Are the Local Education Authority discriminating against my 6 year old autistic son?

Question

we for 2 years have been fighting to get him into a 'autistic base' school, but in the meantime, mainstream have been ok with him one day & 'being' out of order to him the next.....seriously getting peed off so i rang LEA & they've said that whilst there soting out his statement, if we wanting home tuition, we'll recieve NO FUNDING or support from LEA...is this bad or what?

he's entitled to an education just like any other child SURELY, please elp what else can i do?

Answer 1

I'd contact the local MP. But if there's no funding or places for your child - it's not the LEA's fault, it;s the government for not giving enough money.

Answer 2

I can tell by what you write that you are from UK.  I don't know the laws there, but --

'''they've said that whilst there soting out his statement, if we wanting home tuition, we'll recieve NO FUNDING or support from LEA'''

I am sure this is true, because in order for the school to pay for this, the parent AND the school has to AGREE for home tuition IN WRITING.    If you just pull him out and do this without their agreement they won't have to pay for it .

In order to get them to pay for it, you will have to have written documentation to PROVE your child is not progressing and to PROVE  that this home tuition will be best for him.

Some of this documentation can include classwork, homework, you can write a letter stating the whole situation with dates, times, what he does, how he feels, etc.

Also write notes on anything teachers have told you concerning his situation. You might could even get the teachers to write letters about his situation.

Write and request an official meeting with the special ed people at the school (in US it's called an IEP meeting) and give them all this documentation.

Your laws might be different so I will have to stop here.

I wish you were in US I could help you. Contact your highest level department of education and find out the laws concerning this. Some type of special education laws for schools.

This should state the legal step by step process you must follow in this situation. If you don't know it and are not doing it, this is why teh school is stalling and putting this off.

They know that you DON"T know that what they are doing is illegal.

If you find out what they are doing IS illegal, you can file complaints and get the fire under their butts.

Answer 3

Are you sure they didn't say if you want to 'home educate' you won't receive any funding?  

Tuition provided by the Authority is usually provided because there is a medical reason why the child can't attend school but each Authority has their policy on how or why tution is provided.

Your child has a school place, if you wish to remove him & home educate that's your choice.  

Unfortunately, the number of children with special educational needs is increasing particularly at the severe end of the spectrum but the number of places in special schools & resource units is either remaining the same or unable to keep pace.  If there is no vacancy in a resource unit or special school, it can be difficult to simply squeeze another child in within upsetting the current balance of the classes.

Speak to your local parent partnership, they may have more information places at special schools in your area or the neighbouring Authorities:

  http://www.parentpartnership.org.uk/

You could also try contacting the National Autistic Society, they should be able to put you in contact with your local support group.

Answer 4

you have to prove, that he is not being educated in the current classroom and why this other school will be a better alternative for him. I have a daughter with PDD and as much as i would love for her to be in the special education schools around here, she is to advanced for those schools. If she were falling way behind and could not keep up with the class level, then would I have the argument to send her to a special education school. If you are positive that this is not the best choice for him, hire an attorney. the education department does not want to go to trail and they may give in, but if they dont, be preparred for a fight.

Good Luck!

Answer 5

All in the wording. If you take him out of mainstream they won't help. If they take him out of mainstream they have to provide home tuition.

LEA's in general set their own agenda, in your position I suggest you contact these people for help, http://www.nas.org.uk/