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Hi,What is statement saying as her primary need? You may need to peruse restatementing process to try and show that perhaps she has additional issues that cahms has picked up to support her need for special school education - you need to ensure she has max hours on statement as the equivalent is then financially same as hours in mainstream.So- re statement- via panel- with view to secure placement in special school! It's huge uphill- but you can state what provision you want for year 7 anyway- do it early and fight- tis worth it for the right support x

Have you had a formal statement review? If not you could get the wording changed then BUT you really need to provide evidence of increased need. If she struggles in year 6 then record it all. Look at any fall out after school once she's home as our AD bottled it all up. Has primary school kept Individual Education Plans & reviews? those might highlight more. How does your AD cope with social situations, change, busy corridors, noise (e.g. loud children, bells ringing for change of lessons, raised voices of teachers). Will she comply with getting changed for PE? Does she hide or run away or dissociate when scared? Would she get lost in a large school. Can she organise herself & belongings? etc etc,.We've been there but it's taken the last academic year with AD unable to attend school after nearly 2 weeks at secondary school. I've had to fight all the way & next week she is expected at special school although after so long out of formal education she says she won't go - I have other plans Stick to your guns; provide as much evidence as possible & fight for what you she needs. Is there a parent partnership or something that could help?Good Luck - I hope you get what you're wishing for.

HiYou will need evidence to back up your case. Unfortunately, in my experience, leas listen primarily to their ed psych, so if the ed psych is not supportive, I do believe you could have a battle on your hand.Has she spent time at the special needs school? It would be useful if she could do this as it would then be the case that the sen school could write a letter saying they could meet her needs. This could form part of your evidence.If you are not getting anywhere, you need to lodge an official appeal against the lea.This is complex territory. I suggest you speak to someone at ipsea or SOS!SEN asap. You don't have much time to go through the process at this stage.Is the special school you want private/state and if state, is it in your lea area? It is easiest to get a state sen school in your own area - the other two are much, much harder to achieve. If it's an out of area and/or private school, the ed psych's hands may be tied.I got my daughter into a sen secondary school when everyone told me I wouldn't even get a statement at all. But I did have to prove my case - and for that I commissioned my own OT, ed psych and SALT reports. I used SOS!SEN and followed their advice every step of the way.I would definitely suggest you take professional advice here.