was told by my daughters college that a lot of people are having to fight for funding for transport if they live outside of the borough, i'm sure it's the same for most areas. I was very surprised when i didn't have to fight for my daughters.

kingfisherblue

poppy12345 wrote: »

I was told by my daughters college that a lot of people are having to fight for funding for transport if they live outside of the borough, i'm sure it's the same for most areas. I was very surprised when i didn't have to fight for my daughters.

He is only 16, so needs to be in education (and is unlikely to ever be able to work, due to the extent of his disabilities). It seems ludicrous that there is no provision in the town where I live (180,000 people, so not small!), and parents have to transport him to the nearest town. Some of the provision that is funded, and with transport funded, is much further away. I rejected one such option for my son, as it is an hour's drive each way, and I felt that it would be too much for him. The family have another child with SEN, and no transport. They were told that as they have a mobility car (for their son), they could drive their daughter to school too - but both start and finish at the same time, in different towns! so dad drives their son, and mum gets the bus with their daughter.

[Deleted User]

Glad to read this thread, just entering slightly more specialised provision for my 12 year old.., if his EHCP is decided that way and both his school and I are suggesting specialist provision is the way to go. Yes it will involve some travelling which will also need funding.