ETW appeal – placement named in the IDP – How to write a case statement and evidence that the environment is not suitable for the child.

A child in Wales with ALN, has been permanently excluded twice from mainstream secondary schools and now has a LA-maintained IDP. The parent wants to appeal the school named in the IDP. The concern is not about the school’s ability to deliver the ALP, but that the environment is unsuitable due to the child’s extreme anxiety and past negative experiences with pupils who attend the school named. The child refuses to visit the school or even enter certain towns where the child may see these individuals, and the parent fears this will prevent the child from accessing education and may pose a safety risk.

How can the parent reflect this clearly in their case statement, and what evidence can they provide to support the appeal, especially given that the child will not visit the school and this is purely based on the child's feelings?

Teacher ask for child to be collected from school because he was throwing things

What support can I access to assist my son, who has been having behaviour issues that have been increasing for 6 weeks? He has been vocally matching other children in the class (it is important to add that my son is verbal, and the other children are non-verbal, as in they do not communicate using words, but I guess they communicate both using their device and vocally). My son will continually be vocal and disturb the class, hit the teacher, hit other children, throw things at the assistant teachers and other children. He has an autism diagnosis (level 3) and has been attending the education support classes at the same school for 5 years without any behavioural issues until recently.
The first 4 weeks, this behaviour was communicated to me by writing in the communication diary, which is kept in his school bag, by speaking with Dad after school during pick-up, and through a behaviour support plan that was sent home for me to sign and return the following day. The strategies included him requesting a break, requesting to go to another class, or the sensory room. If this is done five times, he is rewarded with a treat. During this time, I expressed wanting to meet with them because of the things written in the diary, but his dad, the messenger, let me know they (the teachers) said this was not necessary because they thought they could deal with it, and the strategies they were using were helping.
Last week, I requested a meeting in writing via email, and we met later in the week. I said I was concerned about the things written in the diary and was not sure why no one had called to let me know at the time of the incidents. I also wanted to follow the same strategies at home but had some issues because of different parenting styles between me and Dad. We will meet again tomorrow with both parents and his therapist in attendance. He was excluded from school today because they were unable to stop him from throwing things at other children, and he was placed in a class by himself. I understand it is a safety concern, but what services can I access? What steps should I take? What can I do as a parent to help my son with his behaviour issues?

Can a teacher exclude a child from school because their behavior arises from the loss of essential accommodations, leaving them without any alternatives or support?

I am wanting to support the family to navigate this so I am wondering if this letter I drafted would help the situation.

I am writing to formally request a SEND Assist referral for my son, [Child’s Full Name], who is currently enrolled in the special education program at ____ Primary School. Due to his neurodivergent profile, [Child’s Name] relies on a specific object ______ for emotional regulation and predictability. While I understand the school has raised safety concerns, I believe these can be addressed through reasonable adjustments and trauma-informed planning. This has worked in the past, where we have been given the opportunity to come together to work on a solution that works for everyone.
Despite previous meetings and discussions about his behaviour, no resolution has been reached, and recently [Child’s Name] has been excluded from school and left in the care of a family member because I could not meet with the teacher that day due to work commitments, but I was available the following day. This is now impacting his right to inclusive education under the Disability Standards for Education 2005.

I am requesting SEND Assist involvement to:
- Assess the regulatory role of the object and propose safe alternatives
- Support the school in implementing inclusive, neurodivergent-friendly strategies
- Ensure [Child’s Name] can return to school safely and respectfully

Please confirm that this referral will be initiated. If not, I will escalate the matter to the Department of Education and seek support through Disability Services and allied health professionals.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Kind regards,
[Mother’s Full Name]
[Contact details]

Is my child entitled to free transport to a psychiatric day unit for health care and education?

My child has ASD and anorexia. He was Sectioned under the MHA but subsequently the Section was lifted. He will be discharged from psychiatric in-patient services this week.

Going forward, he is to attend day-patient after care services for 12 weeks. This is where he will receive his health care and education between 9am-5pm. Treatment is for anorexia and therapy for ASD. School lessons are also conducted on site due to the inability for them to currently attend their mainstream school.

The day care unit is 1 hour drive from our house, requiring 4 hours driving a day, back and forth, for drop off and pick up.

Under the 117 Act or any other provision, is there a legal obligation for social services or health to provide transport to and from home and the day care?

At the moment, both social services and health are saying that it is either not their responsibility, or that they have no budget.

Patient Transport Services have also refused to help due to the unit not being on their list of addresses to deliver too.

As parents, we are unable to transport due to work commitments and requirements to care for our other children and caring for a sick parent.

Thank you.

Recently attended formal mediation with my LA on the grounds they are refusing to conduct a EHC needs assessment. However during the meeting the LA representative advised they could not make a decision and that the new information shared, would need to be presented back to their send panel for reconsideration. Is this allowed? I thought the purpose of mediation was to resolve issues if able to do so? I.e make a decision.

Year 10 options

Hello,
My son is in year 9 at a mainstream secondary school, however is in a special unit there which they say is a school in between a special school and mainstream. My son is autistic and has speech and language delay. We have been told that for year 10 his options will be level 1 maths and English. I have looked at another school in the area that teaches autistic children and they are offered so much more such as lots of vocational programmes along side there maths and English. Do you think I would be best trying to move him to somewhere that could accommodate him to do that? Would I have a fight on my hands to get the local authority to agree to move him? I am just so worried that he is not being offered more options and the school system is failing him again. Has anyone any positive stories of what their child went on to do?
Thank you in advance

Can I contribute my EHCP to this site? If yes, how do I do it?

Can an EHCP assessment start before my child starts school?

Can I set up my own fundraising activities to help Support SEND Kids?

Have you been through the EHCP process? What advice would you share with families who have a newly diagnosed child?